HEIDI KLUM (AMERICAN)

Heidi Samuel  born June 1, 1973 better known by her birth name Heidi Klum, is a German-born American actress, television host, model, businesswoman, fashion designer, television producer, and occasional singer. She is married to English musician Seal with whom she shares the legal last name, Samuel.

Klum was raised in Bergisch Gladbach, a town outside Cologne, by her German parents Günther, a cosmetics-company executive, and Erna, a hairdresser. A friend persuaded her to enroll in a national modeling contest called "Model 92". Out of 25,000 contestants, Klum was voted the winner on April 29, 1992 and offered a modeling contract worth US$300,000 by Thomas Zeumer, CEO of Metropolitan Models New York. As the winner, she appeared on the Gottschalk Late Night Show, a top German television show with host Thomas Gottschalk. She accepted the contract a few months later after graduating from school and decided not to try for an apprentice position at a fashion design school.