Eva Herzigova: Model, Mom, Activist
The supermodel talks fashion, motherhood, and giving back
By Violet Moon Gaynor
Katja Rahlwes; styled by Christopher Niquet
Eva Herzigova is a multi-hyphenate. The Czech beauty has a résumé that includes supermodel, mother, philanthropist, and designer. After 20 years in the fashion industry, she's still opening runway shows and nabbing highly coveted ad campaigns and, just last month, launched a clothing line for French brand Etam. Now, she's teamed up with DKMS to spread the word about simple ways to help children with leukemia. Here, she opens up about having it all.
ELLE: You had a son almost three years ago. How has becoming a mother changed you?
EH: My life was turned upside down in the most wonderful way. I've become much more focused on building a home—not just having a roof over my head, but actually creating a homey feel. As a model, it's a gypsy kind of life: living in hotels, working all the time, ordering room service instead of cooking for yourself. There's absolutely no nest-building.
ELLE: How do you balance everything?
EH: Well, I didn't want to have a nanny at first. I wanted to do everything on my own. But the best advice I can give is to have some sort of help. I believe that I bring positivity into the relationship by having a career. Working gives me personal satisfaction, and it's enriching for my son..
ELLE: Did you ever expect that you would stay in the fashion industry as long as you have?
EH: I had no idea. I remember when I started out at 16, there was this model named Hunter, whom I would see at castings. She was much, much older and I asked her once, "How long have you been doing this?" She said eight years and I remember thinking it was an eternity. I've been doing it for 20 years and I never would have expected it. There's the return of the supermodels from the '90s and I think that's because they have a story to tell that people can connect to. Before, there would be an ad for an anti-aging cream and you would have a 17-year-old's face on it. For some reason, no one asked any questions.
ELLE: What do you love about the industry?
EH: It has been a really, really great school. I've always taken this as a form of education. As a teenager coming straight from an ex-Communist country, I have learned a lot. I've traveled the world, met amazing people, and learned five languages.
ELLE: What are you most proud of so far in terms of your career?
EH: When I started, I was categorized as a pin-up, commercial kind of girl. Then, I did this photo shoot with Mario Testino where he gave me dark hair and, suddenly, I felt completely different and was perceived differently, too. It's little things, like opening the Prada show or doing the Louis Vuitton campaign, but for me it's always about going a step higher.
ELLE: Why did you decide to design a clothing line?
EH: It's been a dream come true [designing a line for Etam]. I have a great team around me, and the green light to be as creative as I'd like.
ELLE: Tell us about the charity you're working closely with.
EH: Over lunch with friends, I was told this story about a little boy who was diagnosed with leukemia and how, despite getting chemotherapy to slow down the sickness, the only solution was to find a DNA match. I realized that what really helps is bringing awareness to people and urging them to get swabbed. I teamed up with DKMS to help them build up a DNA database, as part of their "Get Swabbed, Save a Life" campaign. The goal is to create a worldwide DNA database to help find matches for bone marrow transplants. Swabbing the cheek takes five seconds and can ultimately make the difference between life and death.
Click here to watch the video Eva created for the campaign. And visit DkmsAmericas.org to find out how to get involved.
Click here to see Eva model spring's hothouse colors and techno details.
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