By David, United States

At the young age of twenty seven, Czech model Karolina Kurkova has enjoyed an impressive career, and was even one of the top earning models in the world, bringing in $5 million in 2007 when she was only twenty three.

Born in the town of Decin, Czechoslovakia, Karolina’s early childhood was not so easy. She was tall and shy, and had a low self image; school mates teased her about her unusual height for a girl. Surely she never would have guessed that the face she saw in the mirror every morning had fashion model potential – let alone potential that would soon make her one of the world’s top super models!  She never even gave it a second thought.

Fortunately, perhaps miraculously for we admirers from  around the world, one of her girlfriends had a different take on this future model and her untapped ability. And so this insightful friend took it upon herself to quietly put a set of pictures of Karolina Kurkova in a plain envelope and mail it to an agency in Milan.

The posting of this simple envelope by a young girl of only fifteen set off a chain of events that would propel Karolina into a fast paced and breathtaking rise to international stardom. That envelope led from getting some runway and print media assignments, to catching the eye of Milan fashion designer Miucia Prada.

By signing with Prada, Karolina was well underway on her rise to the top. Her amazing good looks, her attitude of playfulness and, at the same time self-assured confidence combined with her intense hard work ethic and self discipline (she was cited for working twenty three weeks straight without a break) to make her a sure success for international fame, as well as pride for herself and for her country of Czechoslovakia.

According to Mario Testino, an industry expert, “The proportions of her body and face, as well as her energy level, make her a model who could fit almost into any moment.” A little known fact about Karolina is that an early operation left her with a smooth indentation of skin instead of a navel… and her photographs are often altered to show a navel.

She moved to New York City in 2001 and soon made the cover of Vogue Magazine at age seventeen.  Karolina’s image has carried the message of many world class brands, including Yves Saint Laurant, Tommy Hilfiger, Chanel, Valentino, and Louis Vuitton. She has appeared on over twenty five Vogue magazine covers internationally, and has been very active with Victoria’s secret as calendar model, and was part of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Webcast in 2000.

At the age of twenty three, around 2007, Karolina began gaining weight. This was caused, she said,  due to having contracted hypothyroidism. In 2009 she had her first child, a son, with husband Archie Drury, and she currently lives in New York City’s TriBeCa district. Since then, she has combined modeling, television, and movie appearances with charity work in world charity organizations mostly focused on children. She has received numerous awards for these selfless efforts.

Karolina Kurkova has carried out a truly amazing professional career, and is still only young at the age of twenty seven. You can get in touch with Karolina, and keep track of her personal and professional activities by liking her page on Facebook. There, she also makes frequent and fascinating posts about diet and health, fashion advice, and insightful philosophy. Here is one of her recent posts:

“Be persistent and work hard… Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.” … sounds like advice from a woman who is speaking from her own experience!  Good job Karolina!