Paulina Porizkova shares VERY cheeky bikini photo from her pre-pandemic vacation in Costa Rica, as she reveals how much she has changed 'physically and emotionally' in the last year

  • Paulina, 55, took to Instagram on Friday to post a photo of herself modeling a gold sequin bikini with her back to the camera 
  • The snapshot was taken on February 19, 2020, just a month before most of the U.S. went into lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic 
  • The model explained she was 'full of hope for the coming year' at the time, but she is now 'in a different place,' both physically and emotionally

Paulina Porizkova has shared a cheeky throwback photo of herself modeling a gold string bikini in Costa Rica that was taken exactly a year ago today — pre-pandemic.   

In the image, the 55-year-old model is turned away from the camera, with her backside on display on February 19, 2020, just a month before the COVID-19 lockdowns in the U.S.  

'I’m staring out over the Costa Rican jungle, full of hope for the coming year,' she explained in her caption. 'I thought I was healing — and the road ahead was clearly marked. What’s the saying — man makes plans while God laughs?' 

Looking back: Paulina Porizkova, 55, shared a cheek throwback photo of herself that was taken in Costa Rica on February 19, 2020, exactly a year ago today

Looking back: Paulina Porizkova, 55, shared a cheek throwback photo of herself that was taken in Costa Rica on February 19, 2020, exactly a year ago today 

Memories: The picture shows her modeling a gold sequin string bikini while looking out into the jungle. She has shared similar photos from the trip over the past year

Memories: The picture shows her modeling a gold sequin string bikini while looking out into the jungle. She has shared similar photos from the trip over the past year 

When Paulina went to Costa Rica, she was only months into mourning her late husband Ric Ocasek, who had died in September 2019.  

She stayed at the exclusive Hermosa-Hills, which has been dubbed a 'private jungle resort,' and took plenty of photos of herself enjoying the view and frolicking on the beach. 

While coming back from a vacation is always hard, the model returned to the U.S. in mid-March and ended up in quarantine for most of 2020.   

'Exactly a year later, I AM in a different place, both physically, emotionally. I don’t yet dare to look ahead with the hope I had last year,' she admitted in her latest post. 'I know better now. But I am looking forward to the day hope returns. To all of us.'

Paulina has shared a number of throwback snapshots from the trip, many of which show her modeling her skimpy gold sequin string bikini outside her room and on the beach. 

Memories: Paulina has shared a number of throwback snapshots from the tropical vacation she took last year right before the pandemic
Dying to go back: Over the past year, Paulina has shared a number of throwback snapshots from the tropical vacation she took right before the pandemic

Memories: Paulina has shared a number of throwback snapshots from the tropical vacation she took last year right before the pandemic 

Changed: The model explained that she was 'full of hope for the coming year' at the time, but she is now 'in a different place,' both physically and emotionally

Changed: The model explained that she was 'full of hope for the coming year' at the time, but she is now 'in a different place,' both physically and emotionally 

There were also a few topless photos that she had posted over the past year while looking back fondly on her last vacation.  

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit star has been struggling with depression, anxiety, and anger since her late husband's death. 

In November, she revealed in a candid Instagram post that she had a 'nervous breakdown' in the airport after flying to Costa Rica with her two sons, Jonathan, 27, and Oliver, 22.  

Paulina explained that as soon as they landed, she learned her passport had expired, and they were put on the next plane home. 

'I had a total nervous breakdown in the airport, and they actually had to put me in a wheelchair to take me back to the plane, I was crying so hard I don’t even remember it,' she wrote at the time. 'I think this will be a really funny story — soon.' 

Thoughtful words: Earlier this month, Paulina opened up about her complicated grieving process in a touching Valentine's Day tribute to her late husband Ric Ocasek

Thoughtful words: Earlier this month, Paulina opened up about her complicated grieving process in a touching Valentine's Day tribute to her late husband Ric Ocasek 

Memories: The supermodel met her late husband on the set of the music video for The Cars' hit 'Drive' in 1984 (pictured) when she was only 19

Memories: The supermodel met her late husband on the set of the music video for The Cars' hit 'Drive' in 1984 (pictured) when she was only 19 

Earlier this month, Paulina candidly opened up about the complicated process of grieving her late husband, revealing that she still feels 'love' for The Cars rocker, even after their split and his controversial decision to write her out of his will. 

She shared a touching Instagram tribute to Ric on Valentine's Day, posting a sweet throwback snap of them at the start of their relationship. 

