Users Say Heidi Klum Was ‘Too Beautiful’ for Her Ex Seal, Who Has Scar — Her New Husband Is 16 Years Younger

Seal is famous not just for his soulful music but also for his past marriage to Heidi Klum. Their relationship, which lasted from 2005 to 2014, fascinated and, sometimes, puzzled the public. However, despite criticism of their pairing, their former connection and the supermodel’s other relationships show that beauty doesn’t mean the same for everyone.

Is Klum “Too Beautiful” for her Ex-Husband?

The German supermodel made a name for herself beyond the runway as a television host, producer, and entrepreneur. For many years, she was also seen often with her then-husband, Seal.

Recently, our readers shared some strong opinions about this former pairing. One person said, “You are toooo beautiful for that man. You could have done better [sic].” Another added, “He didn’t suit her.” A third person wrote, “She is much beautiful than him.“

But before jumping to any conclusions, let’s look at Klum’s part marriages. Before Seal, she walked down the aisle with stylist Ric Pipino, who was older and handsome but not a world-stopping beauty. They tied the knot in 1997 when Heidi was about 24 years old.

At that time, she was just starting to make it big in the modeling world. Two years after their wedding, Klum’s career took off. She was chosen to wear the $10 million “millennium bra” at the 1999 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

With her rising stardom, her marriage ended; she and Ric divorced in 2002. Now, years after her separation from Seal, Klum is happily married to Tom Kaulitz, who is 16 years younger than her.

She and the German guitarist started dating in 2018, fell in love quickly, and got married in secret in February 2019. It’s clear that Kaulitz has very handsome features, but he’s more disheveled and carefree than the put-together supermodel. Yet, Klum has said that she’s much happier now.

“For the first time, I have a partner who I can discuss everything with,” she said. “Someone who shares duties that we all have in our life. I used to be on my own with everything. For the first time, I get to experience what it is actually like to have a partner.”

Additionally, Heidi Klum feels younger and is going out more thanks to her new husband. She explained that she’s enjoying life more at 50 than she did in her 20s.

When her children were young, she rarely went to work events or after-parties. Now that her kids are older, and she has a better partner, the model can enjoy more social outings. Therefore, was Seal not suited for her because of his appearance or something else? Let’s take a closer look at the singer’s life and why his looks are not the most important part of him.

Why Does He Have Scars?

Seal is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer with many awards and millions of albums sold. His early hits like “Crazy” and “Killer” made him a household name.

Then came “Kiss from a Rose,” which topped the charts and solidified his fame. He’s released many other great albums over the years and showed off his songwriting skills. Furthermore, his accomplishments extend beyond music charts, with two Ivor Novello Awards to his name, and he’s also shared his expertise as a coach on “The Voice Australia.” But he isn’t just known for his singing.

Many people recognize him because of the scars on his face. Seal knows this well. He once told Yahoo Lifestyle, “Something that had kind of been initially traumatizing turned out to be something that has made me instantly recognizable.”

These scars are from a disease called lupus. It’s a long-term illness that can cause pain and swelling in any part of the body. It often affects the skin, joints, and organs inside a person.

For his part, the singer has a type of lupus called discoid lupus. This kind of condition causes round, coin-shaped sores. Seal once explained, “My lupus first arrived when I was 21. It’s not as serious as systemic [lupus], which affects the organs.” At first, he felt self-conscious about the markings on his skin. But he soon realized, “This body is not who we are. I got off lightly.”

How Is He as a Father?

In addition to sharing this inspiring perspective on his physical markings, Seal is also known for his unwavering dedication to being a devoted father to all his children, including Klum’s daughter from a previous relationship.

In 2009, Seal officially adopted Leni. He told the press that the adoption was complete, but he was quick to add that it didn’t really change anything at home. “It doesn’t make [Leni] any more or less my daughter,” Seal said. “She always has been.”

The singer explained that he and Klum wanted Leni to have the same last name as the rest of the family. “It was about Leni. I don’t want her to feel different because I know what that’s like being a kind of stepson. And I don’t want that dynamic for my little girl,” he added.

