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Paulina Porizkova, one of the last true supermodels—those who defined the term when it actually meant something—celebrates her 60th birthday this month.
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Speaking about feminism, ageism and sexuality — and how they fit (or don’t) in the fashion world, Paulina Porizkova returns to Estée Lauder, 2025
(Photo: Business Wire/AP)
With a stunning career spanning 45 years, Porizkova has lived a life full of iconic milestones. From earning the title of "The Most Beautiful Model of the '80s" to being married to Ric Ocasek, the lead singer of The Cars (who, after their separation, passed away and left her nothing in his will), she’s graced the covers of the world’s top magazines, including Playboy, made an unforgettable nude comeback at 56, and has aged with unmatched elegance. Her piercing blue eyes, lean physique, silver-streaked blonde hair, and wrinkles that tell the story of a woman entering her seventh decade without the aid of plastic surgery, make her a true icon of natural beauty.
A legendary beginning
The start of her journey, as is often the case in modeling, was entirely serendipitous. In the late 1970s, at just 13 years old, a photograph of her found its way to a modeling agency. By 1983, she was already appearing in Sports Illustrated, the holy grail of swimwear modeling, and returned to grace its cover in both 1984 and 1985. This marked the beginning of one of the most successful—albeit not always continuous—careers in the modeling world.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Porizkova was a household name in high fashion. She walked for the biggest fashion houses, from Chanel to Versace, Christian Dior to Oscar de la Renta. In 1988, she signed what was, at the time, the most lucrative beauty contract in the world: a $6 million deal as the face of Estée Lauder. She was featured on up to five magazine covers a month, embodying the idealized image of perfection that the fashion world worshiped.
Her distinctive features contributed to the era’s obsession with "supermodels," each celebrated for a unique physical trait—“Elle Macpherson’s shoulders,” “Cindy Crawford’s mole,” and for Paulina, it was her unparalleled, classical beauty.
The invisibility of aging
In a recent interview with Vogue, Porizkova reflected on the harsh realities of aging in her industry. She admitted that she once believed her beauty would be timeless, only to find herself deemed irrelevant by the time she turned 40. As she described it, she reached that moment in life when a woman “ceases to exist for men,” becoming invisible and “erased from the market.”
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But then came the internet. Suddenly, she had a platform—a voice in a world that had previously ignored her opinions. She found herself connecting with countless silenced women, using her newfound stage to discuss feminism, ageism and sexuality, and how these intersect with the fashion industry. Her candid Instagram posts, often featuring bikini photos and empowering messages, have garnered her admiration from women worldwide.
A fearless fashionista
Porizkova has never shied away from bold fashion choices. Unlike some stars who embrace modesty as they age, she continues to embrace her body and beauty with confidence. Whether it’s a sheer bodysuit for the cover of Vogue Czechia, deep plunging necklines at red-carpet events, or even just lingerie in her daring Instagram posts, she exudes self-assurance and elegance.
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Paulina Porizkova with her photos at a fashion photography exhibition in Milan, 2010
(Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Her wardrobe is as versatile as her personality. She can effortlessly transition from a chic white lace jumpsuit by Elie Saab, to a relaxed denim jacket paired with a Marc Cross oversized bag, to a rocker-chic leather jacket over chiffon layers by Rag & Bone. At Paris Fashion Week, she stole the show in Balmain’s spring-summer 2025 collection, strutting the runway in a satin suit with a thigh-high slit, outshining models decades younger. Even her vacation snaps—posing in bikinis on exotic beaches—are a masterclass in confidence.
Reinventing beauty and success
Despite the challenges she faced, including the loss of her ex-husband and being left out of his will, Porizkova seems to have found her stride again. She’s in a happy new relationship, enjoying a resurgence in media attention, and continuing to advocate for the beauty of aging. She’s been re-cast as the face of Estée Lauder, demanded and received the finale spot in Balmain’s runway show, and is as captivating today as she was in her supermodel heyday.
At 60, Paulina Porizkova is, by her own account, a smarter, happier and better version of herself—a woman who refuses to let anyone else define her worth. She’s living proof that beauty, confidence, and relevance don’t fade with age—they evolve. So here’s to Paulina, a timeless icon and a fearless trailblazer, continuing to inspire us all to embrace ourselves fully, no matter the stage of life.