Paulina Porizkova is candidly sharing her experiences of love and heartache as she embarks on a new chapter in her life. In a heartfelt Instagram video posted on 10 September, the 61-year-old model reflected on the difficult journey of finding love in her fifties and the personal growth that has shaped her understanding of relationships.
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Dressed in her wedding dress from House of Gilles, which she wore for her nuptials to Jeff Greenstein earlier this year, Porizkova spoke openly about her past. She recounted feeling as though her romantic life was over at 51, only to experience profound loneliness that led her to lower her standards and, ultimately, to a painful heartbreak. “At 55, I was so lonely I opened my heart to someone who would utterly destroy it,” she revealed, noting that this experience ultimately forced her to rebuild her life and reassess her values.
The model highlighted her transformative experience from 55 to 57, noting a significant shift in her perspective. “I no longer even glanced at the types of people I had previously found so attractive,” she explained, comparing it to losing the desire for sweet treats. This change in mindset allowed her to seek out relationships based on depth and substance rather than superficial allure. Porizkova referred to this new outlook as a conscious choice to seek out “nourishing” connections rather than those that could cause harm.
In January 2023, at the age of 58, Porizkova found love again on the elite dating app Raya, where she met Greenstein. For the first time, she felt empowered to choose her partner rather than waiting passively to be chosen. Reflecting on their relationship, she described Greenstein’s marriage proposal as his way of affirming his commitment to her. “I like feeling chosen,” she shared, hinting at the importance of mutual respect and acknowledgment in a relationship.
Despite her initial reservations about marriage—having experienced challenging dynamics in her previous relationships—Porizkova ultimately came to appreciate the value of a committed partnership in her later years. “I have grown into understanding my worth, and that made me choose differently,” she said, adding that the lessons learned from her past contributed significantly to her decision to marry.
Porizkova’s video concluded on an optimistic note, where she expressed her readiness to make a binding promise to her husband in front of their loved ones, with full confidence and a clear understanding of what commitment entails. Capturing a moment in the sun with a carefree spirit, she emphasised the importance of mutual support and shared values in the relationship.
The wedding, which took place on 3 July in Lake Orta, Italy, was attended by her two sons, Jonathan and Oliver, who participated as musicians in the ceremony. It marked a significant milestone in Porizkova’s life, and she reflected fondly on the event and the evolution of her perception of love over the years.
In a separate interview in January 2025, Porizkova elaborated on her evolving understanding of love. She expressed that what she once recognised as love—characterised by anxiety and emotional turbulence—was not genuine affection but rather emotional trauma resurfacing. “Being in love means feeling treasured and safe and having an equal partnership,” she explained, encapsulating her newfound perspective.
Paulina Porizkova’s journey serves as an inspiring narrative of resilience and self-discovery. Through heartache, she has emerged with a clearer sense of her worth, reaffirming that true love is based on mutual respect, understanding, and support. As she glances back over her past while moving forward with hope and confidence, Porizkova exemplifies the belief that love can flourish at any age, echoing a sentiment that her current happiness is the result of wise choices made along the way.