Moreover, Seal has always spoken positively about Leni’s biological father, Flavio Briatore, with whom Klum had a brief one-year relationship in 2003. The singer said Briatore “was a gentleman about the whole thing [the adoption]” and that he has “a tremendous amount of respect for him.”

The singer also admitted that if the roles were reversed, he might not have been able to handle the adoption as well as Briatore did. Therefore, together, Klum and her ex-husband have four children: Leni, Henry, Johan, and Lou Sulola. However, some things have been challenging.

Despite trying his best to be a good father, Seal admits that raising a family isn’t always easy, but he would still call it “the perfect life” overall. He believes that hard work and visualizing what you want can help. “The luck comes in the fact that Heidi and I have healthy children, and we are relatively healthy, too,” he added.

In January 2024, Seal had a special moment with all four of his kids. They walked the red carpet together at the premiere of “The Book of Clarence,” a movie directed by the singer’s brother, Jeymes Samuel.

Photos show Seal arm-in-arm with his daughter Lou and his current girlfriend and former personal assistant, Laura Strayer. His other kids, Leni, Henry, and Johan, were also there, posing together as a family.

This wasn’t the first time fans have seen him with his children because Seal often shares his love for them on social media. In September 2023, he posted a photo with Leni in New York City and wrote, “In NY with the young woman who changed my life for the better 19 yrs ago. Thank you Leni for making me a better person [sic].”

He also celebrated his son Henry’s 18th birthday on Instagram, and called him and Johan: “The Two Greatest Men I know.” Additionally, Seal praised Henry for his compassion, humility, and kindness, and finished the post with:

“I am so proud and privileged to be your father.”

While Seal’s love for his children is clear, how does he handle co-parenting with Klum after their divorce? Let’s take a look at their relationship now.

Is He Still on Good Terms with Klum?

Co-parenting after divorce can be tough, and it seems Seal and his ex-wife have had their share of difficulties. In May 2021, the singer spoke about their situation. He said, “It can be challenging. It requires teamwork. If you are a team, if both parents are a team, then it’s really easy and that’s not a real challenge at all. … But you have to be a team. And if you’re not a team, then it can all fall to pieces.”

When asked if he and Klum worked well as a team, Seal was honest. “No. … I never had that teamwork [with Klum]. We never had teamwork,” he said. His response was honest and showed the tough times they’ve faced, both during their marriage and since they split in 2012.

It also ties in with some of Klum’s comments about her current marriage, where she “shares duties” with her partner. Similarly, Seal has mentioned that his current girlfriend makes him “extremely happy” and believes in “love and teamwork.”

Overall, the former couple has been able to resolve disputes even when it was difficult. In 2020, they had to make some changes to their custody agreement. Klum filed an emergency motion because Seal wouldn’t let their children travel abroad with her during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eventually, they reached an agreement that allowed her to take the kids to Germany for work, with Seal getting extra time with them when they returned. Through everything, Seal tried to keep things in perspective. He pointed out that his kids were lucky, and didn’t have the same struggles as many others. They had a good home, plenty of food, and access to a great education.

The issue comes at the mention of his kids following in their parents’ footsteps. The singer has some valid concerns, particularly about Leni’s modeling career, which wasn’t his first choice for her. “That’s a precarious road to take,” he explained, adding that it rarely “ends in happiness.”

Interestingly, the singer once mentioned that his children aren’t very impressed with his music career. “We never really talk about my music at all,” he said. This shows that despite his fame, at home, he’s just Dad.

Klum and Seal’s current relationship may not be as close as other co-parents, but it’s clear that they both love their children deeply. They’re also navigating the challenges of raising kids after divorce, each in their own way. Perhaps they truly weren’t suited for each other, as our readers have said, but there’s no indication that it was because of appearance for them.

Klum herself has only talked about her connection to her new husband, Kaulitz, and how he makes her feel, not how he looks. Meanwhile, the singer faced challenges but remained a devoted father regardless, which is all anyone would want in an ex.

In the end, it’s simply better to find a partner who shares the same values. Klum has moved on to a new chapter in her life, just like Seal, yet the family they created together continues to be a big part of both their lives. Beauty, as they say, is more than skin deep, and true love and family bonds go far beyond everything else.