Paulina Porizkova facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paulina Porizkova
Porizkova in 2014
Born	(1965-04-09) 9 April 1965 (age 60) Prostějov, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)
Citizenship	Sweden United States
Occupation	Model author actress
Spouse(s)	Ric Ocasek ​ ​ (m. 1989; died 2019)​
Partner(s)	Jeff Greenstein (2023–present; engaged)
Children	2
Modeling information
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Agency	The Model CoOp (New York) Premium Models (Paris) IMG Models (Milan) Models 1 (London) Traffic Models (Barcelona) Place Models (Hamburg)

Paulina Porizkova (born 9 April 1965) is a famous fashion model and author. She was born in Czechoslovakia. In 1973, she moved to Sweden. She started modeling in France when she was 15 years old.

In 1984, Paulina became the first woman from Central Europe to be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Later, she also became an actress. Her first movie was Anna in 1987.

Early life

Paulina Porizkova was born on 9 April 1965. This was in Prostějov, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. Her parents, Anna and Jiří Pořízka, were against the Soviet government.

When her parents left for Sweden, Paulina stayed with her grandmother. The authorities in Czechoslovakia would not let her parents take her with them. This situation became very well-known in Sweden.

When Paulina was seven, her mother tried to bring her to Sweden. This attempt failed, and her mother was briefly held by the police. In 1973, after pressure from other countries, the government allowed Paulina's family to be together again.

Career

Modeling achievements

Paulina Porizkova started modeling when she was 13. A friend, who wanted to be a makeup artist, sent her photos to modeling agencies. Soon, a famous model scout named John Casablancas saw her pictures. He invited her to Paris, and her modeling career began.

Paulina became a top model in Paris in the early 1980s. She appeared in Sports Illustrated in 1983. In 1984, at 18, she was the first woman from Central Europe on the cover of the swimsuit issue. She was on the cover again in 1985. She was only the second model to be on the cover two years in a row.

Many magazines featured her on their covers. These included Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar]]. In 1992, Harper's Bazaar named her one of its ten most beautiful women.

Paulina also worked in advertising campaigns for big brands. These included Chanel, Versace, and Christian Dior. She also walked the runway for designers like Calvin Klein.

In 1988, Paulina signed a huge modeling contract. It was with Estée Lauder for $6,000,000. This was the highest-paying modeling contract at the time. This deal helped change her image from a swimsuit model to a sophisticated European model. She worked with Estée Lauder until 1995.

Television appearances

Paulina Porizkova was a judge on America's Next Top Model (ANTM). She joined the show for Cycle 10. She helped evaluate the participants each week.

In 2009, she announced she was no longer on the show. The producers said it was due to "budget cuts."

She also appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2007. She was voted off early in the season. Paulina also played a character named Clarissa on the soap opera As the World Turns. She appeared in a few episodes in 2009 and 2010.

Acting roles

Paulina's first film was a mockumentary about modeling called Portfolio in 1983. She then appeared in the 1987 film Anna. In 1989, she acted with Tom Selleck in the movie Her Alibi.

She also had a small role in the 1993 film Arizona Dream. This movie starred Johnny Depp and Jerry Lewis. Paulina had a main role in the 1998 film Thursday. She also wrote and directed a film called Roommates in 2001.

Writing career

Paulina Porizkova co-wrote a children's book. It is called The Adventures of Ralphie the Roach. It was published in 1992.

In 2007, she published her first novel, A Model Summer. This book is about a 15-year-old Swedish girl who goes to Paris to model. Paulina also writes for websites like Modelinia and The Huffington Post.

Personal life

Paulina Porizkova is a citizen of both Sweden and the United States. In 1984, she met Ric Ocasek. He was the lead singer of the rock band the Cars. They met while filming the music video for their song "Drive".

Paulina and Ric married on 23 August 1989. They had two sons, Jonathan Raven Ocasek (born in 1993) and Oliver Ocasek (born in 1999). In May 2018, Paulina announced that she and Ric had separated.

In September 2019, Ric Ocasek passed away. At that time, they were still in the process of getting divorced. Paulina later settled a disagreement about Ric's estate. She said, "They gave me what is mine under New York state law, and we’re done."

In 2021, Paulina briefly dated screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. Since February 2023, she has been in a relationship with screenwriter Jeff Greenstein. In July 2025, she announced that they were engaged.

Paulina has stated that she considers herself a feminist. She wrote about this in an article for The New York Times in 2017.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Paulina Porizkova para niños

• List of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover models