Heidi Klum Born: Supermodel Builds Media Empire

Heidi Klum parlayed her 1992 victory in a German modeling contest into a transatlantic career spanning fashion, television, and business that made her one of the most commercially successful models in history. Born on June 1, 1973, in Bergisch Gladbach, near Cologne, Germany, she won the "Model 92" contest organized by the German modeling agency Metropolitan at age 18, beating out 25,000 other contestants. She moved to the United States and quickly established herself in the fashion world, appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1998 and becoming a Victoria's Secret Angel, one of the most visible and lucrative modeling contracts in the industry. Her transition from model to media personality was deliberate and effective. As the host and executive producer of "Project Runway," which premiered in 2004 on Bravo, she brought fashion design competition into mainstream television entertainment. The show ran for multiple seasons across two networks and earned numerous Emmy nominations, winning the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program. Her catchphrase, "one day you're in, and the next day you're out," became instantly recognizable. Beyond television, Klum built a diversified business portfolio that included a clothing line for the German retailer Lidl, a cosmetics partnership with Astor, a jewelry collection, and licensing deals that extended her brand across multiple product categories. Her annual Halloween parties became media events covered by entertainment press worldwide, each costume more elaborate than the last. She also hosted "Germany's Next Topmodel," expanding her television presence across the Atlantic. Her combined earnings from modeling, television, and business ventures reportedly exceeded $90 million, making her one of the highest-earning models in history.