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Joanna Krupa hosting the Bench Warmer International Holiday Party at “The Kress”, Hollywood 2018. Photo by Toglenn.

Top 10 Fun Facts about Joanna Krupa

Joanna Krupa is a Polish-born American model and actress. She was born on April 23 1979 in Warsaw, Poland. She has featured in several films, including ‘Planet of the Apes’ (2001) and Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon.’

 Krupa has also made several TV reality show appearances. These include ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and ‘The Real Housewives of Miami’. She is well known as the host and head judge of Polish ‘Top Model’, which is the Polish version of Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model. Check out the top 10 fun facts about Joanna Krupa.

1. Joanna Krupa moved to Illinois at the age of five

She was born in Warsaw, Poland on April 23, 1979. At age five, Krupa and her family moved to Illinois, a state in the USA. She attended Mary Lyon Public School in Chicago. She went to Glenbard East High School, and later Steinmetz High School. Her younger sister, Marta, is also a model.

2. She competed in Season 9 of Dancing with the Stars

Joanna Krupa. Photo by Tabercil.

Dancing with the Stars is an ABC (American Broadcasting Company) dancing competition series. Celebrities are paired with professional dancers. Each couple competes for judges’ points and audience votes. The couple with the lowest points at the end of the week is eliminated until only one couple remains.

Krupa took ballet lessons in her childhood years. During season 9 of Dancing with the Stars, Krupa, alongside Derek Hough, joined the competition. Derek is a professional Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, and singer. He is a 6-time winner of the show.

Krupa and Derek pushed through to week 9, where they were unfortunately eliminated.

3. Krupa has featured in several films

She featured in the 2001 movie ‘Planet of the Apes’, an American science fiction film directed by Tim Burton. This was the 6^th film in the Planet of the Apes franchise. Mark Wahlberg stars as Captain Leo Davidson, an astronaut who enters a world inhabited by humanoid apes and is captured by them. Krupa plays Leo’s friend.

She stars in the action film ‘Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon’ (2004). Mickey Hardt plays the lead character Max, while Krupa plays his sister, Jane.

In 2006, Krupa played a supporting role as Taffy in the comedy film ‘The Dog Problem.’ The film was written and directed by Scott Caan.

4. She made an appearance on the reality TV Show ‘The Real Housewives of Miami’

Four of the cast of the reality show “The Real Housewives of Miami” at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival Opening Night. From left: Alexia Echevarria, Joanna Krupa, Marysol Patton and Lisa Hochstein. Photo by Tabercil.

The Real Housewives of Miami is an American TV reality show that premiered in 2011 on Bravo. It showcases the professional and personal lives of several women living in Miami.

Krupa was one of the personalities added to the cast for the second season, which premiered on September 13, 2012.  The series ‘ended’ after 3 seasons in 2016. When a return was announced in 2021, Krupa expressed that she would not be appearing in the new season.

5. She hosts Poland’s Next Top Model

Joanna Krupa, Polish model and “Poland’s Next Top Model” host, on the TVN autumn programming in 2016. Photo by Serecki.

Poland’s Next Top Model is based on the format created by Tyra Banks on the original series ‘America’s Next Top Model.’ It is similar to a modeling competition where aspiring contestants compete to become winners; Next Top Models, in hope of a successful modeling career.

Krupa hosts it and also serves as the head judge. The other members of the panel include fashion designer Dawid Wolinski, photographer Marcin Tyszka and runway coach Kasia Sokolowska. Model Anja Rubik has made several guest appearances.

6. Krupa has made appearances in several TV series

In 2009, she featured in the ABC reality series ‘Superstars. It is a televised sporting event where athletes are paired with celebrities to compete as a team. Krupa was paired with Terrell Owens, an American football wide receiver.

The principal location filming took place in the Bahamas. For the 2009 edition, the winners were Kristi Leskinen (Freestyle skiing) and Maksim Chmerkovskiy (ballroom dancing).

Krupa also appeared for the Million Dollar Challenge show in 2009. It is an American poker show where amateur poker players attempt to defeat celebrities, professional players, and lastly Daniel Negreanu, the main star of the show to win a grand prize.

7. She has appeared on several magazine covers

Joanna Krupa at the 2012 Miami International Film Festival Opening Night. Photo by MiamiFilmFestival.

Krupa has modeled for several magazines. These include FHM, Steppin’ Out, Shape, and Maxim. Maxim is an international men’s magazine based in New York. Krupa has appeared twice on the cover of Playboy, an American men’s lifestyle and entertainment magazine.

She has also featured on the covers of the South African edition of GQ (men’s magazine), and the Polish editions of Glamour and Cosmopolitan.

8. She was voted German Maxim’s Model of the Year

Maxim is an international men’s magazine based in New York. It is prominent for its photography of celebrities whose careers are at a peak. The magazine has a circulation of about 9 million monthly readers. It is sold in 75 countries worldwide.

 Krupa has appeared on its covers. Maxim named Krupa number 55 in its 2011 Hot 100 ranking of the world’s hottest women. She was also named the Sexiest Swimsuit Model in the World. In 2004-2005, she was voted German Maxim’s Model of the Year.

9. Krupa founded an animal rescue group

Image by Matan Ray Vizel from

She founded an animal rescue group, ‘Angels for Animal Rescue’ with her friend Gabi Gutierrez.  It is dedicated to pet adoption and foster care for neglected pets. Krupa has engaged in animal rights activism in several instances.

In December 2009, she featured in PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) print ad campaign for dog adoption. She has also appeared in a PETA ad campaign against the use of natural fur.

In a cover story with Aventura Business Monthly, she stated that she was first motivated to promote PETA when she saw videos of animals being skinned alive for fur in China.

10. She is married to Douglas Nunes

Krupa had been married to businessman Romain Zago in 2013 after several years of dating. She filed for divorce in 2017. On March 25, 2018, she announced her engagement to Douglas Nunes on Instagram.

The two got married in a private ceremony at the Benedectine Abbey in Krakow, on August 4, 2018. Their daughter Asha-Leigh was born on November 2,  2019