Paulinus began skating at age five and trained in Berlin until she was eight. After moving to the U.K., she was coached by Catherine Barker in Billingham, by Debbie and Simon Briggs in Sunderland and Dundee, and by Joy Sutcliff in Ayr and Nottingham. At the British Championships, Paulinus won silver on the novice level in the 2000–01 season and junior gold the following season. The National Ice Skating Association decided not to send her to the 2002 World Junior Championships, believing she was not ready.