Heidi Klum has never been one to slow down. The model, wife, mom of four and TV host is gearing up for season 22 of Project Runway and starring in Calzedonia’s new 2026 beachwear campaign. She also recently became UNICEF USA’s newest ambassador and will star in the upcoming installment of Germany’s Next Top Model (also in its 22nd season) this coming winter. “I always say I’m 53 and just getting started,” the star tells Us Weekly. “I love what I do,” she adds, “and I always have.”
Being an unstoppable force is nothing new for Klum. Early in her modeling career, she says, the industry wasn’t quite sure what to do with her. “I didn’t get a lot of jobs because I had a sporty body — big boobs, wider hips — and I smiled a lot,” she recalls. “Being positive wasn’t really on trend.” After being relegated to catalog work, she carved her own path. That gamble paid off: she landed the cover of the 1998 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue before becoming the first German model to earn Victoria’s Secret Angel wings. “I found my niche,” she says. “It’s important to be authentic and not push yourself into being something you’re not.”
When she’s not working, the mom, who shares daughters Leni, 22, and Lou, 16, and sons Henry, 20, and Johan, 19, with ex-husband Seal, is doing the exact opposite: “Oh my God, I love doing nothing!” says Klum, who wed 36-year-old musician Tom Kaulitz in 2019. “I love being with my husband on a beach, eating and drinking and going topless and swimming through the water. I feel so free.” We caught up with Klum to chat about the latest season of Project Runway (premiering July 9 at 9:30 p.m. on Freeform and will stream shortly after on Hulu and Disney+, followed by weekly airings), keeping things spicy with Kaulitz and her hot takes on the plastic surgery and weight-loss craze sweeping Hollywood.
You’re kicking off your 22nd season of Project Runway. Why do you think the show has such staying power?
[Viewers] are in awe watching people make something out of fabric in such a short time and the imagination and the craft [it involves]. And people love fashion. We love getting dressed and having beautiful clothes on. After doing it for so many years, I’m still in awe when I see them do something in one day — we rarely give them two — I’m literally gobsmacked sometimes.
What can you tell Us about the competitors this time around?
We have an amazing mix. We have [a couple] drag queens who are very out there with their imaginations. Sometimes it’s a lot for some of the judges, but I appreciate the fantasy and people really going for it.
How is it teaming up with Christian Siriano again?
I know a lot of fans miss my television husband, Tim [Gunn], who I also miss dearly. I totally get it. But I also have to say it’s been a blast doing it with Christian, especially when I come into my dressing room, and sometimes I’m like, “Oh, what am I gonna wear?” And then there’s literally a rack full of gorgeous things. And if it doesn’t fit, he’s the master of sewing things fast. So he’ll be like, “Oh, I’ll make this fit in no time with this little sewing machine.”
Can you share any behind-the-scenes secrets?
When we see the looks come down the catwalk, we don’t know who the designer is, and sometimes we’re very surprised. I feel like a lot of people don’t know that. And then there are things I only see later, when the show is cut. Then you really see how some of the designers are, and the beef between them. In front of us, everyone is always sweet and then you see it and you’re like, “Wow, this person is very snarky, and this one is actually very sweet!” It’s always interesting to see when it’s cut together.
You have some amazing celebrity judges. Who stands out?
I love Ice Spice. She’s super cool. I love someone who has a point of view, someone who’s not afraid to say they don’t like something and can articulate why. There’s nothing worse than when someone sits there being nice, and then the cameras turn off, and they’re like, “Oh my God, this was bad.” I’m like, “Why did you not say that when we were rolling?” Having Iman there was also so fabulous. [Judge] Law Roach always orders lunch from this Jamaican place, so we had a fish fry with rice and plantains and Iman had a green smoothie, [which] was on a plate anyway — it was hilarious.
Who’s the toughest judge?
Everyone’s a little tough. Sometimes I watch [the show] back, and I’m like, “Wow, I was really saying what I was thinking.” I always try to wrap it up with a nice bow, though, because [this is] people’s lives. Nina [García] gives it out, and so does Law. Law does it in a different way. He always says he feeds on their tears. Sometimes when the designers start bickering about things, he’s like, “Who cares?” I’m like, “He’s so right. No one cares.” He means well. It’s a show, and people know that, but sometimes it hurts. Obviously an artist loves what they’ve created, so it’s hard for them to hear criticism.
The show started in 2004. How has it changed over the years?
We’ve come a long way with having models of all sizes. This year, we did a collaboration with Dancing With the Stars. Julianne Hough was there, and [the designers] made outfits inspired by dances like the rumba, the cha-cha, the foxtrot. A lot of times, the models are asked to be “very demure, very mindful,” so it was fun to put a little spice into it.
You’ve been hosting and judging reality competition shows for more than two decades. How do you stay invested after all this time?
I won a modeling competition, so I know what it’s like to be a contestant and to want to win. [Klum beat out 25,000 contestants to win a national German TV modeling contest in 1992, launching her career.] Watching [contestants] is beautiful because everyone is standing on that stage and they’re all hungry and passionate. That keeps it fresh even after so many years.
