Karolina Kurkova, 40, talks modeling lingerie at 16, the disease that made her gain 30lbs and her diet secrets as she returns to spotlight after 3 kids

Karolina Kurkova was one of the top fashion models of the 1990s, often gracing the cover of Vogue and also working for lingerie brand Victoria's Secret.

The blonde beauty with the killer smile was on top of the Most Beautiful lists opposite Gisele Bundchen  and Heidi Klum.

Then she took a break from working so she could bring up her three children - daughter LunaGrace, 3, and sons Noah, 8, and Tobin, 14 - whom she shares with her husband since 2009, Archie Drury.

Now she is back to working full-time as she made a splash at the Cannes film festival  in a formfitting black dress that highlighted her incredible figure.

The 40-year-old dynamo talked to Dailymail.com about the highs and lows of her career which included starting work at age 15, the awkwardness of posing in lingerie at age 16, realizing at age 24 she had gained 30lbs from a thyroid disease called Hashimoto's, to becoming a family woman.

'I never thought I would be famous like this. I never thought it would happen to me. It just blows my mind and it still incredible what a career I have been lucky to have,' Karolina told Dailymail.com in the exclusive interview. 

Karolina Kurkova was one of the top fashion models of the 1990s, often gracing the cover of Vogue and also working for lingerie brand Victoria's Secret. Now she is back to modeling as she signed with Ford; seen on May 23 at Cannes where she chaired the amFAR gala

She was a top model for Victoria's Secret when she was in her teens; seen on the VS runway left. In 2008, right, she gained 30lbs from a thyroid disease

From left: Selita Ebanks, Gisele Bundchen, Karolina, Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart. 'It was overwhelming for me at first to try to look sexy,' she said

Oddly, at first the star said she was not top model material.

'I was also told my nose was too pointy and my legs were too long, but Anna Wintour was the one who said I is going to be a supermodel. She had faith in me and I love her for that,' said Karolina.

Famed photographer Mario Testino also said the 'proportions of her body and her face, as well as her energy level' were the best. 

Kurkova has now signed with Ford Models and will be working more often. 

'Now that my kids are older, I'm excited to get back in the game. I have a new agent and I'm looking forward to doing some fun projects because I love staying busy,' said the 5ft11in star.

Karolina started working at a very young age.

'My dad would drive me to casting starting at age 15. It was so exciting for me,' she cooed.

And she took modeling seriously: 'I wanted to be the best at modeling. I wanted to give my heart and soul and I was really lucky to have my dad there to keep an eye out for me,' said the siren.

'It was such a change for me because when I was at school, I was so different. I was the goofy one,' she shared.

'It was overwhelming for me at first to try to look sexy,' she said; she was only 15.

'I created a character to play when I was walking on the runway posing for the cameras because it was not the real me - I was more sporty than sultry in real life,' said Kurkova.

The star was on many magazine covers. Left, Kurkova on Vogue Czechoslavakia's October 2021 issue, and right, Kurkova lands the March 2016 cover of Harper's Bazaar Kazakhstan

From left: Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Kurkova, Gisele Bundchen, Izabel Goulart and Selita Ebanks

But she had a big surprise when she was only 16 years old and modeling very tiny pieces of lingerie for Victoria's Secret.

'It was strange for me to model lingerie at that young age. I had been an athlete. I was a gymnast and I was used to being very strong, but I wasn't used to being a sexy girl on stage. I had to be sensual on the runway at 16, it was weird,' she noted.

'I didn't really feel my legs were too long so it was a big leap for me at age 16 figure out how I was going to central on stage,' she added.

'It was a process for me to find that I had to find the courage to go on stage and look that way.'

Growing up in the Czech Republic, teens did not dress sexy and act sexual at the time, she explained, like they did in the US.

Karolina also said she was lucky that she didn't have any issues while working for Victoria's Secret because her father was always by her side.

'My parents always after me they always took care of me and I never had any problems. That's the way it is was; my family stays together and they look out for each other, which was great. I was lucky I got to have my dad there.'

He she was seen traveling with many of the Victoria's Secret Angels

And the siren is spotted getting a fitting

Karolina also said her favorite shoot was for Vogue shoot when she dressed up like Marilyn Manson. 

The siren had very white skin and dark hair and was completely unrecognizable. And another favorite shoot was for Valentino when she held up photos.

She also told DailyMail.com about a big bump in the road for her. 

'I was 24 and I was told to slow down because I wasn't looking so healthy,' she began.

'It was strange for her because I wanted to work and I was so used to working hard and being busy, but I was told to take a break.

'I was under a lot of stress. I had already been modeling for almost 10 years. I didn't have time to self reflect. I just didn't know that I looked bad,' she said.

'Someone had to tell me I needed to take a break.

'I was eating healthy and exercising so I went to a doctor and I was told I have Hashimoto's disease. It's a thyroid problem and stress triggers. Working under pressure makes it worse. I had gained 30lbs.'

She then went on a Wellness Journey and got much better: 'I studied nutrition, did yoga, ready about sleep and meditation, I did it all.'

And Karolina said she as surprised she could get pregnant. 

'I was really lucky that I got pregnant naturally because it's very hard for a woman to get pregnant when she has Hashimoto's Disease. You have a thyroid issue and thank God that worked out for me,' she said; she has three kids with Drury, who is a producer on the film Sound Of Freedom from 2023 and the documentary Voices Of Iraq.

The 40-year-old dynamo talked to Dailymail.com about the highs and lows of her career which included starting work at age 15, the awkwardness of posing in lingerie at age 16, realizing at age 24 she had gained 30lbs from a thyroid disease called Hashimoto's, to becoming a family woman

She then went on a Wellness Journey and got much better: 'I studied nutrition, did yoga, ready about sleep and meditation, I did it all'

Seen here with her husband Archie and three kids at home in New York during a birthday

Drury is known for Sound of Freedom (2023), NCIS (2003) and Swing (2003). Seen in 2023 in Miami

Now self care is a top priority for Karolina. 

'I am very healthy all the time I have green juices. I eat a lot of vegetables and I only have pizza and pasta once in a while. I love it, but I can't eat it too often, it is a treat,' she noted.

'I got more spiritual outside of New York City, and I started to spend more time in nature, too, that helps end stress. I found a balance on my wellness journey. I realize I need to be outdoors and relax.

'I'm also very careful with my skin. I love to do lymphatic massage, sculpting, rollers, facemask, and eye patches. I also use red light therapy and I lie down on an amethyst matt; I've been doing that for a long time and it's really relaxing to meditate on.'

And she exercises constantly. 

'As far as working out, I do work out about 30 to 40 minutes every day I use a rowing machine and I love to go to classes because they play music. I also go on power walks and I walk my dog to the park and this is something that most models won't say, but I love housework. I always have. I love to clean the dishes and make sure they're perfect and make sure the house is nice and clean with no dust, pushing a vacuum cleaner,' she laughed.

'I never thought I would be famous like this. I never thought it would happen to me. It just blows my mind and it still incredible what a career I have been lucky to have,' Karolina told Dailymail.com in the exclusive interview

(L to R) Coco Rocha, Kurkova and Toni Garrn speak onstage at the amfAR Cannes Gala 30th edition presented by Chopard And Red Sea International Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 23

'Used to be a professional gymnast so I'm used to exercises, I like to keep moving moving.'

She feels very positive about her 40s. 

'I can't wait to get back to modeling. I also want to do some producing and hosting. I think it would be so fun to work in front of the camera again on a TV show,' said the cover girl.

'And I would like to do something with my kids one day, I want a family business so we can all work together.'