When we hear the phrase “graceful aging”, the name that immediately springs to mind is that of a famous model, actress, and author, Paulina Porizkova. Having been the first Central European woman to grace the cover of the 1984 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue at just 18 years old, Porizkova is well-known for her youthful beauty. However, nearly 38 years later, Porizkova is more open and confident than ever, and let me tell you, 56 has never looked better. From skincare to ageism, this Swedish-American model tells (and shows) all on her Instagram account. Chronicling her aging process without shame or filters, and we are here to take notes.
Paulina is Facing Aging Head-on
Most celebs tend to shy away from the topic of aging, both in interviews and real life, but not Paulina Porizkova. The star embraces the natural changes that have accompanied the years. Showcasing any fine lines or grey hairs with pride in direct contrast to the pressure placed on women to remain, or at least appear, youthful.
“Women who look their age, who actually represent their age, that have the wrinkles and can move their faces—and not everything is firm—have a lot less representation. And it’s a lot less celebrated,” Porizkova says on The Tamron Hall Show. “Making it look like you’re not aging is what seems to be celebration-worthy.”
#BetweenJLoAndBettyWhite
The supermodel created the hashtag #BetweenJLoAndBettyWhite to bring attention to the erasure that women experience after a certain age. Porizkova felt that the beauty standard only allowed space and respect for older women who looked young due to procedures and plastic surgery. Only then “it wasn’t until you got to Betty White, where old people got to be cool again,” she said.
Being one of the few stars who hasn’t undergone plastic surgery or gotten Botox and filler to combat aging. Porizkova shares her makeup- and filter-free images on Instagram to show people that aging isn’t bad or shameful, and it’s certainly not the hospital pass that the media and society make it out to be.
“In society’s opinion, I’m losing my beauty. I’m trying my hardest to withstand the barbs of having passed my prime, because, I feel in my prime now! The combination of my learning, maturing, and earning my wrinkles, combined with the way I look, I believe is the best balance I have ever had. I get a fair amount of advice here on what to do to spruce myself up everything from facelifts to changing my hair color. So, sorry all you who can’t see beauty when it differs from preconceived social notions,” Paulina writes in an Instagram caption.
Despite Porizkova’s emphasis on aging being more on the concept as opposed to the aesthetics. It’s still undeniable that the model looks incredible, and most people would do a double-take regarding her age. In hopes that we can adapt not only her confident approach to aging but also her tactics, let’s take a look at some of Porizkova’s supermodel secrets:
How does Paulina look after her skin?
Porizkova only washes her face once a day, preferring to just roll out of bed in the mornings with the previous night’s oil buildup as an extra layer for underneath her daily moisturizer. She emphasizes the importance of daily SPF and has opted for a less-is-more approach for her makeup products as she has gotten older. Only using a handful of products that contain ingredients that are able to nourish her skin. As with everything else, Porizkova has been extremely open about the skincare procedures and treatments that she undergoes to keep her skin looking her best, with specific reference to laser treatments:
“Everything I do is non-invasive, and it’s incredibly subtle. The treatments that I prefer are the ones where you don’t look like you’ve been mauled by a bear.”
Diet and Fitness
Being a model, Porizkova’s body has always been incredible, but looking the way she does at 56? We just had to know.
The model, along with many other celebrities, practices Intermittent Fasting (IF). Porizkova utilizes the 16:8 method, meaning that she fasts for 16 hours, and then consumes all her meals during the remaining 8: “I generally take it as I eat whatever I want for eight hours because I like food. I tend to like healthier foods, but if I eat a fried chicken, I eat a fried chicken—it’s just the way it is.”
Aging and Paulina Porizkova
This method of eating allows Porizkova to be lenient with her eating. As the 16-hour fasting period of IF allows the food to be digested and absorbed properly. IF has many benefits, but it is recommended to read up on the practice properly.
Porizkova, to our envy, only really started working out when she hit 40. She has since realized the incredible mental and benefits of being active. She has opened up about how exercise has helped with her panic attacks and even helped her get off antidepressants. The model works out 3-5 days a week, typically in the form of grueling Pilates sessions, but her favorite type of workout is dancing.
Not only does Porizkova look phenomenal at 56 years old, but her confidence and overall attitude regarding aging is a breath of fresh air in a society with constant unattainable beauty standards, best summed up in the following quote by the supermodel:
“I don’t mind aging; I just want to age well.”
MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: Paulina Porizkova/Instagram
Reference List:
Growth, L. 2021. Paulina Porizkova’s Secrets to Staying Fit at 56. [Online] Available at: https://www.eatthis.com/news-paulina-porizkova-wellness-waterfall/ [Accessed: 2021-11-18].
Blanton, K. 2021. Paulina Porizkova, 56, Says She Posts Filter-Free, Makeup-Free Selfies to Celebrate Aging. [Online] Available at: https://www.prevention.com/beauty/a36095725/paulina-porizkova-aging-selfies/ [Accessed: 2021-11-18].
Fishman, E. 2021. Paulina Porizkova gets real about skincare, lasers, and aging gracefully. [Online] Available at: https://pagesix.com/2021/06/01/paulina-porizkova-on-skincare-lasers-and-aging-gracefully/ [Accessed: 2021-11-18].
