[9] Paulus was born in Zellhausen, today part of Mainhausen, near Frankfurt, Germany, into a working-class family.

At 21, she met Hermann Lattemann, a well-known balloonist, and began working as his assistant to repair the balloons with her skills as a seamstress.

During this time, thousands of admirers mailed letters of support to her to request she continue her career of being a ballooner.

She then bought four new parachutes and set off on a tour of Europe using the stage name Miss Polly.

She performed theatrically, using acrobatic feats and even riding a bicycle suspending from a hot air balloon's basket.