Beauty Queen's Obsession: A Stalker's Deadly Grip

The documentary "Obsession: Murder of a Beauty Queen" recounts the life of Agnieszka Kotlarska, a prominent Polish model from the early 1990s. Born in Wrocław in 1972, Kotlarska quickly rose to national fame, winning Miss Poland in 1991 and becoming the first Polish contestant to secure the Miss International title later that year. Her success led to an international modeling career, working with designers like Ralph Lauren and appearing in global fashion magazines.

Kotlarska's life took a dangerous turn due to the escalating fixation of Jerzy Lisiewski, a man who had noticed her as a teenager. His pursuit intensified despite her rejections. In a chilling twist, Kotlarska narrowly avoided being on TWA Flight 800 in July 1996, a flight that tragically exploded shortly after takeoff. This incident, however, allowed Lisiewski to track her down, leading to her murder on August 27, 1996.

Lisiewski was convicted and sentenced to 15 years, though he has since been released and arrested again for another offense. Kotlarska's death spurred discussions on stalking and gender-based violence in Poland, leading to the establishment of stalking laws in 2011 and the founding of the Agnieszka Kotlarska Foundation in 2022 to support survivors.