Porizkova was born on 9 April 1965 in Prostějov,[6][7][8][9] then in Czechoslovakia, to anti-Soviet dissident parents, Anna Pořízková and Jiří Pořízka.

[10][11][6] Czechoslovak authorities would not allow her parents to reclaim her, and the ensuing battle was widely publicized in the Swedish press, making her a cause célèbre.

[10][11] In 1973, international political pressure led by Olof Palme caused the communist government to allow the Pořízek family to be reunited.

[15] Harper's Bazaar named her one of its ten most beautiful women in 1992 and American Photo magazine in its first issue declared her to be the model of the 1980s.

[16][17][18][19][20] Porizkova appeared on the covers of numerous magazines around the world during the 1980s and 1990s, including Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Self, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour.

[10][16][21] She has been featured in advertising campaigns for Chanel, Versace, Hermes, Christian Dior, Oscar De La Renta, Mikimoto, Perry Ellis, Laura Biagiotti, Anne Klein, Ellen Tracy, Barneys New York, Ann Taylor, Guerlain, and Revlon and appeared on the runway for Calvin Klein.

The Estée Lauder makeover transformed Porizkova's public image from a swimsuit model to that of European sophisticate and she remained the company's face until 1995.

[29][citation needed] Porizkova was part of the panel of judges on America's Next Top Model (ANTM), starting on Cycle 10, replacing fashion icon Twiggy.

[31] Although Porizkova maintained she was told by producers that she had an "ego problem," especially when she "consistently complained" about Tyra Banks' reported lateness to the set, ANTM executive producer Ken Mok and Banks released a statement claiming Porizkova's firing was due to "the current state of the economy," forcing ANTM to "make major budget cuts…unfortunately, Paulina was a casualty of these cuts."

[35] Porizkova was a participant on the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars in spring 2007,[36] but was voted off on the first results show which aired on 27 March 2007.

In 1989, she co-starred with Tom Selleck in the film Her Alibi;[41] she was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress for her appearance.

[48][49][50] Porizkova co-authored a children's book, The Adventures of Ralphie the Roach (ISBN 978-0385424028) with British model Joanne Russell and illustrated by her stepson Adam Ocasek, that was published in September 1992.

[53] She was the inspiration of the late transgender model and ballroom performer Octavia St. Laurent who spoke glowingly about her in the documentary film Paris is Burning.

[56][57] In 1984, she met Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the rock band the Cars, during the filming of their music video "Drive".