Let's talk about Heidi Klum, the queen of style who’s not only a fashion icon but also a devoted mom to her four kids—Leni, Henry, Johan, and Lou. If you’ve ever watched Project Runway, you know Heidi isn’t just about runway drama; she’s all about family too. She’s fiercely protective of her kids, keeping them out of the spotlight and safeguarding their privacy. That’s how much she loves them. In fact, she has strict rules about how they’re portrayed on social media. "My oldest daughter, Leni, wants to post her face, but I always say, 'No, you’re not allowed to,'" she once told People. "If she’s in a picture, it has to be from behind or somehow her face has to be hidden." Can you blame her? In today’s world, privacy is everything.
Heidi and her husband, Tom Kaulitz, have slightly different approaches when it comes to sharing their lives with the world. "We’re adults," Heidi says, "but I want to keep my kids as kids for as long as possible." It’s a beautiful sentiment, and one that shows just how much she values their innocence and childhood.
Let’s start with Leni, the eldest of the Klum clan. Born on May 4, 2004, Leni is the daughter of Heidi and her ex, Flavio Briatore. Their relationship didn’t last long, and Flavio wasn’t around much during Leni’s early years. But don’t worry—Heidi found love again with Seal, who stepped in as a loving stepdad. In fact, Seal legally adopted Leni in 2009, making her officially part of the Samuel family.
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Leni had a brief reunion with her biological dad, Flavio, in Italy back in 2018. But beyond that, her life has been all about modeling and education. As the daughter of one of the world’s most famous supermodels, it’s no surprise Leni is following in her mom’s footsteps. She made her modeling debut in early 2021 when she appeared alongside Heidi on the cover of Vogue Germany. Heidi couldn’t have been prouder, sharing on Instagram, "I’m so proud of you. And not just because you chose this path. I know that whatever you do, it will be your own." Now, that’s some serious mom pride!
Leni didn’t stop there. She went on to open Berlin Fashion Week later that year, walking for high-end designers like Kaviar Gauche and Lala Berlin. Her career has only grown since then, landing her in major beauty campaigns and on more magazine covers. In 2022, Leni moved to New York City to attend college, fulfilling a lifelong dream. "I started my career in New York," Heidi told Entertainment Tonight, "so Leni knows the city inside and out. She’s ready for this next chapter."
Next up is Henry, born on September 12, 2005, the first child Heidi and Seal welcomed together. Their marriage was full of love and music, but unfortunately, it didn’t last forever. They separated in 2012, and by 2014, their divorce was finalized. Despite that, Heidi has nothing but praise for Seal as a father, and their co-parenting relationship remains strong.
Henry, as the eldest son, has always been a source of pride for Heidi. Even though she doesn’t share many photos of him or her other kids online, she occasionally opens up about how they’re doing. In 2020, she talked about how challenging it was for the kids during the pandemic, especially since they were being homeschooled. Living in Germany while filming Germany’s Next Top Model, Heidi explained, "It’s definitely hard for them because they’re doing school in a different time zone. They do it here late at night, until 11:00 p.m., because they’re still on L.A. time with their class. But my kids are troopers—they’re not slacking!"