Had you always wanted to become a model?
I loved being on stage. I had my little dance troupe, and we would travel the country and get little trophies. Art was one of my majors in school, so I’ve always painted and I danced and did opera singing.
You’re so well-rounded!
I came from a small town, there wasn’t much going on.
You’re still at the height of your career. Do you feel like you’re challenging people’s expectations of women as they age?
I don’t think about being a role model. I’m not waking up like, “OK, I have to be a role model today.” I have to be a role model to my four children and be a good person and humble and kind and respectful. [That means] being on time [and being aware of other] people’s time. Sometimes people show up three hours late and I’m like, “No. Is this the ’90s when people were coming late?” We’re all business now.
Would you say you feel more comfortable in your skin today?
I felt comfortable before, too. People said I was fat, but when I looked in the mirror, I was like, “I don’t know what the heck they’re talking about. I don’t look fat.” I wore a size 24 jean, and I’m 5-foot-9-and-a-half; how is that fat? I never understood the size zero thing. You don’t exist if you are a size zero.
What do you credit with your success?
I was always the person who was on time, the first one there and the last one on set. I wouldn’t go home until the job was done and the client was happy. I went the extra mile. When others were going out partying, I’d work on my portfolio. [I tried to show] that you can be a chameleon and do more than one thing. I was doing a lot of catalogs, and a lot of people put you in a [box]. Also, I was never afraid of trying new things.
How have you dealt with criticism over the years?
I had photo shoots back in the day where photographers would make me cry. They said I wasn’t doing a good job and people told me I was too fat. Big names like Karl Lagerfeld would say that I’m [a] nobody, and [things like], “Why is she always smiling so stupidly?” And when I was married to Seal, [people] would say, “How can he have this horrible skin?” He has lupus, and quite frankly, I think he looks beautiful. There’s always been a lot of noise around, but the world is big, and there’s a space for all of us. You can’t please everyone, and not everyone is going to like what you do, but you have to look in the mirror and be happy with who you are. I did find my niche, and look who’s still here.
Where does your confidence come from?
It was always from within. I’ve always had great friends and people around me, and I love to hear the opinions everyone has, but at the end of the day, I’m the one who makes a decision. I never had anyone make decisions for me. I gathered all the information that people were giving me and then I made up my own mind. If it worked, then great. If it didn’t, I’m the one to blame, and I’m fine with that.
Your 1998 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover catapulted you to fame. Were you prepared?
I was never prepared for anything, to be honest. There was no master plan. I was, and still am, a very curious person. It’s super important to be curious and want to know everything about the job you love.
Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic have become big in Hollywood. What are your thoughts on them?
I’m not interested at all. I’ve gained weight over the years. I’m no longer a size 24 jean. But I think with age, we look better when we’re not as skinny. My husband was the first one who pointed that out. He said, “You should eat more; you would look better if you had more meat on your bones.” I was like, “What?” This is not something you’re told in the industry, ever, because you’re always supposed to be skinnier than you are. When I look back at photos, I’m like, “He’s right!” Proportion-wise, I look better bigger.
We’re also in the Botox and facelift era. How do you feel about that?
In general, people should do what they want. It’s the same with Ozempic. A lot of people have a hard time getting that jumpstart, and if you’ve always struggled with your weight and for 40 years you’ve been trapped and it’s been such a big focus of your life, then maybe this is a great thing to try. That has never been part of my life, so it’s hard for me to judge. If you look in the mirror and you’re not happy with something and you want to fix it, fix it.
What makes you feel sexy?
What makes a person sexy is knowing their self-worth and knowing who they are. That oozes sexiness. When people are looking at every measurement of their booties, [or] at cellulite, it’s like, “Is this really what makes me who I am? There’s so much more to me.” It’s about feeling great in your skin and knowing what you can do.
You’ve had some iconic looks over the years. What did you make of the kind of divided response to your Met Gala outfit? [Klum wore an elaborate ensemble that resembled the Veiled Vestal sculpture.]
I am someone who is not afraid of that. I could have worn a beautiful dress or beautiful suit, nd I feel like there are moments where that would have been appropriate. But I feel like the theme, “Fashion is Art,” [gave] me the opportunity to be more of an art installation. What was funny to me was, like, some people were like, “Oh my god, are you the Statue of Liberty?” I get that not everyone knows the statue from the 1800s, but I was like, “The Statue of Liberty? Do I look green or have a crown on my head, holding a torch?”
It must have been fun, though!
I had a blast. Going through the rooms with all of the statues that look like me. You know, people would go by me, and then then I would move, and they got scared! I wish someone would have filmed it. I scared Ben Stiller so hard it was so funny.
You and Tom always look so happy together. What’s your secret?
Even though we do have an age gap, there’s a different understanding being with someone from Germany and has the same roots. It’s different [from what I’ve had with] anyone [else], whether they were from America or England or Australia. I can explain and show [things] to them, but they didn’t grow up like that from the ground up. So we click in that sense, and we have a lot of the same morals.
