Following the news that Heidi Klum will replace Elle Macpherson as the creative director for lingerie giant Bendon, the Germany-born beauty has addressed the reported rivalry between the two supermodels.
"You know, 25 years, that's quite an empire," said Heidi of Elle's working relationship with Bendon. "That's quite an amazing business that Elle has created with Bendon".
"I feel like with all the social media that I have, with the campaigns that we do, I hope that people will hear that I took over and I hope that they're happy about it," she said about replacing the Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model judge. "It wasn't me knocking at the door saying I want to take over. It was offered to me."
There was said to be some conflict between the pair after Heidi described herself as The Body in an advert, Elle Macpherson's notorious nickname.
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"I have many companies that come to me, but I wanted to be with someone who was as big as them, as established as them, as successful as them," Heidi told WWD of her new partnership with Bendon. The news follows Elle's announcement earlier this year that she would be parting ways with Bendon after working with them for a quarter of a decade. The 50-year-old supermodel revealed that she would continue her three lines – Elle Macpherson Intimates, Macpherson Men and The Body – with new partners, although has yet to confirm who she will be joining forces with.
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The mother-of-four is renowned for her various projects including presenting reality TV show Project Runway, releasing her own fragrance and having walked the runway as an angel for Victoria's Secret. The blonde beauty recently hosted a charity gala during Milan Fashion Week, raising over $1.5million for amfAR's AIDS research programme, with celebrities including Alessandra Ambrosio and Poppy Delevingne attending.
