Twenty-seven-year-old Michaela Tomanová is no newcomer to the fashion world – she has been part of many global fashion weeks. But she tried the beauty contest for the first time this year and it paid off. She won the Miss Universe Czechia crown in June and during November she represented the Czech Republic at the world finals, which culminated this Friday morning in Bangkok. She frequently enough appeared in the TOP selections of “tippers” and hopes were high! she was ranked 74th out of 120 women from around the world. The first place was won by the Mexican Fátima Bosch.

Even so, Tomanová has been a huge success – she originally applied for the competition in order to raise the profile of her doctoral research, which aims to redefine the view of care and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV.And it succeeded – the UN was also interested in where she went to officially present in October.

Miss Universe Czechia 2025

Michaela is currently in her third year of doctoral studies at the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University and focuses on research into nutritional care for people living with HIV. She founded the HIWellness and WellAware projects, with which she tries to show a modern view of this sexually transmitted disease and also to spread awareness. Along with all this, she is also the mother of an almost two-year-old girl.

We know Michaela personally – she appeared on our website Prozeny.cz as a model in the past beauty videos. Years later, we were happy to see each other again and discuss her career, the world of beauty pageants and her cosmetic must-haves!

How did you get into HIV research in the first place?

In our first year at university we had microbiology and learned about HIV. And I was very interested in how this virus replicates,how it actually integrates into the genome of the host cell. it fascinated me,so I found a topic related to it,which I worked on in my bachelor’s thesis. This was quite successful, so I continued with him in the diploma course – and eventually transferred him to doctoral studies as well. Simultaneously occurring, I wanted to connect it with practice and I was lucky that my research was sponsored by the Bulovka University hospital.

From Stigma to Stage: The Inspiring Journey of Miss Universe Czech Republic 2023

Kateřina Lojková is not your typical beauty queen. Crowned Miss Universe Czech Republic 2023, she’s using her platform to dismantle the stigma surrounding HIV, sharing her personal story and advocating for a more informed and compassionate society. Her journey, from a personal mission to raise awareness to captivating audiences on an international stage, is a testament to her courage and determination.

Lojková’s motivation stems from a deeply personal place. She wants to challenge the misconceptions surrounding HIV, emphasizing that people living with the virus can lead completely normal, healthy lives, with HIV-negative partners, thanks to modern therapies.”My mission is to spread awareness that people living with HIV are completely normal,non-infectious,have HIV-negative partners and are doing very well in terms of health,” she explains. She felt compelled to speak out,believing the topic was largely ignored despite its importance.

The opportunity to amplify her message came unexpectedly. While scrolling through social media, she saw a call for applicants from Sam Dolce, the director of Miss Universe Czech Republic, seeking women with a vision and a project. “At that moment I said to myself: Wow, this is exactly for me!” she recalls.Taking a leap of faith, she applied and was selected.

Planning for the Czech final focused on clarity and concise dialog. Lojková concentrated on honing her public speaking skills, ensuring she could articulate her message effectively. The world final, however, demanded an entirely new level of preparation.Every day was dedicated to managing social media, perfecting her public speaking, and crafting a succinct message for the stage – knowing she’d have only seconds to make an impact.

Surprisingly,her primary rhetorical aid wasn’t a speech coach,but artificial intelligence. “Nobody but AI! But it helped me incredibly,” she admits. She utilized AI while walking with her stroller, practicing her English and receiving real-time feedback on her phrasing and delivery.

Beyond her message, Lojková also addressed the often-discussed world of pageant aesthetics. She openly acknowledged having hair extensions, a common practice among contestants aiming for a “doll-like” appearance in photos. She also candidly discussed undergoing a rhinoplasty after the Czech final, a long-held dream stemming from a childhood accident that left her nose slightly deviated.

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