Model Paul Sculfor has shed light on his ‘intense’ time as one of the world’s leading male models in the late Nineties and early Noughties.
The Essex-born hunk, 53, shot to global prominence after he was secretly entered into Select Model Management’s model of the year competition by his mother aged just 21, after which he relocated to LA and started his celebrity life.
During his stint in the spotlight, he enjoyed a five month romance with Jennifer Aniston and dated Cameron Diaz for a year – relationships which propelled him even further into the spotlight and the global glare.
As well as the attention on his love life, his prosperous modelling career left him battling drink and drug addiction, which he admitted left him suicidal, and culminated in a six month-long stay at the Priory rehabilitation centre.
Speaking to Sunday Times Style, Paul has now shed light on his wholly different lifestyle, including his philanthropic work helping fellow addicts as well as his contented home life and the reality of dating megastars.
Model Paul Sculfor has shed light on his ‘intense’ time as one of the world’s leading male models in the late Nineties and early Noughties (Paul pictured last year)
During his stint in the spotlight, he enjoyed a five month romance with Jennifer Aniston and dated Cameron Diaz for a year – relationships which propelled him even further into the spotlight and the global glare (Cameron and Paul pictured in 2008)
Paul pictured in a Levi’s campaign in the late Nineties
Paul, who married Italian nutritionist Federica Amati, 37, in 2016, made a name for himself after winning the modelling competition ‘The Face of 92’ and went on to work with brands such as Louis Vuitton and Versace.
In more recent years he helped nurture up and coming talent as a judge on Britain’s Next Top Model alongside Abbey Clancy.
In the midst of his modelling heyday, he dated Cameron from 2008 to 2009. Showing their relationship status, Paul briefly lived with the actress at her LA home. Their busy careers and distance were blamed for the split
Just one year before, he had been seen with Jennifer for their fleeting romance.
Speaking about the attention he received from the two high profile romances, he said: ‘It got intense, silly. I’d be taking the bins out in an old tracksuit and there’d be a guy with a camera in my face ? Come on!’
Following his split from Cameron, he said at the time: ‘I love being single. It was my choice to be single. It’s great to be on my own – you don’t want to be tied down, do you? I like being single, and I don’t want it any other way right now.’
While life in the spotlight was certainly glamorous, he confessed he started to fall victim to addiction and the darker side of fame.
He said: ‘There were private jets, yachts, penthouses, mansions in Beverly Hills, incredibly beautiful women, incredible experiences all the time ? It was fantastic!…
In the midst of his modelling heyday, he dated Cameron from 2008 to 2009
Jennifer is pictured in 2006, shortly before her romance with Paul began
Paul is pictured in 2009
‘I was trying to gain connections but I was making fair-weather friends. Things got very dark. I was always ill, I developed social anxiety, shut myself off from my family…
‘I turned down jobs because I couldn’t be bothered ? Very unlike me. My outlook on life changed from being excited to pretty much suicidal. I didn’t want to be myself any more.’
Paul has completely changed his life, and is now a trained mindset coach working with young men with similar issues to his own, including drink and drug addiction.
The star, who shares two daughters, aged three and six, with Federica, runs Stride Foundation – a charity centered around education on addiction and financial support for those needing help with access to rehab facilities.
Paul revealed the extent of his addiction in 2008, when he admitted his hair fell out due to cocaine abuse.
He said: ‘My hair started falling out in my partying years, because excessive cocaine abuse affects the adrenal system and halts hair growth. I’m lucky it grew back. I’m not vain, but I am obsessed with my hair.’
Paul also stated that addiction ran in his family.
He went on: ‘There’s definitely a genetic component. My grandfather was an alcoholic and a gambler. I feel addiction is almost like an entity that pulls you off the streets and takes you hostage.’
The star shares two daughters, aged three and six, with wife Federica Amati, who he married in 2016
