Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Heidi Klum’s Daughter Leni Is the Mirror Image of Her Mom

Heidi Klum’s Daughter Leni Is the Mirror Image of Her Mom

It’s a first-for the January issue of Vogue Germany, photographer Chris Colls not only shot supermodel Heidi Klum, but also her eldest daughter, Leni Klum. Their joint cover marks Leni’s official entry into the modeling world as well as into public life.

The privacy of her family is important to Heidi. Paparazzi photos of Leni or her siblings Johan, Henry and Lou were always pixelated for their protection. But now, at 16, Leni has her mother’s blessing for her debut. “Sixteen is a good age,” says Heidi. “If you are allowed to drive a car, you can also have an official Instagram account and show your face. And to be allowed to start with a Vogue cover is an insane privilege.”

As a result, she will join the ranks of other top models whose children are conquering the catwalk, including Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber, Vanessa Paradis and Lily-Rose Depp, Jerry Hall and Georgia May Jagger, and Kate Moss and Lila Grace Moss.

During the photoshoot and interview with Vogue contributor Esma Annemon Dil in Los Angeles and the subsequent video shoot in Berlin, we got to know the energetic Klum duo even better. Here, we outline our 11 biggest takeaways from meeting one of the most exciting new models of 2021.

1. Leni thinks Heidi is “uncool”


When asked by her mother if she thinks she’s cool or not, Leni says no. “Sometimes the way that you act is very cringey. Like, some dances you do.” But she adds, “You’re cool when you’re confident, which is a lot of the time. And fun. But some of your dances are very uncool.”

2. Leni always wanted to be a model


“It was only a matter of time before I would try to become a model myself. The first offer came when I was only 12 or 13, from a brand I liked to wear: Brandy Melville. At that time I begged my mother, but no chance. Now I understand that it would have been too early.”

3. Leni can match Heidi’s energy


“That’s what’s great about being a model. With most other jobs, I would have to suppress my crazy nature to make a ‘professional’ impression. As a model, I can let everything out and just be who I am. The job is the perfect outlet for all the energy I carry inside me.”

4. Leni had a part in Tokio Hotel guitarist Tom Kaulitz’s proposal to Heidi


“He asked all of us children for permission. We brought them breakfast in bed at Christmas, he took the ring, and then we all got really nervous when Mama hesitated for a moment.” (Heidi says she did this to make it more exciting.)

    

5. Leni has a friendship tattoo to match her stepfather…


…and his brother Bill Kaulitz, Tokio Hotel’s lead singer. It’s three little dots on the inside of their fingers.

6. She also wanted to have a matching tattoo with her boyfriend—in her mouth


However, Heidi refused to allow that.

7. Leni knows her current classmates only via Zoom


“I changed schools during lockdown. That was planned beforehand and then it fell on this stupid date. That means I only know my new school friends through Zoom.”

8. Her style is minimalist


In her interview with Vogue Germany, Leni reveals that she wears “streetwear [above all else]. Dickies, Wrangler or no-brand basics”. Her closet is pretty empty and only has a few T-shirts, trousers and jackets, as she often has clear outs and either gives pieces to her sister or sells them on Depop. The only thing she’s attached to are the field-hockey sweatpants she stole from her boyfriend. “My younger siblings love high fashion with logos — Supreme, Off-White, A Bathing Ape. I am less interested in those brands,” she says.

9. Leni is scared of spiders, bees and having blood taken


“Needles and shots,” she explains. Heidi, on the other hand, is scared of Leni’s driving and the idea that she will move out one day.

10. The Klums do not have secrets from each other


Asked if there was anything that Leni always wanted to ask Heidi, the answer was no. “I feel like we’re besties and I tell her everything.”

11. Her name is not what you think it is


Contrary to the internet’s shared opinion, Leni’s real name is not Helene Boshoven Samuel, but Leni Olumi Klum. Heidi has no idea where people got that information from.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×