Aw, multi-millionaire supermodels – they’re just like us! Actually, in this case, they are. Heidi Klum is getting ready for her oldest child, Leni, to leave the nest. Leni, who began modeling a short while ago, is off to New York. But she’s not leaving for a modeling contract, she’s going to college. She’s probably going to model as well, but I’m honestly surprised to read she’s leaving for school. As Heidi said, “she has her head screwed on right.” I don’t know where Leni is going to school, but Heidi said that even though she’s really excited about this next chapter in Leni’s life, she’s going to be really sad to say goodbye.
The America’s Got Talent judge has revealed that her eldest daughter Leni, 18, is flying the nest and moving out of the family home to attend college in New York City after graduating from high school earlier this summer.
Heidi admitted that while she is thrilled about the 18-year-old’s exciting new adventure, her “heart will be sad” without her daughter at home.
“I am [so proud],” Heidi told ET Online. “You know, she has her head screwed on right. Right now, college is on top of the list. It’s not modeling and she’s really excited for that next chapter in her life.”
The supermodel added: “Unfortunately, she is moving away from home, which is obviously sad but at the same time that she’s got enough to go for it.
“She’s moving to New York. I started in New York, so she knows New York inside and out because we shot Project Runway there for many years.
“So, she knows it well because I always move my family to New York when we were still filming. So, I think she’s going to have a good time, but my heart will be sad.”
I mean, that’s the thing about college, isn’t it? It’s hard to see the kid go, but you’re really excited for what they’re going to experience. Heidi lives in Bel Air with her husband, Tom Kaulitz. America’s Got Talent and Making the Cut are West coast shows. My guess is the “filming” Heidi refers to in New York was Project Runway. So yeah, I imagine New York is a home-away-from-home for Leni. And even if modeling is only part time, she has a network of agencies in New York to act as a surrogate family. She’ll be fine. And Heidi knows that because she did it when she was Leni’s age. Actually younger. I’ll bet Heidi ends up being one of those moms who lives vicariously through her kid on campus.
But I get the being sad part. At least I think I will. My first born just made the decision to hold out until he can get into his first-choice school. So we have him for two more years of community college. My friends just dropped their last kid off at college last weekend and have started their life as empty nesters. They text me photos daily of vacated rooms that are theirs to convert as they please and maps with pins in locations they intend to travel next. I’m not saying I won’t miss my kids, but I’m sure willing to find out. No, I know, I’ll miss them… but at least I can miss them from a beach in Fiji.
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- Heidi Klum, Leni Olumi Klum attends the Los Angeles premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World Dominion” on June 06, 2022 in Hollywood, California,Image: 697595205, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Heidi Klum, Leni Olumi Klum, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon
Photo credit: Instagram and Avalon.red
I hope this is all true. I remember Gigi Hadid was off to NY and collage but she really was modeling.
I worry about kids who don’t have a backup plan for when youth and beauty stop paying the bills, but Leni probably has a trust fund. So college or no college, she’s not gonna end up a statistic in the NY streets. Still, college can open doors to new worlds and ideas. If one has the luxury to attend, I recommend it.
I’m sure mom has funds set aside for her. And isn’t Leni’s bio dad some wealthy formula one owner also? And Seal considered her his daughter as well so between the three of them I’m sure she has a cushy nest to fall back on. That said – I’m glad to see she’s going to university and hope, as others have said, that she’s actually going to study (vs saying she’s going and actually only modeling) She’s a lovely looking girl and there seems to be genuine happiness in those photos which is nice to see.
IMHO, if your kids stand to inherit real wealth going to collage should be a must. I mean I’m sure Heidi and her father are good caretakers of money but what happens when they are gone and it’s all up to her? Who does she trust? Better to get as much education as possible.
@Lizzie – ITA! Although I think that applies to everyone. It’s doesn’t have to be a pricey four year degree to get an education in managing one’s finances, but as I was just telling a young mentee who was considering leaving college after a year, it’s good to have choices in life, which an education can provide. The trades can offer amazing careers with good salaries and job security, but future generations are gonna work until they’re 70. There’s plenty of time to study and work.
@MtlExPat, a small quibble (not that I think you meant anything untoward at all!): I know that I’ve heard there’s some stickiness to Seal-as-a-person and that maybe his and Heidi’s relationship didn’t end in healthiest way, although I don’t know any details, but Seal was with Heidi when she was pregnant with Leni, he was there when she was born, and he helped with her care from the moment she was born.
Most people would consider him her father just for that alone, but he also later adopted her. She’s his kid, period.
I have never met my biological father, but I had a dad from the time I was four. I wouldn’t trade my Dad for my biological father for anything, even if it would have been easier financially. October will mark the seventh anniversary of my Dad’s death and I still miss and think about him every day because biology doesn’t make someone a parent, love does.
Just dropped my kid off Sunday. cried on final hug. He will still have his room and things when he home on breaks and hopefully after college he lives with me a few years to save money. Where do the kids go when they come home on breaks and parents have converted the place lol… I have to take care of his lizard and I hope I dont forget to feed it or something.
