Check Out Michaela Vybohova’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Vybohova.

Hi Michaela , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a small town in Slovakia, surrounded by nature, animals, and a very loving family. I was always independent and curious, but I definitely didn’t grow up thinking I was going to become a model or build businesses.
I was discovered at 15 through the Elite Model Look competition in Slovakia, and modeling very quickly opened up a completely different world for me. I moved to New York when I was 18, which was probably one of the biggest turning points in my life. I was young, didn’t really know what I was doing, and suddenly had to figure out how to navigate a completely new country, industry, and life on my own. Looking back, those years taught me more than anything else could have.
Modeling took me around the world and gave me incredible experiences, but it also taught me how much more there is to me than just being in front of a camera. Over the years, I became really interested in business, branding, fashion, and building things of my own. That led me to launching my own fashion brand, Michaela V, and later Model Munch, a protein bar company inspired by something I genuinely felt was missing in the market.
Today, I’m still modeling, but I’m also an entrepreneur, designer, and someone who is constantly figuring out what I want to build next. I’ve never really had a perfectly mapped out plan. I’ve just followed the things that excite me, learned along the way, and tried to turn every chapter into something bigger.
I think the biggest part of my story is that I’m still very much in the middle of it. I don’t see myself as someone who has “made it.” I’m much more interested in what I can create next.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. I think from the outside, especially with modeling and traveling, it can look like everything happened very easily, but there were a lot of moments that were really difficult.
Moving to New York at 18 was a huge adjustment. I was young, far from my family, and suddenly responsible for figuring out my career and my life on my own. Modeling is also an industry where you hear “no” constantly. You can be told you’re beautiful one day and then be rejected for something completely out of your control the next. Learning not to take that personally took time.
There have also been periods where I questioned myself and wondered if I was moving in the right direction. Building businesses has brought a completely different kind of challenge. With modeling, you are essentially selling yourself and your image. With a business, you are responsible for the idea, the product, the money, the people, the decisions, and everything that can go wrong. There is no one else to blame.
I’ve definitely made mistakes, trusted the wrong people, had things not work out the way I expected, and had moments where I felt like I was starting over. But honestly, those have probably been some of the most valuable experiences for me.
I’ve learned that the road doesn’t really become easier. You just become better at handling the bumps. And I think every difficult chapter has made me more independent, more selective about who I surround myself with, and much more confident in my ability to figure things out.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is really a combination of fashion, entrepreneurship, and personal brand. I’m still a working high-fashion model, which is where I started and remains a very important part of what I do, but over the years I’ve expanded into building brands and creating businesses of my own.
I’m probably best known for modeling, but I think what sets me apart is that I’ve never wanted to be only a model. I’m very curious and I like understanding how things work, whether that’s fashion, branding, product development, retail, or business. I’ve always had a very entrepreneurial side, so I naturally started looking for ways to create something rather than just be part of someone else’s vision.
That led me to create Michaela V, my luxury fashion brand, and Model Munch, a protein bar brand built around the idea of doing something different in a category that I felt had become very repetitive. I really enjoy taking an idea from something that exists in my head and figuring out how to turn it into something real.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve built a life that is very much my own. I moved across the world at 18, built a modeling career, started businesses, learned as I went, and kept reinventing myself without having a traditional roadmap. I’m proud that I’ve been willing to start from zero more than once.
I also think my personality is a big part of what sets me apart. I’m very driven, but I’m also extremely curious, warm, and genuinely interested in people. I love deep conversations, learning from other people, and connecting with people beyond the surface. I don’t want to pretend I have everything figured out. I think there’s something much more interesting about being ambitious while still being a work in progress.
Ultimately, I want my work to sit at the intersection of fashion, business, and culture, while still feeling very personal and authentic to me.

What were you like growing up?
I was a very curious and independent kid, growing up surrounded by nature, animals, and a close family, so I spent a lot of time outside and developed a love for animals and adventure pretty early on.
I was also quite competitive and driven, although I had no idea what I was going to do with that. I liked figuring things out for myself and I’ve always had a strong sense of wanting to experience life rather than simply follow what was expected of me.
I was very family oriented and sensitive, too. I cared deeply about the people around me and have always been someone who values genuine connection and meaningful conversations, no matter how annoying they were perceived by “grown ups” when I asked “but why?” for the thousand time haha.
Looking back, I think a lot of who I am today was already there: independent, ambitious, curious, and happiest when I’m learning, creating, or surrounded by animals and people I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.michaelav.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelav/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/himichaelav