Heidi Klum Responds Perfectly To Being Called A 'Cougar'

"It's not about age."

Haters can hate all they want on Heidi Klum’s relationship with her younger beau, but it won’t change a thing when it comes to her boyfriend of over two years.

The 43-year-old supermodel has been dating art dealer Vito Schnabel, 30, since early 2014 and spoke to Ocean Drive about the media labeling her a “cougar.”

“It’s not about age,” Klum said. “It doesn’t matter what people say. As long as you know when you close your door in your own home, you have an amazing time together. That’s all that really matters.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. 

The mother-of-four ― who split in 2012 from singer Seal ― says she’s used to intense scrutiny given her high profile as a model and TV host. Perhaps that’s helped her develop a thicker skin when it comes to criticism of her relationship with Schnabel. 

“We have an amazing connection, we have fun together, and we love each other,” Klum said about Schnabel, who is 13 years her junior. 

She added that their mutual passion for art is something they enjoy together and called Schnabel an “amazing teacher.”

Other female celebrities have also spoken out about their “cougar” status, including everyone from Madonna to Courteney Cox. The pop queen herself has dubbed men her own age, “undateable.”

As for Klum, she’s unfazed by aging, saying she’s even looking forward to being a good grandma one day. 

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Before You Go

Heidi Klum's Halloween Costumes
2000(01 of16)
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Heidi rocked an S&M-style getup to her first annual Halloween bash. (credit:Tom Wargacki via Getty Images)
2001(02 of16)
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Heidi channeled Lady Godiva in a long, blond wig as she arrived on horseback to her second annual Halloween party. (credit:Ron Galella via Getty Images)
2002(03 of16)
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Heidi was a perfect Betty Boop in this little red number. (credit:Mark Mainz via Getty Images)
2003(04 of16)
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Not sure what sort of gold creature Heidi was trying to be, but hey, it looked pretty cool. (credit:James Devaney via Getty Images)
2004(05 of16)
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Heidi was one red hot witch for her fifth annual Halloween bash. (credit:Johnny Nunez via Getty Images)
2005(06 of16)
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Sexy vampire Heidi? Check. (credit:Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images)
2006(07 of16)
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The model wore an apple costume and dressed as a Garden of Eden-style snake for her seventh annual Halloween bash. (credit:Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images)
2007(08 of16)
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Meow. Enough said. (credit:Jesse Grant via Getty Images)
2008(09 of16)
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Heidi's blue Hindu goddess Kali costume was one for the books. (credit:Joe Kohen via Getty Images)
2009(10 of16)
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Heidi's elaborate crow costume stole the show at her Halloween bash in 2009. (credit:Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images)
2010(11 of16)
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Alien? Transformer? Purple Avatar? (credit:Bryan Bedder via Getty Images)
2011(12 of16)
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Gory. Creepy. Awesome. Heidi's skinless corpse look wowed in Vegas. (credit:Michael Tran via Getty Images)
2011(13 of16)
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Ape-solutely awesome! (credit:D Dipasupil via Getty Images)
2012(14 of16)
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Heidi Klum makes one lovely Cleopatra. (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
2013(15 of16)
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Old Lady Klum. (credit:Andrew H. Walker via Getty Images)
2014(16 of16)
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Now that's what we call a butterfly. (credit:Gary Gershoff via Getty Images)