Joanna Krupa

Joanna Krupa
Born	Joanna Krupa 4/23/1979
Birthplace	Warsaw, Poland
Nationality	Polish, American
Occupation	Model, actress, television presenter
Known for	Top Model (Poland), The Real Housewives of Miami, Dancing with the Stars
Spouse(s)	Romain Zago (m. 2013; div. 2017), Douglas Nunes (m. 2018; div. 2023)
Children	1

Joanna Krupa (born April 23, 1979) is a Polish-born American model, actress, television presenter, and animal rights activist. Born in Warsaw, Poland, Krupa immigrated to the United States as a child and was raised in the Chicago metropolitan area, where she began her modeling career as a teenager in the mid-1990s. She rose to international prominence through her extensive work as a fashion and commercial model, appearing on the covers of numerous publications. Krupa became a familiar face on American television through her participation in season nine of Dancing with the Stars in 2009 and as a main cast member on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Miami during its second and third seasons (2012–2013). In Poland, she has served as the host and head judge of the reality competition series Top Model since 2010, a role that has made her one of the most recognizable television personalities in the country. Beyond her entertainment career, Krupa has been a prominent advocate for animal welfare, collaborating extensively with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on multiple campaigns spanning more than a decade. As of 2025, she continues to work in television and modeling while also championing animal adoption and welfare causes.

Early Life

Joanna Krupa was born on April 23, 1979, in Warsaw, Poland. Her father is Zbigniew "Steven" Krupa. The Krupa family emigrated from Poland to the United States when Joanna was a child, settling in the Chicago metropolitan area. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, including the village of Lombard, Illinois.

Growing up as a Polish immigrant in the American Midwest shaped Krupa's identity in significant ways. In interviews, she has spoken about her pride in her Polish heritage, stating that being Polish is a source of pride for her. This dual Polish-American identity would later prove central to her career, as she achieved celebrity status in both countries.

Krupa began her modeling career at a young age, entering the industry as a teenager in 1994. Her outspoken personality was evident from early on. In a 2009 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Krupa discussed how speaking her mind had been a defining characteristic throughout her life and career, noting that her candid nature had generally served her well.

Career

Modeling

Krupa's professional modeling career began in 1994 when she was fifteen years old. Working from the Chicago area, she gradually built a portfolio that would lead to national and international work. Over the course of her career, she appeared in numerous magazines and advertising campaigns, establishing herself in the fashion and commercial modeling industries. She is represented by Avant Management.

Krupa's modeling work has extended well beyond traditional fashion editorials. She has been particularly notable for her willingness to participate in advocacy-related campaigns, most prominently with PETA, where she has posed for multiple animal rights advertisements over the years (discussed in detail below).

Dancing with the Stars (2009)

In 2009, Krupa gained significant mainstream American television exposure when she was cast as a contestant on season nine of the ABC competition series Dancing with the Stars. Her participation on the show brought her to the attention of a broad national audience. Krupa had a strong run on the program, advancing through multiple rounds of competition before being eliminated. Her elimination was covered by media outlets in the Chicago area, where she was well known as a local celebrity. The Daily Herald of suburban Chicago described her as a "Lombard native" in its coverage of her departure from the show.

Krupa's time on Dancing with the Stars helped establish her as more than a print model, demonstrating her comfort in front of television cameras and her ability to connect with a viewing audience—skills that would prove valuable in her subsequent television career.

The Real Housewives of Miami (2012–2013)

Krupa joined the cast of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Miami as a main cast member for the show's second season in 2012, continuing through the third season in 2013. Her time on the reality series was marked by the candid and outspoken personality she had long been known for. The show documented various aspects of her personal and professional life, including her relationship with nightclub owner Romain Zago, whom she married during her tenure on the series in 2013.

Her appearances on the show occasionally generated controversy and tabloid attention. During and after her time on The Real Housewives of Miami, Krupa became involved in a legal dispute with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Brandi Glanville over comments Glanville had made. The two eventually settled the lawsuit.

When The Real Housewives of Miami was rebooted in 2021 by Peacock, Krupa did not return to the cast. In October 2025, she revealed in an interview with SiriusXM's Page Six Radio that she had been approached about joining the rebooted series but chose not to participate. She also discussed which former co-stars from the original series she remained in contact with. In a separate interview around the same time, she elaborated on her decision to turn down the reboot, citing various personal and professional reasons.

Top Model Poland (2010–present)

Krupa's most enduring television role has been as the host and head judge of Top Model, the Polish edition of the international modeling competition franchise. She has held the position since the show's premiere in 2010, making it one of the longest-running hosting tenures in the franchise's global history. The role has made her one of the most prominent and recognizable television personalities in Poland, effectively giving her dual stardom in both the United States and her country of birth.

Through Top Model, Krupa has maintained a strong connection to Polish culture and media despite living primarily in the United States. The show's long run has allowed her to remain a fixture on Polish television for over fifteen years. In interviews with Polish media, she has consistently emphasized her pride in her Polish roots and her appreciation for the opportunity to work in Poland's entertainment industry.

