Embodiments of the present disclosure include paper coating compositions, coated paper and/or paperboard, and methods of forming coated paper and/or paperboard with the paper coating compositions. The embodiments of the paper coating compositions contain high levels of hollow polymeric pigment relative to other pigments used in the paper coating composition (e.g., inorganic pigments). The paper coating compositions can provide the coated paper and/or paperboard with a wide variety of desirable features (e.g., high gloss, good smoothness, improved stiffness), while minimizing compaction (i.e., permanent deformation) of the underlying base paper.