Martina Sobková is a trailblazer in the world of beauty and fashion, proving that courage and authenticity are the true marks of elegance. At 36, this inspiring Czech model has made history as the first transgender woman from her country to compete in the prestigious Miss Trans Star International pageant in São Paulo, where she earned the title of Miss Evolution.
Also, Martina is currently focused on growing her modeling career and is open to new opportunities, so if you’re looking for an aspiring model with beauty, resilience, and passion, she’s your girl!
But her journey is about so much more than crowns and sashes. It's a testament to resilience, self-acceptance, and the power of representation. From navigating the challenges of transition to making her mark in the competitive world of modeling, Martina’s story is both deeply personal and universally inspiring. In addition to her success on the runway, she is also the newly appointed editor-in-chief of Bankovnictví magazine, proving that beauty and intelligence go hand in hand.
Monika: Today, we sit down with Martina to talk about her experiences in the world of beauty pageants, the obstacles she has faced as a transgender woman in the Czech Republic, and her mission to inspire others to embrace their true selves. Martina, welcome! It’s a pleasure to have you here.
Martina: Thank you so much Monika, it is an honor for me to be here.
Monika: Martina, first of all, huge congratulations on your participation in the pageant and for winning the Evolution title! I imagine the Czech media must be all over you by now. Are you already at the point where you're considering escaping to a deserted island, or are you still enjoying the spotlight?
Martina: Thank you so much, Monika! To be honest, not at all. I took some time to relax after the competition, especially during Christmas, which I spent with my girlfriend and family. But now, I’d say I’m working even harder than before. Even though I haven't been as active on social media or in the fashion world in recent months, I’ve already started preparing for my next competition, Miss International Queen. I also had the opportunity to participate in Milan and Paris Fashion Week.
|
| "I remember being extremely nervous throughout the competition." |
Monika: You look like a million dollars, and being the editor-in-chief of a banking magazine, you probably know how to make a million dollars too. But let's focus on your impressive professional career for a moment, since, of course, the pageant buzz is stealing the spotlight. Tell us a bit more about what you do outside the world of beauty and glamour.
Martina: Thank you so much! I always say that I’d love to see myself the way others see me.
Regarding my professional career, as you mentioned, I’m the editor-in-chief of Bankovnictví, a B2B financial magazine, where I cover topics across the financial markets and oversee the entire publishing team. In addition to that, I’m also a moderator for the magazine and currently pursuing a PhD in finance.
Three years ago, my girlfriend and I started a small business, a virtual reality rental service, which has been an exciting venture. In my free time, I coach kids in table tennis, a sport I used to play at a semi-professional level years ago.
However, in recent months, most of my time has been dedicated to working on my modeling career, which has proven to be the most challenging yet rewarding journey I’ve ever undertaken. Maybe because I am not a typical model…
Monika: Women, including transgender women, excel as leaders and business professionals, often bringing unique perspectives that surpass traditional norms. In your experience, what qualities do women bring to leadership roles that make them particularly effective? And let’s be honest - do you ever sit in a boardroom, look around at the men in suits, and think, ‘Wow, if I ran this place, things would actually get done?’
Martina: To be honest, I can’t really say. The reason is that I’ve always been a bit of a free spirit. My whole life, I’ve been self-employed or worked on a contract basis, so I’ve never had to sit through long corporate meetings. Most of my interactions with board members happen one-on-one during interviews or at conferences when I’m moderating, so I don’t have firsthand experience with that corporate perspective.
As for men and women in leadership, I don’t believe gender determines efficiency. What truly matters is the energy and vision a leader brings. From what I’ve observed in the financial markets, the reason we see more men in leadership roles isn’t necessarily because they’re more capable, it’s simply that fewer women choose that path. Many prioritize family, work-life balance, and personal fulfillment over climbing the corporate ladder.
For me, it’s the same. If I were a highly career-focused journalist, I probably wouldn’t have time for modeling and beauty pageants. But maybe that’s exactly why we’re having this conversation, because I’ve chosen a path that allows me to pursue multiple passions and my dreams.
|
| "I’ve always been a bit of a free spirit." |
Monika: When I came out at work, my male co-workers treated me as if the transition lowered my IQ. Did you experience something similar? Do you think this happens because we are women, because we are transgender, or maybe a bit of both?
Martina: I’ve never had that experience, maybe because I’m self-employed. No one really cares how I do my work; they just want results. For example, the magazine has to be completed every month, and it always is.
But I do think many people simply don’t know how to behave around transgender individuals. It’s not that they want to be offensive; they just don’t know what to say or how to approach us. And that’s where our role as role models comes in. We should show others that we are not different, that we are just like them, and that they can treat us the same way.
A great example of this is Fashion Week. I walked for Valentino Mele, and he chose the girls just by looking at them, no matter who they were. Then he fitted us. It was the same for everyone; I just had to take off my clothes and wear what he gave me, no discussion, no matter if I’m trans, cis, or whatever…
Monika: How is your modeling and beauty career perceived at work? Do people see it in a positive light, or do you get any negative reactions? Or do you just not care what they think?
