Leni Klum is busy with her first year at college and modeling for both Dior and Good Hair Days. We still don’t know which New York City school Leni is attending, at least I couldn’t find it, but I did read that she’s an interior design major. That’s interesting. So is the modeling just paying for school or is the ID a fallback if the modeling doesn’t work out? I’m only half joking with those questions. Obviously Leni doesn’t need financial help with school, her folks Heidi Klum and Seal seem to be doing okay. But Leni intrigues me. It seems like she’s cultivating her own interests and forging a path to pursue them, but in a real way, not a Brooklyn “oh, shiny object!” Beckham way. Leni also seems to have a better understanding of her position as nepotism hire than most. While she said she puts in the work, she recognizes she got where she is because of mom and dad.
The rising industry star [Leni Klum], who has already landed beauty deals with Dior and GHD, knows about the reputation of being a “nepo baby” — considering her parents are Heidi and R&B singer Seal — but she’s hard at work to prove herself in the industry.
“I did get help starting off, and I know that people would dream to start off with what I had,” she shares. “I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to take what was gifted to me by my mom. But I am doing the work and putting in the time. Now I’m working on my own, traveling alone, going to school. My mom and I just have the same love for the same thing.”
This is a realistic way to look at it. This may shock you, but I’m not a model so I don’t know what constitutes “putting in the time.” Heidi is one of the hardest working models out there, so Leni is well aware of what it means, though. I also feel like Heidi would call Leni out if she was phoning it in. But Leni acknowledges that she started her career at third base and that’s a lot more than most do. Leni’s comment, “my mom and I just have the same love for the same thing,” gave me pause. When a child becomes a teacher like their parent or a lawyer or such, we don’t think anything of it. But as soon as it touches on fame, we pull out a different measuring stick.
Leni seems to be having fun at school, however. Her parents are seeing to that. Heidi was so worried about Leni being away that she ordered 25 bags of groceries for Leni and her roommate to be delivered to their door. And Seal treated Leni out to a day at the US Open to watch Serena Williams back in September. So, you know, just like our college days, right?
At least Leni got to go to Mom’s big Halloween Bash this year!
Photo credit: Darla Khazei/Avalon Red, Cover Images, Instagram and Xavier Collin/Avalon Red
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcHFgboV3e8uepaKXm6HCrqvImKKnp6eUwamt05innqegobKgw86uo52XlKeyorm%2BraaYq6SWv7Wrzp%2BdmK%2BZqbWgw8eaq5ihj52upXs%3D