Exactly! It’s like a revolving door with long weekends, breaks, holidays etc. My kids knew that as long as I was alive they’d have a home to come back to.
You’re a great mom. That’s how it should be ! I hate this whole “Once they’re 18 they’re on their own”. Let them know that no matter what, they will always have a home with you. It will help ease the stress and worry they have at that age.
Same with us. My kids’ rooms are their rooms, and will be forever (my husband and I used to stay in my old bedroom when we visited my mom). They need to know they always have home to return to if they need or want.
Also, with two kids in college, I’m too broke to go to Fiji — not a problem Heidi Klum will share.
I never changed my kids’ rooms when they went to college. I changed some of the decor but kept the furniture and a lot of their personal stuff. Kids come home: on break, in the summers, and/or after they graduate. Not all kids, but most. And now my son is in his second year of law school in the city where we live, so we decided to have him live with us this time to save money. He has a girlfriend with her own place, so he’ll stay there often, but he’ll have home base here.
It’s not easy to have grown kids living with you, but I prefer that to having the kids leave at 18 and never return! They’re good company at in their 20s, for the most part. I like spending time with my people. Not too much, but some.
Just dropped off my son at college half way across the country on Monday. And that’s exactly it-sad for me because I miss the kid, but also so excited for him. I held it together at drop off, but cried when my husband and I got to the airport to fly home.
Heidi used her contacts to get Leni started in modelling, but no way is this young lady traditional model material. She is not tall enough and just doesn’t have the “it” factor that Heidi and other successful models have. Family connections can get your foot in the door but that’s about it.
Pressed submit too soon. Was going to add good for her putting her education first.
Glad Leni is off to school & hope she thrives. She may continue to grow physically, too. I grew until I was 22. And Kate Moss at 5’6″ does well for someone who’s “not tall enough.” Her daughter Lily Grace is barely 5’5″. Christie Brinkley claimed to be 5’9″ but I’ve worked on shoots with her – more like 5’7″ stretched. Ideal “model” looks have more to do with bodily proportions than actual height. Both Kate Middleton and JLoaf have “short legs” proportionately, thus not model material.
Plenty of “models” these days make successful careers without being anywhere close to traditional runway material. This girl is extremely pretty, but she’s going to need much more to complete with instamodels and other nepobabies. In the world of filters and photoshop, having that face IRL isn’t nearly as essential as it once was.
Yeah…”traditional” model material isn’t much of a thing anymore, for better or worse (I err on the side of better, where inclusion is concerned at least). Leni is way pretty to me anyway! Anyway, it clearly states that Runway was filmed in N.Y. Just a random tidbit, but one of my best friends, Keldemp, was on Project Runway and went very far. Says Heidi Klum was funny and sweet, but man, did she adore Tim Gunn!
Leni is super cute! I hope that she enjoys her college years and has a blast in NYC.
We just dropped off our daughter at college Sunday. The freshmen start a week early for a nonstop week of immersion events & programs – it’s STEM school in a small town. It’s hard to feel sad when she’s so excited, but that empty nest feeling is weird for sure. She’ll be in school for a long time, so her room isn’t going anywhere.
my kids are just getting ready to apply for next year and I’m already getting choked up so I understand. I *AM* excited for them, but, dammit, it’s all about ME!!!
I have 2 at college. One left after a year and is now going locally. I am sad for her. The college experience for me were the best 4 years of my life. Really, parents, you want your kids to be happy there. It’s a bridge between childhood and adulthood. Don’t be sad. Be happy and excited for your kids.
Dropping my oldest next week for the start of her sophomore year. About a month into her freshman year she wanted to move home and go to school locally. Thankfully she stuck it out and now has a good balance of college life but also coming home on breaks and spending time with family and friends here.
You can be happy, excited, and sad all at once. It’s human nature to miss them a little
Agree, Cheesus. It’s really not helpful to hear « don’t be sad « . You can be really excited for thém, AND still melancholy and sad. It *is* a Major Life Event. I know that because all the life insurance ads tell me it is.
Brooke Shields made a TikTok about her daughter going back to campus, and omg she was so tearful… I feel bad for all the parents missing their kids!!
Your child going to college = your child going to kindergarten x 1000, or maybe a million. It’s never going to be the same. And you don’t want it to be the same, you want them to grow and flourish, but it is okay to mourn the loss of what has been. I cried for what seemed like forever when we dropped my son off 9 hours away from home. He was along for the ride when we dropped his sister off 2 years later and I cried until he and my honey were both crying too. (She was less than 2 hours away, but now I really knew how things would change). I loved raising them and now they are in their 30s and are professionals with masters degrees and good jobs but Oh! How I miss them being under my roof 💗 nothing makes me so happy as when we are altogether!
Good for her for not taking the “Brooklyn Beckham” way to fame and fortune (dabbling in various vapid *career* paths instead of going to uni and developing some real skillz.)
Leni is so pretty and photogenic! I’m glad she’s getting an education, but I find this less offensive than some other nepotism models who clearly do not have “it.”