A German superstar in the making: Why Leni Klum is suddenly omnipresent

Leni Olumi Klum, that's her full name, has only made 90 posts (at the time this article was published) and already has well over 800,000 Instagram followers. The internet, social media and the rest of the world go wild when the 17-year-old grins for the camera with elbow-length hair and wide eyes. The fact that "Petite Klum" has model qualities and star potential is undisputed, but not exceptional.

Equipped with German and US citizenship, she has been a globetrotter since birth, has collected more air miles than many a group CEO and is on first-name terms with the greats of (German) show business, because it is family business. In view of the fact that Mama Heidi Klum has been the most highly rated show in Germany for over a decade since "Wetten, dass...?" hosts "Germany's Next Topmodel" and is a household name in the USA with "Project Runway", one can assume that Leni Klum learned early on what makes a "walk" or a good pose.

But Leni Klum has enough other options to set her own footsteps on untouched terrain. For example, there is an ice cream parlor that she chose for a summer job in summer 2021. "Incredibly down-to-earth" was the title of the German tabloid and immediately mentioned that she was behind the counter of "Happy Ice" in the USA, where she chose the pineapple-mango ice cream as her favorite in a branch in LA and this immediately via an Instagram post shared. How long Leni Klum finally swung the ice cream spoon is not known, but a rogue who could think of a product placement right away.

Let's get back to the topic: dynasty. And yes, here you also have to talk about the royalty points . Leni Klum, who emerged from a relationship with F1 boss Flavio Briatore and Heidi Klum, was born into a family that breathes show business. It all begins with grandfather Günther Klum, who signed the models from his daughter's casting show to his agency. When he then registered the naming rights to his granddaughter (and even her nickname) in 2020, storm clouds gathered in the Klum kingdom. The exit was held behind closed doors. Since then, the grandfather has been sulking on Instagram.

The two stepfathers are no less prominent: US pop star Seal (her adoptive father) and "Tokio Hotel" singer Bill Kaulitz, who themselves know the entertainment business inside out. All in all, a German Kardashian family, but (still) without a reality show. After all, there is currently no other with international fame that could reach the Klum clan. How practical, too, that the fashion industry in particular would be dominated by "daughters of". A Leni Klum fits perfectly into the testimonial squad of celebrity kids, from Kaia Gerber, Hailey Baldwin to Gigi and Bella Hadid or Kendall Jenner, who dominate the big advertising deals. And who would fit in there better than a Leni Klum? The fact that Leni Klum with a height of 1.68 m would be too small for modeling is not difficult. Stars are rarely made on the catwalk anymore...

Luxury jewelry brand Chopard recently unveiled its new campaign starring Leni Klum, which features Hollywood stars like Julia Roberts. Not a bad start for the young model. She presents the new watches for the Happy Sport series.

Hard work. This is Heidi Klum's recipe for success, who has had the fashion (l) world firmly under control with German ambition since the 90s. For years the "house model" for Peek & Cloppenburg, she has also made it into the ranks of the "Victoria's Secret" supermodels, from where Tara Banks founded the zero hour of the "Angels". Married to hairdresser Ric Pipino in her first marriage, it was pop star Seal after the divorce that she met in a hotel lobby – so the story goes.

With Flavio Briatore, father of Leni Klum, she had a rather short relationship. The sunshine from Bergisch Gladbach built her career mainly on German television. For years the testimonial of the beauty chain Douglas, she really got off to a good start with the first season of "Germany's Next Top Model" on Pro7. That was in 2006. There are now no less than 16 seasons of the successful format, which has always been accompanied by criticism from all ranks. It didn't bother Heidi Klum. She continued undeterred, never gave a damn and filmed another successful format in the USA: "Project Runway". The reality show about design talent spawned designers like Christian Siriano. It went on in quick succession with "America's Got Talent" or "Queen of Drags" (again in Germany).