Miami Shoot

Tony Yates

Beauty, Cover Stories, MSM Online

JOANNA KRUPA 2.0  Miami’s Favorite Supermodel Keeps Getting Better

  [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10494″] Hypnotizing lashes by Joanna Krupa www.secretlashes.com Photographer: @MarcinSowa   Hair & Make up: Tony Yates Interviewed by Nadja Atwal Joanna Krupa is one of those few women I have enjoyed having in my life for many many years. One rarely finds people who have a big heart and big personality (and all that wrapped up in stunning looks). What always impressed me most with her was what a quick learner she has always been. I recall a million dollar charity poker tournament she entered many moons ago organized by Trump. She was one of the very few celebrities there who had never played before, but still wanted to do it and simply got a mini crash course on site. Naturally neither Jojo (how many of her friends call her) nor I had any expectations for her to make it even to the 2nd round. Well, … she won the whole damn thing  – for a great cause –  and next thing I know she was playing at the World Series of Poker in Vegas as one of the last celebrities standing. On the contrary, many young models I meet today who not only bore me to tears but also offend me with their I-am-hot-so-gimme attitude, Joanna never had a sense of entitlement just because she was beautiful. She always impressed with a humble, cordial, dependable, hard working personality … unlike many people from LA she is on time! Her family values are profound and rare and most of her friends have been with her for too many years to count. Her love for animals goes way beyond showing up for some charity event – which is really all that most celebs invest. Krupa has put her reputation on the line to make a stand for animals via controversial PETA campaigns or confronting celebrities who make business with selling or wearing fur products.  She would rescue dogs from shelters, keep as many as she could in her house and others she would raise funds for to pay for their needed surgeries and put them with new owners (for that matter I encourage you to check out her charity site http://angelsforanimalrescue.org). Last but not least on the looks front she has become even more beautiful and is busier than ever as a model, host and business woman. Of course, like all of us she has had her fair share of tough life lessons. Her latest one was the divorce from husband Miami Businessman Romain Zago. But while others would have likely used this experience as an excuse to become bitter or drown in self-pity, Joanna simply turned lemons into lemonade. I spoke with her exclusively about life, loss and lessons learned. NA: You had a lot of changes in the last 12 months to put it mildly … JK: Oh yes, my life changed drastically. From being with someone for 10 years to a separation and divorce to being engaged to my new love not even a year later to now planning a family … NA: That is beyond a lot … especially since a divorce always feels a like a loss, as obviously the idea was to stay together forever when you tied the knot … JK: Definitely, I felt initially that my world was falling apart. But shock and sadness quickly turned into gratefulness. I am so grateful to have had such a best friend for so many years, cause that’s what Romain was and we are still close friends today. Our marriage was a great learning experience and made us both better in the end. The divorce also made me look at life differently; it was a wake up call, because while my career was and is important, I needed to be serious about family planning, if I wanted children. So I would have to adjust my life accordingly. And suddenly my biggest fear was: what if I didn’t find the right person to start a family with? Thankfully it was in my stars to meet the right person. And rather quickly!  I followed the very advice that I preach to others: be positive, love yourself, learn from every experience and apply that knowledge.  NA: How is your life now? And have your priorities changed at all? JK: My life is great right now. Overall I have always been a happy person and grateful for what I have. I think I became a better, stronger person though and yes, my priorities have changed … I love my work, but my significant other comes first and I want to be a mother. It helps that my fiancée lives in LA, like I do. During my last marriage we were apart too often and I learned from that to not repeat that long distance relationship model again.  NA: As if being in LA and Miami wasn’t enough, you have created a triangle that involves Poland where you have been the host of Poland ’s Next Top Model for many years. Still going strong? JK: Yes and I’m so very thankful for being the host and a judge on this amazing show. We are now filming the 7th season and I guess it’s one of the highest rated shows in Poland because we always keep it fresh with new challenges for the contestants and we‘ve had lots of international filming. Plus unlike several other talent shows where the contestants don’t get many opportunities afterwards, ours provides the contestants with real opportunities to work in the fashion and entertainment industry. And the audience keeps following the next steps that those contestants take. Our show has real success stories. NA: What other projects are on the horizon ? JK: I’m getting more and more involved in the business side of things that I’m passionate about. The cover shoot is featuring my line of false lashes, for example. I’ll be launching a few more products, one has to do with fitness and another with a very innovative skincare.  Then another project with, of course, animals is coming up. So stay tuned and follow me on social media, as it

