Anja Rubik: From grunge teen to global supermodel and activist

For years, Anja Rubik has been one of the world's best and most popular supermodels. She has thousands of shows and photo sessions for the biggest fashion houses. On June 12, the model turned 41. What did she look like at the beginning of her career?

Anja Rubik participated in the Elite Model Look contest when she was just 13. She then joined the Elite Model Look agency and systematically built her career in the world of modelling. Today, the supermodel from Poland is considered one of the biggest stars on the world runways.

Over the years, she has collaborated with the most prominent fashion houses, participating in advertising campaigns for brands such as Chanel, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Dior, Valentino, and Versace. She walked in shows for top designers like Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Alexander McQueen, and Oscar de la Renta. She has appeared on the cover of "Vogue" over 40 times.

However, Anja Rubik does not limit herself solely to modelling and has been actively involved in social activities for years, addressing issues such as sexual education for young people. In 2017, she published her textbook "#sexedpl. Anja Rubik's Talks on Growing Up, Love, and Sex," which quickly became a bestseller in Poland.

In 2018, together with psychologist and sexologist Barbara Baran, she also established the Sexed.pl Foundation, which promotes accurate knowledge about sexual education. The foundation conducts social campaigns, published a report on sexuality created with experts, and launched a special anti-violence helpline where victims can receive advice and support.

Rubik is active on social media and occasionally shares old photos with her fans. One shows what the supermodel looked like at the beginning of her career.

"One of my first test sessions was when I was 15. Yes… I shaved my eyebrows because I thought it was grunge, and I was a big fan of Marilyn Manson," she wrote.

The supermodel is an inspiration to women all over the world. At one point in her career, Rubik decided to significantly shorten her hair and—as she confessed in an interview —her radical makeover so impressed Rihanna that she followed suit.

- Rihanna approached me and said that she cut her hair because I cut my hair very short once. She cut her hair because of me - the model recalled.

Privately, Anja Rubik was married to Serbian model Sasha Knezevic for several years. The couple married on July 16, 2011, in Mallorca, and 2016 they confirmed their separation. In an interview, she admitted that their separation was not due to a specific event.

- Our paths started to diverge significantly. I wanted something different from life; he wanted something different. We went our separate ways and were separating for a long time. Because we still liked each other. We still respected each other as people. It was a sad decision but necessary because we were unhappy - she said.