Up Close with Paul Sturm

Photographer Steven Kohlstock and 28-year-old Paul Sturm teamed up for this Viennese editorial

Three words I’d use to describe myself: curious, grounded, and ambitious. I was born and raised in a small town in southern Germany, made my way to Cologne for university, and eventually life led me to Vienna, where I’ve been ever since. I studied Sports Science, started modeling back in 2018, walked in Milan for the likes of Armani and Dolce & Gabbana, and somewhere along the way became a self-employed personal trainer and co-founder of BOW Health Collective. Modeling was never the endgame. I’ve always been more interested in understanding what the body is truly capable of, than just standing in front of a camera. Though I won’t lie, it’s a pretty good side gig.

Who is your favorite actor?

Jude Law. And before you ask, yes, it’s partly personal. I’ve been told my entire life that I could be his son or at least his doppelgänger, especially in The Talented Mr. Ripley. If you haven’t seen that film, stop what you’re doing. Genuinely one of the best movies ever made.

Full look: Ivan Iveljić.

What is your workout routine?

It varies, and that’s very much by design. As a personal trainer, I obviously love strength training, but I get bored fast, so I keep things interesting. I mix in cardio (mostly running), HIIT sessions, and I love playing tennis. Living in Austria also means I have no excuse not to be outdoors, and nature genuinely recharges me in a way that a gym just can’t. My general structure is two to three full-body strength sessions per week plus one dedicated cardio session. Functional, athletic, and never quite the same thing twice.

Which living person do you most admire?

My mum and my dad.

What is the accomplishment you’re most proud of?

In 2020, I went through a serious health crisis that required emergency surgery, followed by a second surgery shortly after. In total, it took more than two years to fully recover, and that was as much a mental battle as a physical one. Looking back, I’m genuinely proud of how I came through it. I couldn’t have done it without the people closest to me. That experience completely changed the way I think about health, strength, and what actually matters. It’s also, if I’m honest, the reason I do what I do today.

What is your favorite movie?

Gladiator.

Where would you like to live?

Vienna is honestly one of the most livable cities in the world, and I mean that without any irony. The quality of life is on another level: the coffee culture, the architecture, the parks, the fact that you’re in the Alps in two hours. People who’ve never been have absolutely no idea what they’re missing. The city moves at a pace that actually lets you breathe, and somehow still has an incredible social and cultural scene. The only catch is winter, which can be long, grey, and genuinely relentless. So my ideal setup is Vienna as my home base with a solid escape somewhere warm in January and February. LA or Cape Town would do just fine. But Vienna always pulls me back.

Who is your favorite singer?

Impossible to name just one. In no particular order: Falco, The Weeknd, and the Pet Shop Boys.

What is it that you most dislike?

Neid. German for envy. It’s an ugly thing and it shows up everywhere.

Are you single? In a relationship?

I’m engaged to the love of my life. We’re getting married next year, and I genuinely can’t wait.

What is your favorite travel destination?

Greece, right now. It has everything.

If you could change one thing about your body, what would you change?

Some people look at my scar and probably assume that’s the obvious answer. But no, I’m proud of that scar. It’s part of my story. Honestly, the thing I’d actually change is the constant battle against genetic hair loss. Nobody warned me, and it genuinely sucks.

What do you like and what do you hate most about modeling?

What I love: Getting paid to travel the world while working with mostly interesting people. What I don’t love: Being entirely dependent on someone else’s opinion of your face. You can put in as much work as you want and still not land the job because someone in a room decided you weren’t the right look that season. It’s humbling in the least enjoyable way. The good news is that social media has changed the game. You can build your own platform and stop waiting to be chosen.

Your favorite cuisine?

If I had to choose one for the rest of my life, Mediterranean, without hesitation. Fresh vegetables, good carbs, olive oil, the occasional fish or quality meat. That said, if you’ve never had a proper Wiener Schnitzel in Vienna, that is a serious gap in your education that needs to be addressed immediately.

Who is the fashion model you look up to the most?

Honestly, no one in the industry. The people I look up to are outside of it entirely. People who chase their dreams, find their purpose, and still manage to maintain healthy relationships and show up as good partners or parents. That combination is genuinely rare and far more impressive than any runway.

Tell us something we don’t know about you.

I have a Sports Science degree from one of the top sports universities in Europe, and I actually use it. People meet me, see the model thing, and expect someone who flexes in mirrors. Then I start talking about why 90% of fitness content online is actively counterproductive and the vibe shifts pretty quickly. I find that gap kind of funny.

Instagram: @paulsturm_

For more of Paul, head over to PLAYGIRL+