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.
