17 seasons. You have to let that sink in first. Heidi Klum is currently celebrating her 17th birthday. For the first time, we are on the lookout for new faces that will soon be dominating the catwalk. Between shoots, we caught up with the model mom and talked to her about the business, her grandma’s potato salad and why print never goes out of fashion.

FACES: Congratulations on your 17th birthday! Season Germany’s Next Topmodel! What have been your highlights in recent years?
Heidi Klum: My highlight every year is the candidates. And even more this year! This really is a very special season. The topic of diversity is paramount, and this has never been so well reflected in the cast as in this season. It’s always interesting to get to know the models over the weeks. Some undergo such an impressive transformation during this time. And I don’t just mean as a model, but also on a personal level. I keep hearing that they feel more self-confident, are less anxious and respect themselves more and have gotten to know themselves better. They push themselves to their limits and surpass themselves. This year it is doubly exciting to see how the candidates develop and who the clients book. In season 17, there are 31 girls AND women who couldn’t be more different. Our smallest model, Kashmira, is 1.54 meters tall, our youngest model is 18, the smallest dress size is a 30. Our tallest model is 1.95 m, the oldest 68, and the largest dress size is a 54. Three of the 31 cast members are over 50: Barbara is 68, Lieselotte 66 and Martina 51. Martina even has her 18-year-old daughter Lou-Anne (18) with her, who also made it onto your cover. Of course I was very happy about that – I think Lou-Anne has a very special, very modern look. There’s just something very special about her, you can’t take your eyes off her and don’t want to.

Q: What makes GNTM so successful?
Heidi Klum: I think it’s just exciting to watch people fight to get a little closer to their dream; just like the art of staging the transformation from normal girl to top model in a photo shoot or at a fashion show. The transformation from “normal” to “top” is exciting to watch – even for me when I’m standing next to it live. I also go to great lengths every year to get important designers, beautiful locations and big stars at the start. I want to make the journey as exciting and beautiful as possible for my candidates and for the viewers at home.

Q: What has changed the most since the first season of GNTM?
Heidi Klum: The industry has changed – fortunately, in my opinion. There are so many different beautiful women in this world. I would like to introduce them all now, the great variety of body sizes, skin colors, hair colors and ages.

Q: What successes of your winners are you particularly proud of?
Heidi Klum: As the very first winner, Lena Gercke will of course always have a very special place in my heart. I couldn’t have imagined a better first winner. She has gone her own way and is super successful. Not only as a model, but also as a presenter and designer. It was also a very special moment when she sat next to me on the jury for the first time. Time always flies so quickly – it’s been 17 years since I chose Lena for GNTM in the very first final.

Q: In the current season, you were finally able to return to your home, Los Angeles. Why is the city so close to your heart, and what does it have that other places in the world don’t?
Heidi Klum: First and foremost, Los Angeles is so close to my heart because it’s home to my family. Apart from Leni, all my children were born here. They go to school here, have their friends here, our whole family life takes place here. And I’m not complaining about waking up every morning and looking up at a blue sky. It makes the most sense for me if we shoot in Los Angeles so that I can be with my family at the same time. And on the other hand, of course, it’s also great for the show and the candidates. L.A. inspires people to dream, and that’s exactly what GNTM is all about – girls and women pursuing their dreams.

Q: What role does social media play in the modeling profession?
Heidi Klum: I personally enjoy social media. If that wasn’t the case, I wouldn’t share so much. Of course, Instagram and co. also have many downsides, but at the end of the day, every model can decide for themselves whether and how much they share on social media. In theory, you can also use Instagram as a purely virtual model book. I think it’s nice to share private moments too. What and how much I share is entirely up to me.

Q: How important is “personality” for a model?
Heidi Klum: People want to know who the person behind the beautiful face is. That’s why everyone comes up with something about how they want to be seen and what they want to share on Instagram. I, for example, see an incredible amount of cool new clothes all the time. I like to share with my followers what my stylist finds for me around the world. He also styles Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Ciara and many more. He often introduces me to the latest colors, cuts and designs. I just love posting fashion pictures and sharing fashion with my followers!

Q: How important are print magazines for the modeling business?
Heidi Klum: When I started modeling, that was always my biggest dream: to shoot cool editorials for print magazines. And of course to get a cover. I believe that the importance of print magazines will not diminish despite social media and the like. A cover shoot is and remains something very special for every model.

Q: What do you like about FACES?
Heidi Klum: The Diversity. It makes me happy to see the industry opening up. I think you made exactly the right choice for your cover with Lou-Anne. It looks great, has an interesting look and a mega recognition value. And that’s exactly what matters, isn’t it?

Q: Which of your jobs will you never forget?
Heidi Klum: The list is long! But to name one: When I shot a complete issue of Vogue. I was pregnant at the time and had to squeeze into all the outfits. But I didn’t blame the pregnancy for putting on weight, I blamed my mother’s delicious food! My baby was not yet old enough to share the news with the world.

Q: Where else do you really want to go?
Heidi Klum: To the weddings of my grandchildren.

Q: What heirloom hangs in your closet that is particularly close to your heart?
Heidi Klum: I have an old, completely scratched metal pot that my grandmother used to make potato salad in. It has a thick sticker on it so that nobody gets the idea of throwing it away.

Q: What is your personal secret of success?
Heidi Klum: Have fun! I’m always best at the things I really enjoy. Even though I was ridiculed for my permanent grin at the beginning of my career, the fun and passion for this job have brought me to where I am today. Of course, in addition to all the fun, you also need to work hard! (laughs)

Q: What advice would you have wished for at the beginning of your career?
Heidi Klum: I’ve always listened to my gut feeling and less to what others told me. That’s why I would probably have done everything the same way even if I’d been given clever advice. I am very happy about this, because this path has not only led me to a job that I really enjoy, but also to my four great children and my wonderful husband.

Q: When do you feel particularly beautiful?
KHeidiKlum: When I’m with my husband. For one thing, he always makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, and for another, nowhere else in the world am I as happy as with him and my children. And in my opinion, happy people automatically have a different glow.

Heidi Klum

You can’t see her 30 years in the modeling business, but you can feel it. Heidi Klum is a complete professional when it comes to media and modeling and has made it her mission to pass on her knowledge. In 1992, at the age of 18, she was discovered by Thomas Gottschalk on his late-night show, received a modeling contract and was given a good jump-start to her career. With her A-levels in the bag, she turned down the opportunity to study fashion design in Düsseldorf, moved to the USA and stood on the catwalk for Victoria’s Secret for the first time in 1997. One year later: the breakthrough thanks to a Sports Illustrated cover. Since then, the world has known Klum’s face. Heidi is clever and knows that modeling is not for eternity. She writes books, produces TV shows, acts, presents and finally creates a racehorse with Germany’s Next Topmodel 2006, which has not lost any of its speed to date.