Petra Nemcova

Having survived the 2004 tsunami that claimed her fiance's life, and in the wake of the tragedy in Japan earlier this year, Petra Nemacova almost quit DWTS.

Instead, the supermodel said she's going Dancing With a Purpose.

To the music of "You Raise Me Up," which she listened to after revisiting the areas hit by the tsunami, she and Dmitry Chaplin waltzed to a tie for the lead (with Hines Ward) last night. Bruno says she danced like an angel. We won't argue:

Dancing With the Stars Week 3 - Petra and Dmitry

Petra Nemcova's performance wasn't the best of the Dancing With the Stars season opener, but the supermodel's effort was easily the most emotional.

In 2004, she survived, barely, a tsunami in Southeast Asia that claimed thousands of lives, including her fiance. Her pelvis was shattered in four places.

During rehearsals for DWTS March 11, Petra, who worked tirelessly to promote relief efforts, almost quit when she learned of the devastation in Japan.

Ultimately, the Czech beauty decided to stick it out and use the show as a chance to "shine more of a light on the lives of children who are forgotten."

Given her obstacles, her opening routine was more than respectable ...

DWTS Week One - Petra Nemcova & Dmitry Chaplin

Petra Nemcova nearly bailed on Dancing With the Stars, which begins next week. But the reason she almost quit is now the exact reason she's hanging in.

With the premiere days away, the supermodel - who barely survived the deadly Asian 2004 tsunami - is shaken up emotionally by last week's disaster in Japan.

"It's very hard to look ... at those videos," she told Access Hollywood.

"There's the famous saying 'six degrees of separation,' but when a natural disaster happens, there's no degree of separation. We are all connected."

Petra Nemcova has seen what a tsunami can do first hand.

In 2004, Nemcova spent eight hours clinging to a palm tree when deadly waves ravaged a Thai resort and claimed the life of her fiance, Simon Atlee.

After months of healing and learning how to walk again, she went back to Thailand to help - instead of going back to work in the fashion business.

She founded The Happy Hearts Foundation to aid children in the wake of natural disasters. She nearly left DWTS to devote herself entirely to it.

Instead, she'll be there when the premiere airs Monday - with the victims in mind.

Petra Nemcova is engaged to British actor Jamie Belman.

The supermodel met him via mutual friends and the two spent Christmas together, celebrating with their families. The date and location of the wedding is TBA.

Here's a photo she Tweeted of the lovebirds ...

Engaged: Jamie Belman and Petra Nemcova.

Nemcova survived the 2005 tsunami in the Indian Ocean which claimed the life of her then-boyfriend Simon Atlee. Nemcova is the president and chairwoman of the Happy Hearts Foundation which works with kids who survived the event.

Before getting engaged to Jamie Belman, she dated Sean Penn and James Blunt for some reason. Glad it all worked out in the end. Congratulations, you guys!

James Blunt used to bang Petra Nemcova.

We're not sure what's more disgusting - that fact or the Czech supermodel's bangs in the picture below.

Petra Nemcova's bangs: Celebrity Hairstyle Hall of Shame material.

To cleanse yourself of this deeply disappointing image, we invite you to check out these Petra Nemcova photos instead. Yes. Much better, indeed.

In our celebrity fashion section, we often ask readers their thoughts on a certain outfit. Our simple question to them: Do you love it or would you shove it?

When it comes to the following Petra Nemcova outfit, however, we can only inquire: do you love it? Or do you really, really love it?

We don't even know how the top is staying on this super model. But we're not gonna question it. We're just gonna enjoy it...

What's the second best thing after Petra Nemcova nude?

No, not Britney Spears upskirt pics, you idiots. Gosh. You people disgust us. What we were getting at is photos of Petra Nemcova in sexy lingerie.

In the photos below, the 28-year-old supermodel takes it almost all off for the lingerie company La Senza's new autumn / winter collection. Hot...

Obviously, Petra Nemcova is hot in all pics. Just look at her and it's clear she's no Toastee Toof. But this Petra Nemcova photo is particularly pleasing to us... this stunner really needs to do more lingerie campaigns. And less James Blunt.

Petra Nemcova lingerie campaigns. Life is good at The Hollywood Gossip.

You've gotta hand it to Petra Nemcova.

When other beauties go naked, they just take off their clothes (Holly Madison nude, for example). There's not exactly an artful aspect to their bare bodies. Until Petra.

The super, super model - and ex-girlfriend of James Blunt somehow - is seen here in all her birthday suit glory... with some serious paint being spread across her gorgeous torso.

A pretty picture of Petra Nemcova nude and being used as a canvas.

We wonder how that artist landed this job. It looks to have almost as many perks as being the bodyguard of Britney Spears.

Guys across the country can only hope this becomes a trend. Who wants to see supposedly sexy pictures of Tila Tequila nude when they can be combined with such creativity?

The Star of David has never looked so beautiful.

Take this, James Blunt!

You may be having dirty sex with Paris Hilton, but your beautiful ex-girlfriend is making a move of her own. With one of the most popular American Idol contestants of all-time: Sanjaya Malakar.

Indeed, Petra Nemvoa took this unexpected picture with Sanjaya Saturday night at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

For whatever reason, People magazine included Malakar on its guest list for the event. Other celebrities in attendance included Teri Hatcher and Sheryl Crow.

Anyway, it's nice to see these kids getting along and everything - but we think Shyamali Malakar, Sanjaya's sister, would've made a more entertaining guest.

Let's hope James Blunt doesn't read The Hollywood Gossip today.

If the wimpy singer does peruse our site, he'll see that his ex-girlfriend isn't exactly upset over their break-up.

"I am having a great time!" Petra Nemcova told People magazine Tuesday in New York City at the Br!ck Awards, which honor young people working toward social change.

The super model and the "You're Beautiful" (and "I'm annoying") singer met in December 2005 and started dating the following year. Last month, a source close to Blunt said the breakup was "very amicable â€" they remain good friends."

Since the split, Blunt has hit the Hollywood club scene, partying at Les Deux with Robbie Williams and at Teddy's with Lindsay Lohan, Kelly Osbourne and Amy Winehouse.

For her part, Nemcova has been busy with her philanthropic effort, the Happy Hearts Fund, which was honored at the Br!ck Awards for helping children affected by natural disasters and other harships. Unlike other models, such as Marisa Miller, this is a cause Petra is all too familiar with:

The Czech's longtime boyfriend, photographer Simon Atlee, was killed in Thailand in the 2004 tsunami; Nemcova herself was badly injured.

"We opened up a school in Thailand just three weeks ago with a computer center," she said. "Fifty [children] were trying to hold me and bring me to show me the classrooms. They were so excited â€" when we got there, we were jumping around. It was amazing to see that it really touches their lives and makes them really happy."

Oprah Winfrey would be very proud.