How do you keep the spark alive?
We definitely “exercise” a lot together. [Laughs.] The kind of exercise without machines. It’s important to exercise a lot, [it creates] a different kind of connection. It’s hard to explain, but the souls connect, not just the body and the flesh. The hearts and souls connect in a different kind of way.
Who’s more romantic?
I think I am, and, in general, women are more romantic. We always overthink everything, but I’ve learned to not always question everything that’s said or done because most of the time it doesn’t mean anything. I let things go, understanding that we’re overthinkers, and [men] aren’t. Obviously, they think about things, but we overthink relationships. Like, “Why did he say that? Why didn’t he do this?” It [likely] meant nothing.
You mentioned your age gap. Has it ever been an issue for you guys?
I look at my husband and I’m like, “He is getting a little old for me.”
Ha. Is it time to trade him in?
So far, so good. He’s aging well.
Do you think there’s a double standard when it comes to women dating younger men versus men dating younger women?
Things are changing. It’s not as much of an anomaly anymore. It’s the same with mixing races. When I was married to Seal, a lot of people were like, “Wait, what?” Everything is more accepted now. I always think, “Why do people care? They’re not invited home with us.”
How did your kids feel when you first started dating Tom?
[Him being] close in age has been fun for them, especially my son Henry, who loves talking cars with my husband. When I hear [about] cars, my ears close. They talk about it like it’s science, and I have no idea what they’re saying.
You’ll celebrate your seventh wedding anniversary in August. Did you experience the seven-year itch?
We really got married in February [2019]. My husband’s twin brother married us. It was just the three of us and one of the most beautiful and intimate ceremonies. My husband says we’re in our eighth year of marriage, so we passed the seventh year, and it wasn’t itchy. It was great.
What’s been the biggest challenge in your relationship?
It’s hard when you have a husband who goes on tour a lot, and I have a show where I film in New York for five weeks. When we met, it was [the Covid-19 pandemic], so we were in L.A. in our house with the kids and in the garden, cooking and being together every day. We were freshly in love and grew so tight, so when the world opened up again, it was hard to be like, “OK, bye, see you in three weeks.”
How do you handle the distance?
You make the best of it. He’s going to be on tour all of November, and I’m going with him. I’ll be the fangirl in the front, pulling up my T-shirt and throwing my bra. I was just in Barcelona with Elle MacPherson, and she’s touring with her boyfriend, who’s the guitar player for Eric Clapton. It’s beautiful to see your spouse doing what they love. Tom will come and be on [my] set too.
Your daughter Leni is modeling, and your son Henry is doing a YSL campaign. How do you feel about your kids following in your footsteps?
They have good heads on their shoulders and have seen me work and know it’s not just glitz and glamour. They see how many conference calls I do with producers to come up with concepts and photo shoots. We’ve always had dinner around the table, and everyone talks about their day, and there are a lot of fun things I’ve gotten to tell them over the years, like singing with Snoop Dogg or Tiësto, things where they’re like, “Mom, how the heck did that happen?”
Henry has accompanied you to a few recent events. How did those go?
We were just in Cannes, and they asked me to auction a car for AmFar. Henry had never been on stage in front of [that many] people, so I asked him if he wanted to read the prompter or cue cards, and he was like, “No, I know everything about the car,” and then he was so charming and cute. I was so proud of him. And he was my date at the Guggenheim Museum, and my heel was trapped in the fishnet tail of my dress, and I didn’t even have to say anything; he just bent down to help. He kept asking, “Can I get you anything?” He’s a gentleman.
Have you given them advice about the industry?
[I tell them] to not scroll on the phone to look at what other people are doing, and think about what they want to do and come up with their own thing. They’re doing pretty good so far. And I tell them, “If you feel in your gut something’s wrong or there’s something you’re not comfortable doing, you have to open your mouth.” I come from a time where it was like, “Well, if you don’t do it, you’re out.” I think they understand they can decline certain things.
Do they think you’re the coolest mom ever?
When I did things with Snoop, yeah.
They were young when you and Seal split up. Did they struggle at all?
[They are] mixed children, and sometimes they didn’t understand what side they were on, [and we] explained to them that you don’t have to be on any side. [They heard] so many horrible things at school, and that was not easy. Kids can be very harsh.
You’re obviously so busy. How do you like to spend your free time?
I know a lot of people need a lot of stimulation — podcasts, shows, movies, music — but for me, I love looking at the sky. It does something to my brain. I love being in my tiny little G-string, going topless, swimming through the water and feeling free, and then just doing nothing.
Maybe that’s the secret to feeling sexy!
Anyone who hasn’t done it yet should try it. Obviously, I don’t do this in front of a lot of people at a resort. My husband and I always look like German tourists with our bags and floaties. We have umbrellas, chairs, coolers… and we’re there for the day. But we walk miles and miles on the beach and we find our spot. It’s the best.
What’s next on your agenda?
There are always things in the works, but I’m not someone who loves to talk about things until they’re out. I’m a believer in doing the work and then surprising people.
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