Who is Karolína Kurková? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Age: 40 Years, 40 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Archie Drury

father: Josef Kurka

children: Tobin Jack Drury

Born Country: Czech Republic

Models Actresses

Height: 5'11" (180 cm), 5'11" Females

Grouping of People: Blondes

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

Childhood & Early Life

She was born on February 28, 1984 in Děčín, Czechoslovakia, to Josef Kurka, a Czech basketball player, and a Slovak mother. As a child, she felt quite awkward and gangly as other children used to make fun of her because of her height.

But it all changed after one of her friends sent photos of Karolina to a modeling agency in Prague. At the age of 15, she landed her first runway appearance and also appeared in some gigs for commercial and print advertising.

She later traveled to Milan to gain more experience and signed a modeling contract with the renowned Italian fashion designer, Miuccia Prada.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Career

In September 1999, she appeared in the American edition of the fashion and lifestyle magazine ‘Vogue’. Later at the age of 17, she graced the cover of the February 2001 edition, becoming one of the youngest models ever to appear on the magazine's cover.

Following her initial success, she was chased by fashion brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, and Versace. In 2002, she most famously modeled the multi-million dollar bra worth almost $10 million during the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

In 2005, she was promoted to the title of "Angel" by Victoria's Secret, and she walked the runway of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show the following year. She also did a TV special show for Victoria’s Secret.

Throughout her modeling career, she has appeared in over 25 ‘Vogue’ magazine covers around the world including the French, Italian and German editions. Alongside, she has also featured in international editions of ‘Vanity Fair’, ‘Elle’, and ‘The Face’.

Her other runway credits include Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, and Vera Wang.

Apart from being a successful model, she is also an aspiring actress and has appeared in some TV shows including ‘Showbiz Tonight’, ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jay Leno, and ‘Miss Junior 2005’.

In 2007, she made her big screen début from the coming-of-age movie ‘My Sexiest Year’. In 2009, she played a role in the action movie ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’.

In September 2010, she guest-starred on NBC's Chuck season 4 episode, ‘Chuck Versus the Suitcase’. She became a guest judge on the fifteenth season of America's ‘Next Top Model’ and fourth season of Germany's ‘Next Top Model’.

She also serves as a supermodel coach on OXYGEN'S ‘The Face’, alongside Naomi Campbell and Coco Rocha.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

American Actresses

Czech Female Models

American Women Models

Actresses Who Are In Their 40s

Awards & Achievements

In 2002, she was named the ‘Model of the Year’ at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards and still remains the youngest model ever to receive the honor.

In 2003, she received the Atmosphere Magazine Award at the Madrid Planet Hollywood restaurant.

In 2004, she was selected as one of the world's ‘50 Most Beautiful People’ by People Magazine.

In March 2006, she was presented with an award from the non-profit organization ‘Women Together’ for her humanitarian work.

In 2007, she received a star on the ‘Hollywood Walk of Fame’. In November 2008, she was voted the ‘World's Sexiest Woman’ by the E! Entertainment Television, beating the likes of Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson.

In 2012, she was honored as the ‘Style Icon’ at the Vienna Awards for Fashion and Lifestyle.

She was listed by Forbes as one of the top-earning supermodels in the world. She was also conferred the GALA Spa Award in the category of "Beauty Idol", which was awarded by one of Germany's people magazines.

Recommended Lists:

Women Film & Theater Personalities

Czech Film & Theater Personalities

American Film & Theater Personalities

Czech Female Film & Theater Personalities

Personal Life & Legacy

In January 2009, it was reported that she was suffering from a disease called ‘hypothyroidism’. As a result, she developed symptoms of premature menopause and gained 30 pounds.

In July 2009, she announced that she and her fiancé, Archie Drury, were expecting their first child. Later the couple got married and in October 2009, the couple was blessed with their first son, Tobin Jack Drury.

Recommended Lists:

American Female Film & Theater Personalities

Pisces Women

Karolína Kurková Biography