Cover Stories, Entertainment, Fashion, Interviews, Swimwear, The Issue

JOANNA KRUPA

SUPERMODEL JOANNA KRUPA PROVES BEAUTY IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP Interviewed By Katie Jackson Photographed by Alessandra Fiorini Hair & Makeup by Tony Yates Styled by Katie Jackson Set Assistant: Nycole Sariol Location: 1100 Millecento Brickell Most know Joanna Krupa as the mega successful supermodel who has graced the covers of major publications including Maxim, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour, or as the star of the hit reality television shows Dancing with the Stars and The Real Housewives of Miami. But the Polish-American beauty’s success goes far beyond her glamorous glossy magazine covers and stints on TV. Krupa is leading a powerful movement against animal cruelty, actively protesting the injustice that happens to innocent animals every day. In providing care for abandoned animals through her organization Angels for Animal Rescue, participating in campaigns for PETA, and blasting animal cruelty on her social media accounts, Krupa has helped save thousands of animals’ lives. To this day, Krupa lives and breathes her beliefs, making her not only an icon in the fashion industry, but also an example of how to relentlessly stand up for a cause in which you truly believe. Born in Warsaw, Poland, Krupa moved to the United States at a young age and worked her way up to becoming one of the most successful supermodels. After landing high-profi le spreads in magazines and roles in multiple movies and television shows, Krupa was approached to become a part of the cast of The Real Housewives of Miami, a reality television show surrounding the lives of several glamorous women living in the Magic City. The show highlighted Krupa’s relationship with now husband and Mynt Lounge owner Romain Zago, airing their nuptials on the Season 3 finale. Through the series, Krupa has remained friends with a few of the RHOM cast members, including Miami’s go-to celebrity dentist Karent Sierra. “One of the best things that came out of the show was my friendship with Karent,” said Krupa. “She is one of my closest friends.” Since the show’s last season, Krupa has been enjoying being a newlywed while also maintaining a busy career schedule and traveling back and forth between her homes in Miami and Los Angeles. Most of Krupa’s projects are based in L.A., while Zago’s are in Miami. Though she admits that living a bi-coastal lifestyle provides its diffi culties, Krupa says it is crucial to maintaining both her career and a healthy marriage with Zago. “We make it work because we have no other choice,” said Krupa. “Neither one of us want to give up our careers. But when we are ready to start a family we will have to be based in one city when our kids start school.” In addition to her marriage and career, Krupa has made animal activism an immensely important priority in her life. Always an animal lover, Krupa realized the horrific cruelty millions of animals experience after watching a PETA—People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—video. “I saw the way animals are skinned alive for their fur, and I had to do something,” said Krupa. “I had to help spread awareness and be a voice for the voiceless and defenseless. I decided to dedicate my life to do whatever I possibly could to spread the message on all types of animal cruelty until the day that I die.” Krupa began participating in PETA campaigns, bringing worldwide attention to animal cruelty and the anti-fur movement. After becoming one of PETA’s most successful models, Krupa led animal cruelty protests before deciding to create her own non-profit organization Angels for Animal Rescue. “There are so many big organizations out there where you don’t know exactly where the money is going,” said Krupa. “So I wanted to open my own organization where I know that one hundred percent of the money is going to the animals.” While Krupa’s organization is small—it is run solely by Krupa, her rescue partner Gabi Gutierrez, and sister Marta—Angels for Animal Rescue has been responsible for saving thousands of animals’ lives. “We rescue all kinds of animals including cats, dogs, rabbits, pigs, chickens, etc.,” said Krupa. “But since we don’t have our own facility we rely on donations and fosters to grow our rescue efforts so we can keep saving lives.” But Krupa’s animal activism does not end there. Krupa has also spoken out against animal testing, and even decided to create her own cruelty-free skincare line, Cellogica. “I wanted products that really work and that aren’t tested on animals,” said Krupa. “There is no reason at all to test on poor, innocent animals for products.” Cellogica uses natural ingredients to reverse the signs of ageing at the cellular level. “There is a day cream and a night cream, and they both do their individual magic which makes them a great team.” As far as her successful modeling and TV career, Krupa will soon be jetting off to her homeland for Season 5 of Poland’s Next Top Model, and then head back to L.A. to shoot a movie where she—very fittingly—will play an animal activist. But no matter what prominent project Krupa takes on, it is evident that she models so much more than the latest chic fashions and sultry swimwear. To get involved with Angels for Animal Rescue, please visit www.angelsforanimalrescue.org Click here to view our online issue. Click here to view this post in our July/August digital issue.

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