Supermodel Petra Nemcova has announced her engagement to British actor Jamie Belman, and reportedly celebrated over the holidays with their respective families.
The Czech-born model is known from her work with Victoria’s Secret, Cartier, and Sports Illustrated, for which she was featured on the Swim Suit Edition cover in 2004. Nemcova has also been romantically linked to singer James Blunt, actor Sean Penn, and director Peter Berg over the past few years.
However, she is perhaps most well known for her tragic experiences during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and ensuing tsunami. Nemcova was at the Khao Lak resort in Thailand with her fiancé, fashion photographer Simon Atlee when the tsunami hit on December 26th.
Swept away by the water, Nemcova suffered a broken pelvis and various internal injuries, but managed to survive by reportedly clinging to the top of a palm tree for eight hours. After being rescued by Thai civilians, she was hospitalized for three weeks in Thailand before being airlifted to the Czech Republic, where she spent another three weeks in the hospital.
Atlee was pronounced missing until his body was discovered and identified on the shores of Sumatra; he had drowned.
Since then, Nemcova has served as President and Chairwoman for The Happy Hearts Foundation, a charity she founded to help survivors of the 2004 tsunami, especially children left without families or homes.
Shortly after her recovery in 2005, Nemcova credited Atlee’s memory for her new outlook, telling reporters she now took more time to enjoy life.
“I try to live fully, as Simon always did. He always loved life and lived it every moment,” she said. “I used to work all the time, all the time, and now if there is a wedding, there’s a concert, I’m there. It’s like; I’m going find the time to really be there. So it’s different … it’s really been wonderful.”
Nemcova is currently enjoying life with Belman, who is best known for his work on the British television series, “Missing,” after being introduced by mutual friend about only eight months ago.
No word on wedding plans or any engagement ring details, but the couple was said to be delighted to share the news of their engagement with friends and family over the holidays.