Miss Czech Republic 2004 Jana Doleželová is often called the most beautiful Czech pharmacist. Those who know her in person would not dispute her long-standing title but might add a few more instead: great mom, skilled businesswoman, excellent announcer, active athlete, and a woman who, with an innate enthusiasm, takes part in improving the city of Říčany where she lives with her little daughter.
You became a Czech Miss at a time when the pageant had prestige, renown... People used to know the successful and beautiful women who participated in it. That has changed significantly in the eighteen years since. How do you feel about the pageant, looking back?
Back then, the title of Miss would open numerous doors for young women but it was up to each of us what we did with that opportunity. I envisioned my future in healthcare and pharmacy but the Miss was a stepping stone for me. I have fond memories of the pageant because it made my life much more colorful.
Did your victory help you in your career?
The title of Miss certainly accelerated my career because I was able to earn enough in modeling and show business to open my own pharmacies. I ran one for nine years in Palladium and opened two more in other malls around the city, which meant a total of roughly twenty employees. Years later, however, when I decided to become a mother, I didn't want to deal with the stress associated with running a business on a daily basis and have my child raised by a nanny. By striking a successful deal on the sale of my pharmacies, I've attained financial security and gained independence and more free time to spend with my daughter.
What do you do in pharmacy now?
I work in marketing for the biggest chain of pharmacies in the Czech Republic. I write popular science articles for the public, I publish an advice column in certain periodicals, provide consulting services on select topics in pharmacies, and participate in projects such as "Tent Against Melanoma". My goal is to educate people and spread awareness when it comes to the prevention of lifestyle diseases.
You have always made your living as more than just a model, and besides working in pharmacy, you also began hosting prestigious events and business gatherings. Is that still your domain?
I enjoy being a host. It is fun for me and helps take my mind off the more serious topics that go hand in hand with working in pharmacy. I host balls, congresses, press conferences, team-building events, opening ceremonies, art shows, and sports events. It is also a job that broadens my horizons as each time I am dealing with a different area, which requires me to "immerse" myself in the field to a certain extent. I have hosted events for insurance companies, banks, construction and manufacturing companies, universities, clothing brands, and even security companies.
You live in Říčany with your five-year-old daughter Verunka. Despite no longer living with her father David Trunda, you maintain very amiable relations and your daughter has two happy parents. How have you managed to pull off something that many other couples who split up can only dream of?
There is no need to make enemies in life, much less air one's dirty laundry in the media. Reining in your emotions, engaging in a bit of diplomacy, and knowing how to make a compromise – those are the necessary things that both parties have to do. Especially if they have children together. I am happy that Verunka is growing up in an environment where her parents treat each other with respect and help each other out. The reward is that everybody is content and the child can develop peacefully.
You look amazing, it feels as if you haven't aged a day. Is your great figure backed up by hard work in the gym or have you been blessed from above?
Thank you... [laughs] I don't go to the gym but I do engage in bicycle tourism, ski alpinism, golf, swimming, and running. As soon as I could put Verunka in a bike seat, we would strike out on bike trips nearly every day from spring till autumn. Up until her fourth birthday! It was also how we made it through the lockdown period in a fun and active manner because it was an engaging way for her to see animals, lakes, castles, forests, tractors, excavators, trains, we visited playgrounds... And I kept in shape while doing so. Nowadays, she rides her bike alongside me and we ski together as well.
Can you share some tips on how to keep in shape in your forties in other ways than just going on cycling trips?
Maintaining a balance between food intake and energy output is key. You also have to focus on the composition of your food and when you eat during the day. Having sufficient sleep is fundamental as well, as is refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol only sporadically. All of that could make up for a massive interview in its own right, though. I took a course in lifestyle advice and weight loss certified by the Czech Chamber of Pharmacists, which means I am licensed to provide consulting and advisory services on this topic. It is one that I engage in often during my work with clients in pharmacy as well as at certain healthy lifestyle events. Based on another course certified by the Chamber of Pharmacists, I have accreditation for counseling smokers during the process of quitting.
What are your plans for the future? Should we expect any major changes or are you planning to let life flow down the tracks you've set up?
After I graduated from university, I spent fourteen years working as hard as I could, even to the detriment of my personal life. I have had amazing collaborations, traveled the world... My five-year-old daughter who needs me is my priority right now. That is why I have limited my workload and I schedule my work activities for when she is in preschool. Nowadays, I only accept work on weekends or host late-night events in the rarest of cases. When my daughter grows up, I can throw myself into my work once again. Life is a matter of priorities and it flies right by, of which children are a clear example... [smiles]
Jana Doleželová with her daughter Verunka
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