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?

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