Supermodel Paulina Porizkova Says Women Are ‘Expected to Go Silent’ With Age

Supermodel Paulina Porizkova is reflecting on the experience of aging as a woman.

“This one is for you, ladies of Instagram — and those of you who sometimes stop me on the street just to say ‘hi’ and ‘thank you,’” Porizkova, 61, said in a Sunday, September 27, Instagram video. “I’m a little bit shocked by the ‘thank you.’ I guess maybe I still don’t feel like I deserve it, but [I’m] getting over that. And I guess the ‘thank you’ is for making you not feel alone [in] not being psyched about aging.”

She continued, “Aging is such a privilege when we get to do it — and yet — it’s so on the line, especially when it comes to women. We do get dismissed from the main tables when we age. We are expected to go silent. We are expected to sort of withdraw from polite society.”

Porizkova rose to fame as a supermodel in the 1980s, appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1983. She went on to be featured on the magazine’s cover in both 1984 and 1985. She has since become known on social media for her body-positive content.

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“Those of us who are not ready to give it up have to go through surgical procedures. And those of us who don’t care — yes, can withdraw, sure, and have very happy lives. But there seems to be a lack of balance in here somewhere,” Porizkova continued in her Sunday video. “Can’t we age and still be at the main table? I mean, we have more to contribute now than we ever did.”

After asking her followers what online content they wanted to see more, and what makes them “feel good,” she then concluded, “Let’s do more of that and let me know in the comments what I can do more of.”

“This is purely about scrolling on social media,” Porizkova wrote in the caption. “What makes you feel better? What makes you feel worse? What makes you feel envious? What makes you feel generous? What inspires you? I know I feel better when I see women who mirror my experiences. I feel worse when I have no ability to help in any way. (This is also feeling powerless in the face of awful things happening around me.)”

She continued, “I get envious when I see my peers getting the thing I want. I feel generous when I see people I respect doing well and am able to transform the quick flash of envy into best wishes. I am inspired every time I see a woman being unapologetically herself.”