Martina: As you can probably tell from my previous answers, they don’t really care. What matters to them is that my performance on stage is good. Sure, I could be a better moderator, but at the end of the day, they expect me to deliver the same high-quality work, whether I’m modeling or not.
A good example of this is when I was leaving for Miss Star, I was literally finishing the magazine from the airport. As for reactions, the banking industry is quite polite. There was no negativity, only support. Many colleagues and partners told me they hadn’t known about my pageant journey, but they admired my courage and dedication. That was really nice to hear.
I think part of the reason for their support is that, at my age, I’m surrounded by people who have given up on their childhood dreams. And honestly, that’s a shame. Life happens, and we all go through difficult times, but we should never stop chasing our dreams. Maybe we won’t achieve them 100%, but at least we can say, “I tried. I gave it my very best.” And when we know that, we can experience a kind of happiness that’s truly unique.
|
| "I tried. I gave it my very best." |
Monika: Let’s talk about the pageant preparations. I know you didn’t have a team behind you to help with outfits, makeup, and hairstyles, which must have been exhausting! Were the other girls in the same situation, or did some of them have more support?
Martina: No, I didn’t have a team, and I’ll also be on my own for Miss International Queen. But this time, I’ll be much more prepared. I think many girls were on their own as well, at least until the final night, when they had some help. I was lucky, too. The organizers helped me find a makeup artist, and the girls supported each other.
Kim from Vietnam, my roommate, was especially kind. Sometimes, she even lent me members of her team when I needed assistance. So even though I was technically alone, I never felt alone. The whole experience was amazing.
I truly believe that even in a competition, people can still be kind to each other. I made an effort to smile, stay positive, and be as prepared as possible, even though I had jet lag during the first few days. Maybe that’s why I won the title of Miss Evolution.
Monika: The pageant must have been divided into different competitions. Can you talk a bit more about how they were structured and which parts stood out the most to you?
Martina: Yes, there were many competitions, but from my perspective, the most significant ones were Top Model, Swimsuit, and Story Behind. And, of course, there were the overall titles: winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up.
Each category was part of the larger competition. For example, one evening, we had a jeans fashion show at a club, and the winner of Top Model was chosen from that event. The Swimsuit segment was judged based on our swimsuit video shoot.
I remember being extremely nervous throughout the competition, especially because I was struggling with my catwalk. Even though I had some experience from the national competition MJ Top Model and had taken online lessons with Putra Passarela, I still felt very insecure walking in heels. In a way, I was learning as I went.
But at my age, there isn’t much time to sit back and practice for years, I had to jump in, do my best, and keep improving along the way.
|
| "I’m happy when my journey is visible. |
Martina: To be honest, there was no real strategy. As you mentioned, different events required different outfits, but we were given instructions, such as, “Today, you wear green,” or “Today, pink.” So I knew in advance what I needed.
For dresses, I wore designs by Nina Klymiuk (NK Dress) and Hana Krátká (Hanell), along with some pieces I bought from stores. But given that my entire preparation period was only two months, I mostly worked with what I could get during that time.
As for hair and makeup, I did everything myself except for the preliminaries and the final gala. I just did the best I could with the skills and energy I had, especially since I was only getting about four hours of sleep per night!
Monika: Did you buy your dresses in a store, or did you have them custom-made? I can imagine that choosing the right outfit is always a tough decision, especially with how important it is for a pageant. Did you get any advice from a fashion designer or maybe from friends to help with your choices?
Martina: My most important dresses, preliminaries, gala, costume, and some dinner dresses, came from designers, while the rest were from stores. Finding everything was a nightmare! I’m incredibly grateful to the designers who helped me, they were so generous and lent me clothes for free.
I did have some consultations with Putra Passarela, but for the most part, I had to figure things out on my own. My girlfriend was also a huge help, I couldn’t have done it without her support.
Monika: The pageant had 26 beautiful contestants, which must have created some friendly competition. How did that affect the interactions between the girls? Did you manage to make some friends or was it all about focusing on the win?
Martina: I think the environment was very friendly. I don’t know why, but at both competitions I’ve been in (MJ Top Model and Miss Star), people always say, “You’re lucky, this year, the atmosphere is amazing.” I hope it will be the same at Miss International Queen and Miss Europe Continental, where I will participate this year. For both pageants, my entire wardrobe will be prepared by Nina Klymiuk (NK Dress).
As for friendships, yes, I definitely made some! We still keep in touch from time to time, and I really hope to see some of them again one day. At the very least, a few of them will be attending Miss International Queen, so we’ll get to reunite there!
END OF PART 1
All photos: courtesy of Martina Sobková.
© 2025 - Monika Kowalska
No comments:
Post a Comment