Recognised by a number of magazines as one of the world's most beautiful people, Paulina Porizkova's modeling career in the global spotlight began unintentionally three decades ago.

Since then, she has graced the covers of the world's most popular magazines and won the highest-paying modeling contract of the 1980s with Estee Lauder cosmetics.

Paulina Porizkova's work in film, television, and writing have been platforms for her to share messages about body image and beauty.

However, her childhood and teenage years were not as glamorous as her family was separated between her birthplace in Czechoslovakia and the country they fled to, Sweden.

Their struggle to reunite and survive through financial hardships forced Porizkova to grow-up quickly and accept responsibility exceeding her years.

In her interview with Riz Khan, she describes how these early experiences contributed to her optimism and resilience in the face of challenges later in her career. 

This episode of One on One aired from Saturday, October 16, 2010.