Paulina says she was fired by `Top Model`

New York, May 18: Paulina Porizkova got a pink slip from "America`s Next Top Model." That`s what the model-actress said Tuesday night on CBS` "The Late Late Show," dropping this bombshell to host Craig Ferguson: "Do you know why I`m in Los Angeles, besides seeing you? ... Because I`m looking for a job. Because I was fired by `America`s Next Top Model` on my birthday." Porizkova, who turned 44 on April 9, joined the judges` panel of the popular model-scouting series last year. Wednesday night`s 12th season finale on the CW network marks her final appearance.

According to Porizkova, the firing happened over the phone. "Just to be fair here, the reason I was told I was fired was because ... it seemed that `America`s Next Top Model` had gotten too fat and they needed to cut some fat — and the fat was me," she explained to Ferguson. Porizkova judged the crop of `Top Model` wannabes alongside fashion insiders J Alexander, Nigel Barker and the show`s creator and host, Tyra Banks. Show representatives Jeff Tobler and Chelsea Hettrick declined to comment beyond confirming Porizkova`s departure. The supermodel`s publicist, Meghan Prophet, did not return a phone call regarding Tuesday`s announcement. Porizkova joked that her "gigantic huge ego" might have contributed to her untimely reality-show elimination. That prompted Ferguson to ponder whether there was rivalry between her and Banks. Getting serious, she added: "I really believe that they just felt like they didn`t need me, which, of course, they don`t." Bureau Report