Petra nemcova and laurent lamothe biography

Petra Nemcova has found love and happiness.

The model and philanthropist, 34 – who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami but tragically lost her fiancé Simon Atlee in the disaster – tells PEOPLE she is now romancing handsome Haitian prime minister Laurent Lamothe, 41.

“Yes, we are involved, and I am very happy,” Nemcova told PEOPLE on Saturday while promoting her line of internationally themed candles, Be the Light New York, at Bloomingdale’s Aventura in Miami. “Even though I have to travel a great deal for all of my work, Laurent is very supportive of what I do.”

The Czech-born, multilingual Nemcova lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and is the founder and chairwoman of Happy Hearts Fund, whose mission is to rebuild schools and restore hope and opportunity to the lives of children after natural disasters.

In November 2007, she visited Haiti with musician Wyclef Jean as part of a charity event and became interested in helping improve the island nation. With Jean, she co-founded a computer lab and restaurant where she lives.

Her Happy Hearts Fund has also helped rebuild Haiti after the country suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Since calling off her engagement to actor Jamie Belman in 2012, Nemcova has been an ambassador at large for Haiti, bringing international awareness to its culture, development and opportunities.

Nemcova, who is also a brand ambassador for Clinique and Chopard, said, “My goal is to uplift the people of Haiti through job creation and empowerment.”

Czech model, television host, and philanthropist

Petra Němcová (Czech pronunciation:[ˈpɛtraˈɲɛmtsovaː]; born 24 June 1979) is a Czech model, television host, and philanthropist who founded the Happy Hearts Fund. In 2017, the Happy Hearts Fund merged with All Hands Volunteers to create All Hands And Hearts - Smart Response, with Němcová assuming the role of co-founder and vice chair.

Early life

Němcová was born in Karviná, then Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, and grew up in Karviná in the Moravian-Silesian Region with her sister Olga.

Career

Modeling

Scouted on the streets of Prague by NEXT Model Management, Němcová moved to Milan, Italy, upon signing with the agency. After winning the 1995 Czech Elite Model Look, she returned to Milan where her career flourished.

She has featured in campaigns for Benetton, Bulgari, Cartier, Clarins, Cortefiel, Dirk Bikkembergs, Fortunoff, Graff, Hewlett-Packard/Intel, HS, Intimissimi, John Lewis, Lancaster, La Perla, La Senza, Maidenform, Max Factor, Pantene Pro-V, Passport, Playtex, Rampage, Schwarzkopf, Victoria's Secret, and Wild Orchid. Němcová has appeared on international covers of Harper's Bazaar, Madame Figaro, Elle, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Flare, Glamour, L'Officiel, and Sports Illustrated.

Němcová has walked for designers including Lolita Lempicka, Gai Mattiolo, Matthew Williamson,

Laurent Salvador Lamothe (French pronunciation:[lɔʁɑ̃ salvadɔʁ lamɔt]; born 14 August 1972) is a Haitian businessman, technology entrepreneur, and political figure who has served in the government of Haiti as Foreign Minister beginning in October 2011, then as Prime Minister after appointment on 4 May 2012. On 14 December 2014, Lamothe resigned from his position as Prime Minister. More recently Lamothe has publicly spoken about the urgent need for the return of law and order in Haiti.

Early life

Lamothe was born in Port-au-Prince as the son of Louis G. Lamothe, the founder of the Lope de Vega Institute, and Ghislaine Fortuney Lamothe, an artist. His elder brother, Ruben, served as captain of the Haitian Davis Cup tennis team for some time. A tennis player himself, Laurent Lamothe represented his country at the Davis Cup in 1994 and 1995.

Education

At age 19, Lamothe left Haiti to complete his tertiary studies in Florida. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in political sciences at Barry University in Miami, in 1996 he enrolled in Saint Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he earned a master's degree in busine

Haitian politician

Laurent Salvador Lamothe (French pronunciation:[lɔʁɑ̃salvadɔʁlamɔt]; born 14 August 1972) is a Haitian businessman, technology entrepreneur, and political figure who has served in the government of Haiti as Foreign Minister beginning in October 2011, then as Prime Minister after appointment on 4 May 2012. On 14 December 2014, Lamothe resigned from his position as Prime Minister. More recently Lamothe has publicly spoken about the urgent need for the return of law and order in Haiti.

Early life

Lamothe was born in Port-au-Prince as the son of Louis G. Lamothe, the founder of the Lope de Vega Institute, and Ghislaine Fortuney Lamothe, an artist. His elder brother, Ruben, served as captain of the Haitian Davis Cup tennis team for some time. A tennis player himself, Laurent Lamothe represented his country at the Davis Cup in 1994 and 1995.

Education

At age 19, Lamothe left Haiti to complete his tertiary studies in Florida. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in political sciences at Barry University in Miami, in 1996 he enrolled in Saint Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he earned a master's degree in business management.

Political career

In 1998, Lamothe co-founded the telecommunications company Global Voice Group.

Lamothe entered politics by accepting the position of Special Advisor to Haitian PresidentMichel Martelly. In September 2011, Lamothe and former United States PresidentBill Clinton co-chaired the Presidential Advisory Council for the Economic Development and Investment in Haiti launched by President Martelly on 8 September 2011 to help redevelop Haiti by making it more attractive to foreign companies and investors. Later the same year, Lamothe was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. On 26 October 2011, he made his maiden speech as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs duri