Heidi Klum: 'I only care what my kids say about me'

Heidi Klum has confessed that her children are the only ones capable of making her feel truly beautiful.

The supermodel and Project Runway host revealed that she often feels sceptical of industry praise of her appearance and instead relies on the honesty of her four kids Leni, Henry, Johan and Lou as a measure of her self-worth.

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"In my job, people tell you that all the time - 'This shoot was great. You look amazing'. But you never know what they say when you turn away," Klum explained in a new interview with Elle.

"But the kids don't edit anything. When they kiss you and tell you they love you and say, 'Mama, you're the best' - that's really the only thing you care about. I'm a lioness. I have four cubs. I'm a mum. I want to take care of my kids and protect them."

Klum went on to say that she appreciates how unique each of her children are and wants them to be happy in whatever they do as they grow up.

"They're all different... I think Henry is the artistic one. But I want him to figure out for himself who he is," she added. "[I want them] to find themselves. To do what they enjoy doing. To find someone they can share their lives with and be happy."

Klum announced her separation from husband and father of three of her children, Seal, in January after seven years of marriage. She recently! confess ed that she is in a 'tornado of emotion' over the split.

> Heidi Klum thanks fans for support following Seal split