Leni Klum turns 19: you need to know that about Heidi Klum’s daughter

Leni Klum’s birthday is May 4th. The newcomer model turns sweet 19 years old. On the occasion of her birthday, we take a look at the life of Heidi Klum’s daughter so far.

The “Vogue” cover that changed everything for Leni Klum

Until December 15, 2020, Leni Klum was a name without a face. Heidi Klum raised all of her children away from the public eye. Privacy and the safety of her family were and are still the top priority for the 49-year-old. When Leni turned 16, however, Klum decided to reveal the face of Leni Klum to the world for the first time. Together they posed together on the cover of German “Vogue”. The appearance was Leni’s ticket to the world of models, and the mega-star’s daughter became world-famous overnight.

Since then, Leni’s career has been climbing steeply. A few weeks after the publication of the cover, her first cover photo followed on “Hunger Magazine” without Mama Heidi in support, photographed by star photographer Rankin. In the meantime, she regularly adorns the covers of well-known magazines such as “Glamour”, the Russian “Elle” and the “Rollacoaster” magazine. And Leni seems to be a real all-round talent and not only convincing as a photo model.

Catwalks, advertising campaigns and own collections

In January 2021, she opened the Berlin Fashion Week as a newcomer for the first time, followed by catwalk jobs for the fashion label “Dolce & Gabbana” in Venice and in early 2022 Leni even landed her first campaign for “Dior”. Further deals were not long in coming: “ghd Hair”, “intimissimi” and “About You” can’t get enough of the 19-year-old and regularly book her for advertising and TV appearances.

The newcomer model has already created her first fashion collection: in 2021 she presented a “Streetwear” line with “About You”, Leni has also been working with “Deichmann” and “Fila” since 2023 and presents her own shoe collection. No wonder that Klum has already given her little star an appearance on her TV show “Germany’s Next Top Model” as a guest judge. In the semifinals of season 17, Leni was seen on the jury for the first time, and it was rumored that she would one day take over her mother’s format.

A star even without Mama Heidi

She had already revealed in an interview with “Cosmopolitan” that this could be “her thing”. But first she had to improve her language skills. “I’m already taking lessons, but I want my German to be perfect before I take on a German TV show,” Leni clarifies.

So there is almost nothing standing in the way of Leni’s career. Even without Klum, the 19-year-old holds her own in the fashion industry. More than 1.7 million people follow the newcomer on Instagram, who appreciate her primarily for her natural and authentic nature. Because that’s exactly what the brunette seems to do. In an interview with “Vogue”, Leni reveals that she received her first offers at the age of twelve. At that time, Heidi was strictly against a career, she says and admits: “I now understand that it would have been too early.”

Leni’s colorful life: modeling, studying and a blended family

In addition to modeling, Leni has other visions for her future. The 19-year-old graduated from high school in 2022 and has been studying interior design at college in New York since last fall. But she needs good time management for this, she says in an interview with “Cosmopolitan”. Balancing Instagram, modeling and her studies is a big challenge.

The model also spends a lot of time with her family. As the daughter of Formula 1 manager Flavio Briatore, Leni grew up in a patchwork family and also has a good relationship with her biological father. She recently vacationed with her father, her half-brother Nathon, and Briatore’s ex-wife Elisabetta.

“Olumi” in homage to Seal

When Heidi Klum gave birth to Leni in New York in 2004, she was no longer with Briatore because she fell in love with British singer Seal while she was still pregnant. After marrying Seal in 2005, the singer adopted Leni. Her Nigerian middle name, Olumi, is said to evoke her stepfather’s African roots.

Leni also has three half-siblings from Heidi’s marriage: Her brother Henry was born in 2005, followed a year later by son Johan and since 2009 Leni has been the sister of Lou, who is now 14 years old. The 19-year-old also gets along well with Heidi’s new husband Tom Kaulitz. The two even got a friendship tattoo on the inside of their finger.

Leni has had a boyfriend since 2021, with whom she regularly shares couple pictures on Instagram. As the offspring of a Russian royal family, the young man is not unknown in Los Angeles. His father is a well-known photographer and his mother is a successful artist agent in Hollywood. In October 2021, the couple made their public debut at the premiere of The Harder They Fall.

Commitment to more diversity in the fashion world

Incidentally, like Klum, Leni would like to campaign for more diversity in the model business. With a height of only 1.63 meters, the half-Italian does not correspond to the typical model dimensions. But she sees this as an opportunity to contribute to change in the fashion world. In an interview with “Bunte” she says: “I myself am 1.63 meters tall, proving that the fashion world is changing. And I’m really, really proud to be a part of that change.”

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