Heidi Klum: ‘When I Turned 40, I Was Told That I Was Getting Too Old To Model’

'When I was a judge on America’s Got Talent my kids couldn’t care less. Photoshoots? Designer clothes? They’re like, "yeah, whatever." But as soon as I announced I was doing a song with Snoop Dogg they were in awe,' Heidi tells me on Zoom from her sunny LA home. 'All I could think was finally, I’m cool to them,' she says gleefully. Her new song ‘Chai Tea with Heidi’, from DJ Duo WeddingCake, is an up-tempo dance track featuring Heidi's vocals and Snoop Dogg's illustrious rhymes, over a pumping beat.

The track is also the new theme song for Germany's Next Top Model - which Heidi hosts and produces - and there was only one person she wanted to feature on the track. 'I am the biggest Snoop Dogg fan! Watching him rapping in the vocal booth is a vision that I will never get out of my head,' she swooned. 'He’s so fun and was just dancing and hopping up and down all day long.’ She also says that Snoop is one well-groomed guy: 'He's into manicured nails, not with polish, but they are always well kept. He always had a gorgeous braided bun - Snoop is always so stylish.'

Heidi's musical venture is a brave step, but she’s not afraid to step out of her comfort zone, 'I’ve learnt throughout my career if you have a passion for something, you have to always go after it. I’ve always loved a challenge.' Who does she want to collaborate with next? ‘Kylie Minogue,' she says without hesitation. 'I’m sure we’re separated at birth, we just have the same spirit.’

Over the last few years, Hollywood A-listers have become increasingly verbal about ageism in the industry - especially for women. It's the same in the modelling world, says Heidi: ‘When I turned 40, people said, "So, when are you going to stop modelling? You're already 40 and getting old."

On this season of Germany's Next Top Model she has brought in models who are 66 and 68 years old. 'They are gorgeous and I'm pushing for more inclusivity,' she tells me as her Irish wolfhound shuffles his into view. ('This is Anton by the way, say hi!') 'I’ve learnt that at whatever stage of life you have to keep dreaming and setting yourself goals. Forty isn’t old, I turn 50 next year and I still have lot's to do.'

You get the feeling she has little interest in other people's opinions of her, anyway. 'I've been in an industry where I’ve been judged and talked about my entire career. So, I'm used to that,' she says. And while a wave of celebrities have recently started turning off their Instagram comments, Heidi switched them off three years ago.

'I turned off my Instagram comments because people were just getting too nasty to each other and fighting amongst themselves. I don't want to put more logs into the fire and fuel it more.' Heidi admits that in the past, she occasionally sought out the faces behind negative comments. 'They don’t even exist; their profiles have two posts and no followers. Who are you? Why are you hiding? It's sad that they go through the hassle of creating a new account just to be horrible.'

Before we end our call, there was one more thing to clear up. Headlines swirled about Heidi insuring her legs - and one leg was more expensive than the other. She erupts into laughter when I mention it, 'Okay, I spoke about this on The Ellen Show, but it’s never written correctly. About 15 years ago, I did an advert on having beautiful epilated legs, and the client insured my legs for the three years I was their ambassador. However, because one leg has a scar, one leg was valued at $500,000 and the other one was $1.5 million. So, together they were ensured for $2 million - I didn't do any of this.'

She insists she would have done something more worthwhile with that $2 million, adding, ‘People must be thinking oh, these Hollywood people come up with some crazy stuff!' At least now she's put the record straight.

Chai Tea with Heidi is out now