It's not easy being Miss World

Taťána Kuchařová promotes pet causes around the globe

By Julie O'Shea
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
August 22nd, 2007

COURTESY PHOTO

Kuchařová beat out 105 beauty queens from other countries to win this year's Miss World crown. Her "life-changing experience" includes a hectic travel schedule.

Miss World is expected to raise $10 million for charity during her reign.

Taťána Kuchařová wants to make one thing perfectly clear: She is not just another dumb blonde. “Many people think that when you’re a model you are stupid; when you’re blonde you’re stupid. But there is so much more [to me] than that,” Kuchařová says between sips of water at Chez Marcel Sur La Butte, a quaint little French bistro in the heart of Vinohrady, where she recently stopped by for an early afternoon chat. “I want to do work that is deeper than modeling,” she says. “I like modeling, but it’s only my hobby.” The statement is a little surprising coming from a woman who only last year was quoted as saying she dreamed of one day having a professional career on the catwalk. Kuchařová seems genuinely surprised when reminded of this, adamantly shaking her head at this “false” image that’s been circulated on the Internet. As it turns out, a lot can change in 12 months. Last September, Kuchařová was crowned Miss World, the first Czech woman to hold the title; nine months later, she graduated from high school. She will start taking classes this fall at Prague’s University of Public Administration and International Relations and now hopes to someday represent the country as an ambassador.“I’ve met a lot of people from government,” she says. “I would love to continue representing our country abroad.”

‘Not just a beauty contest’

Since winning her crown, Kuchařová, 19, has been flying all over the world, helping to raise millions of dollars for various charities associated with the Miss World Organization. “It’s not just a beauty contest, even though a lot of people think it is,” she says of the competition that was held in Poland last fall. “It’s about doing important things. It’s about helping charities — we want to help everyone.”Indeed, Miss World officials report that the organization has funneled roughly half a billion dollars into numerous charities over the past 33 years of its existence. By the time Kuchařová’s reign comes to a close this December, her bosses estimate this university-bound student will have added another $10 million (207 million Kč) to the pot.“The job of being Miss World is a very serious one. It has amazing highs and amazing lows,” explains Steve Douglas, the group’s director of events. “Miss World is an ambassador. She has to be able to translate her thoughts into words, because just looking at her won’t cut it.”But looks are important, right? Could, say, an ugly, overweight woman with dynamic public speaking skills ever be Miss World? Douglas pauses before replying, “She’s got to be able to stand up and have charisma.”More than 100 women competed for last year’s Miss World title. The month-long affair sees the contestants flitting around the host city, participating in various events like, “Miss Sport,” “Miss Talent,” “Miss Designer Show” (aka the evening-gown competition) and, of course, “Miss Swimsuit.”Contrary to popular belief, contestants can pick and choose which events they’d like to partake in, Douglas says, noting that finalists all submit a written and video statement that’s played before a television audience explaining their goals and what they’d do if they were crowned Miss World.This is “a very big worldwide event,” Douglas says, and “we feel we attract the best candidates.”As for those who blast these types of competitions as “trivial” and “unimportant,” Douglas swiftly dismisses such criticism. “You can disregard anything as trivial,” he says. “You could say American Idol is trivial.”Winning Miss World proved to be a life-changing experience for Kuchařová.“I wasn’t thinking about being the winner,” she insists. “I know that every Miss World says that, but you really don’t believe it could be you.” Standing on the stage the night of the finals, “I remember I couldn’t hear anything. I was totally in shock” when it was announced that she had taken first place and the crown. “It was just so emotional for me,” Kuchařová says, and then smiles, her fair hair reflecting nicely against her royal-red sweater and the small gold crucifix hanging around her neck. For a split second, it’s not hard to imagine what Kuchařová must have looked like on the night she won Miss World.“After winning, I had a lot of boyfriends,” she laughs, eyes glinting mischievously. “A lot of boyfriends.” A globe-trotting gig Born in Trnava, a city just on the other side of the border in Slovakia, Kuchařová, who is the oldest of three sisters, moved with her family to Opočno in east Bohemia, where she grew up. When she turned 14, she began modeling, which eventually led to her involvement in the pageant world.“I grew up so much,” she says. “My friends and parents and sisters would help keep me grounded.”Her modeling jobs would sometimes take her to exotic locations around the globe, serendipitously preparing Kuchařová for what has become the biggest gig of her young life.From the United States to Asia to countries all around Europe, Kuchařová has quickly come to realize that Miss World hardly gets any down time.Within the past year, she has taken more than 180 flights, set up children’s homes in Mexico and participated in a charitable telethon in Iowa. In March, she wowed folks at the Variety telethon, one of the largest fundraising events in the United States. “Taťána was terrific,” says Stan Reynolds, a producer at Variety. “What an asset to Miss World and her country and herself.”The event, which raised $3.4 million for sick and underprivileged kids, was a star-studded affair. Reynolds notes that Brandon Roth, the big screen’s next Superman, was also in attendance. “Miss World and Superman,” Reynolds cracks. “You don’t get much better than that.” Kuchařová has hardly slowed down. Later this month, she is heading to Ukraine to do more fund-raising.“I just want to relax,” she says. “Really, one year is enough — seriously.”Kuchařová has no regrets, though. She says she knows in her heart that she has accomplished everything she set out to do since she won the title and hopes to continue working with charities even when she no longer is Miss World. It may be at a less hurried pace, however.“There will be a few things I will miss,” she says, but “I will be really happy to not have so much attention.” In the meantime, she is still a woman on the go. Kuchařová’s mobile phone continuously rings throughout the interview. Apologetically, she keeps reassuring the person at the other end that she will be at her next appointment as soon as she can. Finally, able to delay things no longer, she looks up, eyebrows knotting together. “I’m sorry, but I have to go,” she says.Smiling, she gets up and breezes out of the restaurant in the same manner as she arrived. The lunch crowd inside Chez Marcel is sparse on this cool Tuesday afternoon, but all eyes are transfixed as Miss World waves and hurriedly makes her way down the street, disappearing into the crowd.

Julie O'Shea can be reached at joshea@praguepost.com

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