Leni Klum Brushes Off Criticism Over Intimate Photoshoot with Supermodel Mother Heidi

Born into the limelight, 20-year-old Leni Klum is forging her own path in the modeling world while maintaining a remarkably grounded perspective on fame and criticism.

As the daughter of legendary supermodel Heidi Klum, Leni has already established herself in the fashion industry, collaborating with her famous mother on several high-profile campaigns and photoshoots. However, it was their joint lingerie advertisement for Italian brand Intimissimi that sparked controversy and drew significant online backlash.

In a recent interview with Vogue Germany published Tuesday, the rising model demonstrated wisdom beyond her years regarding the negative comments. “I always try to remember that no matter what you do, there will always be someone who doesn’t like it,” Leni explained to the publication. “You simply have no control over it and you can’t focus too much on the negative.”

Currently balancing her budding modeling career with studies at New York University in Manhattan, Leni revealed a surprising advantage when dealing with online criticism. “Most of the comments are in German, and I don’t really understand many of them,” she quipped. “That helps too, of course.”

The young model also addressed misconceptions about her profession, particularly the “nepo-baby” allegations that suggest her success stems solely from her mother’s fame. “It’s not just jumping in front of the camera and looking pretty,” she emphasized in the interview, originally conducted in German. “There are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that you don’t even see in the end product. Modeling requires a lot of discipline.”

Leni’s professional relationship with her mother continues to flourish, as she is set to join Heidi as a guest judge on Season 20 of “Germany’s Next Top Model.” Speaking about this opportunity, she shared, “Working with my mom again was great. Even though it’s primarily work, we always have so much fun together – and then my grandma visited us on set too.”

Family clearly plays a central role in Leni’s life. The eldest of three children shared by Heidi Klum and singer Seal, Leni’s biological father is Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, though she was adopted by Seal during his marriage to Heidi. Her bond with her current stepfather, Tom Kaulitz, whom Heidi married in 2019, appears equally meaningful.

Revealing a touching family moment, Leni discussed a special tattoo she shares with Kaulitz and his twin brother Bill. “My only tattoo is a matching tattoo that I did with Tom and Bill on Mama and Tom’s wedding night. One of the guests brought a tattoo machine and Tom, Bill and I tattooed each other’s dots,” she recalled. “It was a kind of ‘The Three Musketeers’ moment for us. My family is like an anchor for my life.”

Despite growing up in extraordinary circumstances, Leni Klum’s perspective on fame, family, and professional challenges demonstrates a remarkable maturity that will likely serve her well as she continues to build her career in the competitive modeling industry.