Born in the Czech Republic, the supermodel Petra Nemcova was scouted walking through Prague (0) AS a young girl. She worked her 1 up through the ranks, gracing the covers of magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and Sports Illustrated, to name but a few. 2 Petra may be well known for her modelling career, she has also gained public acclaim in recent years 3 of her philanthropic work. It was the Thailand tsunami of 2004 that 4 about this change in Petra's life. 5 been caught up in the huge wave when on holiday there, she managed to cling onto a palm tree and survive the ordeal. However, the experience 6 a profound effect on Petra, who decided to help children affected by similar natural disasters. The Happy Hearts Fund, a not-for-profit foundation that she 7 up, has been involved in various charitable projects, including the rebuilding of schools in disaster areas. As she says, 8 her modelling work brings glamour and beauty to people, helping others brings depth and meaning to her life.