Karolína Kurková facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karolína Kurková
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Kurková in 2011
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| Born | 28 February 1984 Děčín, Czechoslovakia
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| Citizenship |
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| Spouse(s) |
Archie Drury
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 3 |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Hair color | Blonde |
| Eye color | Green |
| Agency | Wilhelmina Models (New York) Marilyn Agency (Paris) d'management group (Milan) Storm Model Management (London) Stockholmsgruppen (Stockholm) |
Karolína Kurková (born 28 February 1984) is a famous Czech-American model and actress. She is well-known for being a former Victoria's Secret Angel. She also appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine many times.
Famous photographer Mario Testino admired her body shape and energy. He said she could fit into almost any modeling style. Vogue editor Anna Wintour even called her the "next supermodel." In 2007, Karolína was one of the world's highest-paid models. She earned about $5 million that year.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Modeling
Karolína Kurková was born in Děčín, Czechoslovakia. Her father, Josef Kurka, was a Czech basketball player. Her mother was from Slovakia. When Karolína was young, she was sometimes teased for being tall.
However, her height became an advantage. A friend sent her photos to a modeling agency in Prague. At just 15 years old, she got her first chance to walk in a runway show. She also got jobs for commercials and print ads.
To gain more experience, she later moved to Milan, Italy. There, she signed a modeling contract with Miuccia Prada. In September 1999, Karolína appeared in the American edition of Vogue magazine. At 17, she moved to New York City. She then appeared on the cover of Vogue in February 2001.
Modeling Career Highlights
Becoming a Top Model
After her first Vogue cover, Karolína became very popular. She was recognized at many haute couture (high fashion) shows. In 2000, the famous lingerie brand Victoria's Secret chose her for their fashion show webcast. She was only 16 years old at the time.
Many top fashion houses wanted to work with Karolína. Brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton signed her to contracts. She also appeared in print ads for many other major brands.
In the 2002 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, she wore the "Star of Victoria" Fantasy Bra. This special bra was covered in jewels. She also walked the runway for designers like Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein, and Prada.
Awards and Recognition
Karolína had a small stumble at the Versace Fall/Winter 2002 fashion show. Her long gown caused her to trip and fall. But this did not stop her career. She was named "Model of the Year" at the 2002 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards. This award recognized her strong work ethic. She had worked 23 weeks in a row!
In September 2004, she was featured on the cover of American Vogue. She was called one of the "Models of the Moment." Karolína has appeared on over 51 Vogue magazine covers around the world. She has also been on the covers of Elle and Vanity Fair.
She has worked with famous fashion photographers like Steven Klein and Mario Testino. During the Christian Dior Fall/Winter 2004 Couture show, she wore a huge, ornate gown. The dress was so big that she got stuck in the fabric. She had to be helped off the catwalk.
Victoria's Secret Angel
In 2005, Karolína became a Victoria's Secret Angel. In the 2006 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, she wore the "Hearts On Fire" Fantasy Bra. This bra was worth $6.5 million. It had almost 2,000 diamonds.
During that show, one of her shoes slipped off. Karolína kept walking as if nothing had happened. This moment became famous and was seen by over 600,000 people online. It is now considered a "legendary moment" in fashion.
Before the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, she received a star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame." In February 2008, she appeared on the cover of Esquire magazine. She was also chosen as one of People magazine's 100 most beautiful people in the world.
Karolína has a smooth indentation where her navel (belly button) should be. This is because of a surgery she had as a baby. Sometimes, photos are changed to add a belly button.
In September 2018, Karolína became the first cover model for Vogue Czechoslovakia. The cover showed her from behind with a special back tattoo. This tattoo had a strong meaning for the history of the two countries. It celebrated 100 years since the former Czechoslovakia was created.
Acting Roles
Karolína has also worked as an actress. In 2009, she played Courtney A. Kreiger / Cover Girl in the live-action G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra movie. She was a guest judge on the TV shows America's Next Top Model and Germany's Next Top Model.
In September 2010, Karolína appeared on the NBC show Chuck. She played a spy named Sofia Stepanova. In February 2012, she made a guest appearance on the TV series 30 Rock.
Karolína also appeared as herself in an episode of Person of Interest. She was also a supermodel coach on the OXYGEN show "The Face." On this show, she worked with other famous models like Naomi Campbell.
Other Ventures
Karolína has also started a business. She works with doctors to create Gryph and IvyRose. This is a line of herbal care products for children.
Personal Life
Karolína Kurková used to live in the TriBeCa area of New York City. She enjoys watching basketball games.
In July 2009, Karolína announced she was expecting her first child. She was engaged to Archie Drury. They got married before their son, Tobin Jack Drury, was born on 29 October 2009. On 5 November 2015, they welcomed their second son, Noah Lee Drury. On 27 April 2021, their daughter, Luna Grace Drury, was born.
Karolína is now an American citizen. She lives in Miami, Florida. She speaks Czech, Slovak, and English. She also knows some Russian, Italian, and French.
Charity Work
Karolína is also known for her charity work. In March 2006, she received an award from "Women Together." This award was for her humanitarian efforts. She was honored for helping children through groups like "the Beautiful Life Fund" and "Free Arts."
Awards and Achievements
In 2004, People magazine named Karolína one of the world's "50 Most Beautiful People." She is still the youngest model ever to win "Model of the Year" at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards. In 2007, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Forbes magazine listed Karolína as one of the world's top-earning supermodels. In 2012, she was honored as a "Style Icon" at the Vienna Awards for Fashion and Lifestyle. She also received the GALA Spa Award in Germany. In 2013, Karolína launched her own perfume.
See also
In Spanish: Karolína Kurková para niños