In the caption, Paulina she reflected on her relationship with the musician, from whom she separated in 2018, explaining that she still has 'love' for him and remains 'grateful' for their time together.  

'When someone you love dies, you’re suddenly plunged into knowledge of the finite,' she wrote. 'At least it did for me. Yes, we were separated, yes, we were getting divorced, but I knew love didn’t die with a divorce. 

'We were not just husband and wife, we were family. I thought we would go on loving each other for the rest of our lives — having no idea how short of a time that would be. But it turns out love doesn’t go away with death either. 

Family: Paulina and Ric didn't have a prenup, and their finances were merged throughout their 28-year marriage. They had two sons together, Jonathan, 27, and Oliver, 22 (pictured in 2016)

Family: Paulina and Ric didn't have a prenup, and their finances were merged throughout their 28-year marriage. They had two sons together, Jonathan, 27, and Oliver, 22 (pictured in 2016)

Loss: The couple was going through a divorce when Ric died, and Paulina learned he cut her out of his will, claiming she had 'abandoned' him, leaving her without any money to live off of

Loss: The couple was going through a divorce when Ric died, and Paulina learned he cut her out of his will, claiming she had 'abandoned' him, leaving her without any money to live off of

'I’m deeply grateful for the time we spent together and soon, even the lessons I now have to learn the hard way.'

She concluded the post by sharing one of the most valuable lessons she has learned in the wake of Ric's death. 

'Most of all —Time is precious,' she added. 'Let’s use it well by loving and accepting love to the brim of the containers and dispensers of love that we are. Happy Valentines to you.'

The post came days after Paulina revealed that she was left with 'nothing to live on' after his death and was forced to ask friends to buy her groceries for a year because of his decision to remove her from his will. 

Paulina opened up about her financial mistakes during a two-part conversation with Paula Polito, vice chairwoman of UBS Global Wealth Management, as part of her paid partnership with the bank.

Candid: During a recent conversation with UBS bank, Paulina revealed she regrets not signing a prenup with her late husband

Candid: During a recent conversation with UBS bank, Paulina revealed she regrets not signing a prenup with her late husband

When asked if she had regretted not signing prenup when she got married in her early 20s, Paulina let out a maniacal laugh and made a face, saying: 'Uh, yeah.' 

'Now if I had a daughter, any of my goddaughters or granddaughters or any of the young women I know…if there's one good thing I could do for them is to let them hear my story of how romance eclipsed any financial thinking and what a bad idea that is,' she added.  

She said that before they got married, Ric told her that he felt signing a prenup was a 'bad omen' and meant that they thought their marriage wouldn't last.  

Their finances were merged throughout their 28-year marriage, and she noted that she still had access to money after they announced their separation in 2018.

However, that all changed when Ric died in their Manhattan townhouse in September 2019 at age 75. She learned he had cut her out of his will, claiming she had 'abandoned' him, leaving her without any money to live off of.

Helping hand: The fashion star revealed that her friends had to buy her groceries for a year after Ric's death because she didn't have enough money

Helping hand: The fashion star revealed that her friends had to buy her groceries for a year after Ric's death because she didn't have enough money

Home sweet home: After selling the New York townhouse that they shared for $10 million, Paulina is now living in an apartment in the city

Home sweet home: After selling the New York townhouse that they shared for $10 million, Paulina is now living in an apartment in the city 

'I got two mortgaged houses and the pension, but no way to pay for anything,' she said of her financial struggles the year after his death. 'So obviously things had to be sold, but until they got sold, I had nothing to live on. I literally went through a year of asking my friends to buy us groceries. It was not a good position to be in.' 

Paulina, as Ric's widow, may be entitled under New York law to an 'elective share' of his estate because they were not legally divorced when he died.

Ric specifically addressed the rule in his will, stating: 'Even if I should die before our divorce is final…Paulina is not entitled to any elective share…because she has abandoned me.'

However, unless it can be proven in court that she did abandon him, she will likely be entitled to a one-third share of the musician's assets, which are listed as $5 million in 'copyrights,' $100,000 in 'tangible personal property,' and $15,000 in cash.

Paulina explained that while she has been angry with her late husband, she takes full responsibility for her financial woes.

'What happened to me, it seemed like it was so easily preventable,' she said. 'And it was based on not misfortune, it was based on my own stupidity. It wasn't that I had an evil husband. It wasn't that things conspired against me, this is literally, I have nobody to blame for this except for myself.'

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