Paulina Porizkova

Biography

Paulina Porizkova is a model, actress and author. Born in Czechoslovakia, she now holds dual U.S. and Swedish citizenship. In 1984, at 18 years old, she became the first woman from Central Europe to be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.  She was part of the judging panel of America’s Next Top Model in Cycles 10–12.

Porizkova is the subject of the song “Friends of P” by The Rentals on their 1995 album, Return of the Rentals, written by lead singer Matt Sharp. She was the subject of “Paulina” on No Doubt’s eponymous first album and “Dear Paulina”, written and performed by Luna for the film Thursday, in which she appeared. She’s one of several women referenced in Sonic Youth’s song “Swimsuit Issue,” from the 1992 album Dirty.

On 23 August 1989, Porizkova married Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the rock band The Cars. They had met in 1984 during the filming of The Cars’ music video “Drive”. The couple have two sons, Jonathan Raven Ocasek (b. 4 November 1993), and Oliver Ocasek (b. 1999). In May 2018, Porizkova announced she and Ocasek had separated a year earlier.