Heidi & Leni MODEL MOVES

THE SUPERMODELS DAUGHTER IS FOLLOWING IN HER FOOTSTEPS

- Jennie Noonan

Supermodel S Heidi Klum has always had a tight bond with her eldest daughter Leni, 18, particularly since she's followed in her mum's footsteps in the modelling world.

"I've accompanied my mum to sets for as long as I can remember and been photographed on the street for as long as I can remember," Leni said in an interview with Vogue Germany. "And even if most wouldn't describe my childhood as normal, for me it was. I think my mother did a pretty good job there. And that's why I now feel so ready to take this step."

Heidi, 49, shares daughters Leni (whose biological father is Italian businessman Flavio Briatore) and Lou, 13, and sons Henry, 17, and Johan, 15, with her ex-husband, singer Seal. The kids are also close with Klum's new husband, musician Tom Kaulitz. In August, Leni moved away from the family to attend college in New York, but was back by her mother's side for a new campaign for the Italian lingerie brand, Intimissimi.

Klum balances her career with organising a blended family. "I mean, it's never easy, she told Today. "When you get married and you have children, you hope for that to last forever. When I said 'yes', I meant yes forever. Unfortunately, that was not the case and so you try to do your best to keep your children as happy as possible, and keep them as grounded and loved most as possible."

Klum, meanwhile, is making dreams come true on the screen as host of the reality TV fashion contest, Making the Cut.