Biography:
Supermodel Heidi Klum was born in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, on
June 1, 1973. During the winter of 1991, while in her late teens, a
friend persuaded her to enter a national contest - "Model 92." Over
25,000 girls had entered the contest, and over a series of shows on
German television Heidi kept winning the weekly and monthly stages
of the competition. In the end she won the contest overall and was
given her first modeling job, which she turned down in favor of
finishing school.
With a strong background in art, Heidi began studying to be a
fashion designer but during her studies decided she wanted to
pursue modeling as a career. In 1993, after learning the basics
throughout Europe, she moved to Miami and then to New York, where
she currently resides. Small jobs and constant modeling shoots kept
her busy, but her big break wouldn't come until 1998.
In 1997, she became affiliated with Victoria's Secret as a runway
model in one of the intimate apparel company's fashion shows. She
gained all sorts of recognition, most notably from Sports
Illustrated magazine. And in February 1998 Heidi graced the cover
of the magazine's famous "Swimsuit Issue," and there was no turning
back. She was now the most coveted supermodel in the world.
Her modeling career led her to television, where she made her
acting debut as Michael J. Fox's love interest on Spin City. She
played herself. The following year her first calendar was printed,
which has now become an annual standard. In 2004, she became the
host of the Bravo TV series "Project Runway," a reality show in
which contestants compete to win a chance to design clothes for
Banana Republic.
Heidi also made a return to her roots in fashion design and now
designs her own line of swimwear, which has been featured in the
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, as well as a signature shoe for
Birkenstock. She also designs jewelry and is an accomplished
painter.
On the romantic front, Heidi married hairdresser Ric Pipino in 1997
and would be divorced in less than five years. She later became
linked to Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis and then to
Flavio Briatore, owner of a Formula-1 racing team. She has a
daughter with Briatore. Recently, she married British singer Seal,
and the couple had their first child in 2005.