In addition to Top Model, Krupa has made other television appearances in Poland, including a guest appearance on SNL Polska (the Polish version of Saturday Night Live), where she appeared in various comedic sketches.

Acting

Beyond reality television and hosting, Krupa has pursued acting roles. In 2019, it was reported that she had taken on a new movie role, signaling an expansion of her career beyond the reality television format that had brought her the most recognition.

Animal Rights Advocacy

One of the most prominent and sustained aspects of Krupa's public profile has been her advocacy for animal welfare, particularly through her long-running partnership with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Krupa has appeared in multiple high-profile campaigns for the organization over many years, using her visibility as a model and television personality to draw attention to various animal rights causes.

Among her notable PETA campaigns was an anti-SeaWorld advertisement in 2015, in which she posed to raise awareness about the treatment of marine animals in captivity. The campaign received significant media attention, including coverage from international outlets.

As of 2025, Krupa continues to collaborate with PETA on new campaigns. In a graphic advertisement released in 2025, she portrayed the treatment of sheep in the wool industry, calling attention to what PETA describes as abusive practices in wool production. A companion video campaign urged consumers to reconsider purchasing wool products.

In October 2025, NBC Los Angeles profiled Krupa as a "former Real Housewife turned animal advocate," highlighting her transition toward using her platform primarily for animal rights causes. In the interview, Krupa discussed her new mission of championing animal welfare and spoke about a new pet adoption television project she was involved with. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly around the same time, she elaborated on the pet adoption series and her experiences as a mother, describing how motherhood had reinforced her commitment to making the world a better place for animals and future generations.

Krupa has spoken about animals and animal welfare in Polish media as well, discussing the topic alongside other aspects of her life in interviews with Polish publications.

Personal Life

Krupa was raised in the Chicago suburban area, maintaining strong ties to the region throughout her career. She has identified with both Polish and American cultures, frequently traveling between the two countries for work.

Krupa married French-born nightclub owner Romain Zago in 2013, during her time on The Real Housewives of Miami. The couple's relationship and wedding were documented on the show. They divorced in 2017. Following the finalization of her divorce, Krupa returned to the Chicago area.

Krupa married businessman Douglas Nunes in 2018 in a ceremony held in Poland. The couple has one daughter, Asha-Leigh. In early 2023, Nunes filed for divorce in Los Angeles, ending the marriage after nearly five years.

Krupa is a Christian and has spoken publicly about her faith. During her time on The Real Housewives of Miami, she was baptized in the Jordan River, an experience she described as meaningful. She responded to critics of the baptism by saying she did not "pretend to be perfect."

As of 2025, Krupa has spoken about how motherhood has influenced her outlook and deepened her commitment to animal advocacy, describing her desire to create a better world for her daughter's generation.

Recognition

Krupa's career spanning more than three decades has brought her recognition in both the United States and Poland. Her long tenure as host and head judge of Top Model Poland since 2010 represents one of her most significant professional achievements, making her a household name in Polish entertainment.

Her work with PETA has been recognized by the organization and covered by media outlets in multiple countries. The campaigns, which have addressed issues ranging from marine animal captivity to the wool industry, have garnered coverage from outlets including E! Online, NBC Los Angeles, and Italy's Corriere della Sera.

Her appearance on Dancing with the Stars in 2009 was notable enough to receive coverage from multiple Chicago-area publications, reflecting her status as a prominent figure from the region. The Chicago Tribune profiled her multiple times throughout her career, covering her from her early days as a local model through her national television appearances and personal milestones.

In the reality television sphere, her time on The Real Housewives of Miami made her part of the broader Real Housewives franchise, one of the most commercially successful reality television properties in American television history. Even years after leaving the show, her connection to the franchise continued to generate media interest, as evidenced by the coverage of her decision not to join the 2021 reboot.

Legacy

Joanna Krupa's career reflects a distinctive path through the entertainment industry, bridging two countries and multiple media formats. Starting as a teenage model in the Chicago suburbs in the mid-1990s, she built a career that encompasses print modeling, reality television, hosting, acting, and advocacy work.

Her role on Top Model Poland, held continuously since 2010, represents a notable achievement in television hosting longevity. The position has allowed her to influence the Polish modeling industry and mentor aspiring models over more than fifteen years of the show's production.

Krupa's sustained commitment to animal rights advocacy has become an increasingly central part of her public identity. Her transition from reality television personality to animal welfare advocate, as highlighted by NBC Los Angeles in 2025, reflects a deliberate shift in how she has chosen to use her platform. Her work on a new pet adoption television series, discussed in her October 2025 interview with Us Weekly, suggests a convergence of her entertainment career and advocacy interests.

As a Polish-born public figure who achieved prominence in both American and Polish media, Krupa occupies an unusual position as a cultural bridge between the two countries. Her consistent emphasis on her Polish heritage, combined with her American upbringing and career, has made her a recognizable figure in Polish-American cultural life.