USA's models step out in style ' For two weeks starting Monday, some of the USA's top models will rush from fashion show to fashion show, parading the new fall clothes for women at the New York collections. Most of the big names — like Paulina Porizkoya, Elle Macpherson and Lisa Rutledge — "do the shows" at some point in their careers. In fact, Rutledge probably will be on the runway for the upcoming collections; the others only "maybe." The pay's not bad. A top model who works non- stop during the shows can earn $ 12,000-$ 15,000 a week, says Eileen Ford of Ford Models Inc. What does it take to be a model? For women: minimum height is 5-fpot-8, bordering-on-thin figure, clear skin, wide-set eyes and lustrous hair. For men: height about 6 feet, size 40 regular jacket and a 15'/2-inch neck. Here, four models give a glimpse of what it's like when your livelihood depends on your looks. Paulina: The No. 1 face would rather be writing Glamour apparently isn't Paulina arrived in Sweden what it's cracked up to be. The when she was 10 and left at 15 to model most in demand in the live on her osvn in Paris as a USA admits she hates her job model. "Yeah, 1 hate modeling," She's been with the Elite agen- sighs Paulina Porizkova. "More cy' the past six years and now than ever. makes her home in New York. "I'm top honest with people. "I don't do very many fashion That's a big mistake in this busi- shows oecause you have to do a ness." fitting for shows, and I'm too Speaking her mind, however, busy," says the world-weary hasn't gotten in the way of suc- Paulina, explaining that she only cess for this 5-foot-9, Czech-bom works for designers who let her beauty known simply as Pau- forgo fittings — namely Donna lina. At the not-yet-ripe age of Karan and Bill Blass. 21, she's done 300 fashion maga- Given those conditions, she zine covers, two Sports Illusiral- admits runway shows "are one ed swimsuit issue covers, ump- of the easiest things to do be- teen catalog and magazine cause they're quick. You run spreads, and reams of advertise- through it and an "hour later ments. you're through." Paulina frankly admits she's These days, she treks around in it for the money: more than town incognito. "When I walk $300,000 a year. In a few years down the street, I do not want to she hopes to chuck life in the be recognized," she says. limelight and write and illustrate Reaching into her" bag. she children's books. pulls out ugly plastic glasses and If this sounds unusual, well, twists her hair into a frumpy Paulina is no ordinary person. bun. "This is usually how I look Her parents fled Czechoslovakia when I'm not working and no- for Sweden in 1968, leaving their body ever recognizes me." 3-year-old daughter with her grandparents. — Elizabeth Sporkin 20 -USA WEEKEND-APRIL 25-27. 1986.