Joanna Krupa was born in Warsaw, Poland. Joanna has a younger sister, Marta Krupa. She moved to Chicago, Illinois, with her family at the age of five. Krupa was raised Roman Catholic.

Krupa has appeared on magazine covers including ENVY, FHM, Personal, Inside Sport, Stuff, Steppin' Out, Teeze, and Maxim, in which she was named the Sexiest Swimsuit Model in the World. Maxim named her #61 in its 2006 Hot 100 list. She was voted German Maxim's Model of the Year 2004-2005. Krupa has also appeared twice on the cover of Playboy. Krupa has also been a lingerie model for Frederick's of Hollywood.

She was a Miss Howard TV model for the month of December 2007.

She was featured on the television show Superstars in June 2009. She and her partner Terrell Owens were eliminated on the first episode. However, because of another team's injury and disqualification, she and her partner were asked to step in and continue competing and did well in their comeback episode.

Krupa, who took ballet lessons as a child, competed in season 9 of Dancing with the Stars with one-time champion Derek Hough. They were eliminated on November 17, 2009.

Krupa is featured on Manon's new dance music single "I'll Be Around" released November 19, 2009 on Dauman Music.

In Autumn 2010 she will host and judge in a Tyra Banks inspired role on Poland's Next Top Model.

On December 2, 2009, the "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA for short, released a controversial ad of the model. The ad shows Krupa posing nude holding a cross that covers her breasts and genitalia. Krupa is depicted as an angel floating in a Catholic church filled with young puppies. The message of the ad is to, "be an angel for animals, always adopt dogs, never buy". This is not the only ad that Krupa has done for PETA. The model has also appeared nude on three previous ads for PETA, all speaking out against wearing fur.

Krupa was partnered with professional dancer and choreographer Derek Hough. She was voted off in the 9th week, finishing in 4th place.

^* Due to Len Goodman's absence in week 2 the 7 was awarded by stand-in guest judge Baz Luhrmann.^** Due to illness Derek Hough was unable to perform, Joanna Krupa performed this dance with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.