DanielasBiography.jpg (4181 bytes)

biopic1.jpg (9545 bytes) Born on October 14, 1970 in the Czech Republic, Daniela Pestova has made her mark in the modeling world. Appearing in GUESS? ads in 1990 with Claudia Schiffer, Daniela was transformed into a super star practically over night - just one year after leaving her communist homeland. Shot by Ellen Von Unwerth in Morocco, Daniela and Claudia were pictured in some of the most memorable images of GUESS? advertising history. At 5’11” with blonde hair and blue eyes, she looks like the all-American girl. Her looks were admired by Paul Marciano, president and creative director of GUESS?, Inc. who has a reputation for picking out the yet undiscovered faces that will become the supermodels of today.

             Born and raised behind the Iron Curtain during a time of political chaos, dreams were not expected to come true for Daniela. However, she was in the right place at the right time when she was discovered in Prague by Dominique Caffin of the Madison modeling agency at the age of 19.  She had planned to attend college for a degree in Education when she was spotted going into a theatre. He asked her to enter a modelling contest, which she won, and flew her to Paris to sign with his agency. 

In 1992, without speaking a word of English (but fluent in Italian, Russian, French and Czech), she moved to New York. Her career skyrocketed as she appeared on the covers of major fashion magazines - including Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire and Glamour. In 1994, she landed a huge contract with L'Oreal to become a spokesperson and print model and also began a long-running relationship with Victoria's Secret.

Daniela is married to Tomasso Buti, the former CEO of the Fashion Cafe. Buti resigned in September 1998 from his management role at the model-fronted eatery, amid allegations that he squandered funds. Daniela and Tomasso are currently separated. Daniela gave birth to their son in 1996. His name is Yannick Fausto.

Professionally, she is most proud of nabbing the cover of Sports Illustrated's 1995 swimsuit issue. She admits she needs to watch her weight by not eating sweets like cookies or chocolate and by staying away from bread - her weakness. When her modelling career is over, she says she would like to become a translator or perhaps just spend her days having more children and running on the beach with her dogs. For now, however, she’s happy with modelling, especially for her own swimsuit calendar.

 

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hubby.jpg (11065 bytes) General Info:

Daniela was discovered in Prague at age 19 by Dominique Caffin of Madison agency. She had planned to study for a degree in Education. Daniela has had two calendars and appeared in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition in 1995 and 1998, and was the cover model in 1995. She has earned the nickname "The Chameleon" for being able to change her look easily and describes herself as a health-freak. Daniela has thought of becoming a translator once she finishes modelling.

She is married to Tommaso Buti, the former CEO of the Fashion Café and they have a son, Yannick Fausto. She left Buti in 1998. Daniela also has two Jack Russell terriers, Tino and Soda.

Background:

Daniela came from a well to do family in the former Czechoslovakia. Shortly after signing with Madison, she found that it would be more beneficial for her to sign with a U.S. agency. She moved to New York and jumped over to Spectrum, until the company dissolved. She then signed with Elite. She is known mostly for her pictures in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues and Victoria's Secret.  Daniela is an excellent linguist and would like to see her talent used after her career as a model. She knows Russian, French, Italian, and Czech. At the height of her modelling career, she did not know a word of English, but today speaks it perfectly with only a hint of an accent. Also, when she first began, booking a job for her was very difficult due to her country being Communist at the time.

 

An interview with Daniela

(Taken from the April 1992 Cosmopolitan)

 

Age: 21

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Work Romance: "The boyfriend I mentioned the last time I was on Cosmo's cover- he's my agent, JJ. We met when I first left home in Prague to work in Paris. When I came to New York, we decided to live together. I'm away a lot, but that's not really a problem in the relationship- I look forward to being with JJ. And I'm never tempted to cheat. When you're comfortable with someone, you don't look for anyone else."

Weighty Matters: "I'm always watching my weight. I don't eat sweets like cookies or chocolate. Sugarless chewing gum is enough for me. But bread is different .I come from Czechoslovakia, where we eat lots of it, so it's hard to say no. I can't even have one piece, because when I start, I don't stop. For exercise, I now run with my chocolate Lab puppy, Oscar."

Traveller's Blues: "Flying is awful, there's nothing to do when you're up in the air. I bloat up, my skin gets dry, and when we hit turbulence, I'm terrified. I was coming back from Tel Aviv recently, and we had forty minutes of bumps. I got so scared I grabbed a paper and pen and put them in my pocket, just in case we crashed and I needed to write a letter from wherever we landed."

Job Description: "What my day is like depends on where I am. If I'm on location on some island, we usually get up at four in the morning to set up. By seven thirty, we're on the beach working until noon, then we rest. It's not exactly a vacation. While everyone else cools off in the water, I have to stay dry because of my hair and makeup. In Paris, the day could start at 10 A.M. and end at 10 P.M. -they take a long midday break, so they don't care when they finish. But I do, which is why I prefer New York, where it's 9 to 5, modelling is a great education, I'm going to do it for a few more years, definitely."

 

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