At the sight of Hana Nitsche’s glistening brown hair and plump pout, it is clear that the Czech Republic native has the looks of a star.
Hana got the opportunity to showcase her dangerously good looks when she was selected to compete in front of her idol, Heidi Klum, on “Germany’s Next Top Model.”
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The farm-raised girl may have not come out on the top of the competition, but what came after was a winning streak. From covers of international magazines to high profile editorial shoots, Hana’s career skyrocketed, and the model made it her responsibility to make her time in the spotlight important.
From PETA activism to turning down jobs that didn’t fit her beliefs, Hana’s relentless attitude is one to be respected.
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Now, after years of dominating the European market, the Czech Republic-bred it-girl is ready to make it big in a new city.
GlobalGrind caught up with the model for this exclusive interview where she let us in about her career, her big move to a new city and her guilty pleasures.
How did you get involved with PETA to shoot the ad campaign?
My publicist had a relationship with PETA and she knew my interest in animal lives, so she introduced me to someone from PETA. They showed me more videos of fur farms about things that I didn’t know before. In the fashion industry, you have to wear fur sometimes because so many big designers still use fur. But after they showed me footage on all the fur farms and how cruel people are on the farms to the animals and how they have to suffer, I decided to stop wearing fur and modeling for fur. I began to be more involved in animal rights and I turned down jobs that required me to model fur or leather as well.
Did you find that your career was struggling when you made those decisions?
For me it was an easy transition. It helped me in my career because my name started to pop up in the major newspapers around the world. Of course I am still conflicted, because I get so many jobs that may have collections with fur or exotic leather. But I am fine with it because I stand for what I am promoting and I don’t regret it. Animals are important to me, I grew up with animals. I am still researching on becoming vegetarian and I think especially if you’re a spokesperson with young followers you can put up a positive message and you can use your beauty for bigger things.
Where are you based right now?
I am based in New York but I travel between Europe to New York sometimes.
What is the biggest transition between growing up on a farm in the Czech Republic and living in the city now?
I love New York and I love that you can go to the parks like Central Park. But it was a culture shock for me also because although Berlin has a lot of neighborhoods, here the city never sleeps and it’s a lot of people and traffic.
Tell us how you got your start on Germany’s Top Model?
I was modeling before, but my boyfriend told me about the competition and I made it. It took me very far. It was a good experience because I got to know the TV world and the entertainment world. I grew up in that and I learned a lot doing the show.
What was the biggest lesson you learned while on the show?
That you have to watch what you do and what you say because of marketing. So many people are watching you and TV is a crazy world. The fashion world is more private than the TV world. I learned a lot about myself.
You met Heidi Klum on the show, right?
Yes and she has always been an idol of mine. It was weird for her to judge me and I was excited and honored to work with her. She is someone that I really admire. The first time I got on the show and saw her, I was so nervous. It was kind of intimidating because she is someone I really look up to.
You are big overseas but what are you working on right now and what steps are you taking to make it big in America?
I am taking acting classes and I am going to a lot of casting calls. I am meeting a lot of different people as well, from photographers to magazine heads.
Are you going to share your biggest beauty secret with us?
I watch my diet and I try to eat healthy. Sometimes I drink fruit juice. But I try to work out as much as possible. I drink a lot of water. I try not to wear makeup unless I am shooting. I keep it simple.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I love chocolate. If I could, I would eat it everyday.
Do you have anything you would like to tell the fans that you have not told us already?
Follow me on Twitter @HanaNitsche.
