Heidi Klum's Kids Leni and Henry Make a Rare Outing Together at HeidiFest — and Comments Are Already Divided — Photos

Heidi Klum's annual Oktoberfest celebration brought her family together in Munich, but this time, it was a rare appearance by two of her children that caught the most attention. Leni Klum and Henry Samuel stepped out together — and one playful moment between the siblings soon had people looking twice.

Heidi hosted the 2026 HeidiFest at Hofbräuhaus Munich on September 17, ahead of the city's Oktoberfest celebrations. The event was a family affair, with Heidi joined by her husband, Tom Kaulitz, her mother, Erna Klum, and her children.

Heidi Klum Brings the Family Together in Munich

Henry, 20, and Leni, 21, have both been building careers in fashion, making their joint appearance at the celebration particularly interesting.

Leni has already established herself in modeling after entering the industry as a teenager. Henry, meanwhile, has more recently begun carving out a path of his own, making his runway debut at Paris Fashion Week before signing with Next Management.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Henry's agency deal is intended to help him develop his own career in fashion, entertainment, and culture rather than simply being known as the son of Heidi and Seal.

Henry himself said he had grown up around fashion and entertainment but described entering that world himself as "a whole new experience," adding that he was grateful for the opportunity to "learn, grow, and find my own voice in the industry."

The siblings have also appeared together with their mother in a Paper Magazine cover story, where the three posed as a trio for the publication.

That shoot highlighted the family's increasingly visible connection to the fashion world, with the magazine noting that Heidi's blended family was preparing for a two-part reality series chronicling her life and the emerging careers of Leni and Henry.

But at HeidiFest, it wasn't a magazine cover or runway appearance that became the most talked-about part of Leni and Henry's night. It was what happened between the siblings in front of the cameras.

Leni Steps Out in a Very Different Look

Leni arrived at the colorful Munich celebration wearing a light blue gingham-style dress, complete with a fitted bodice, puffed short sleeves, a full skirt, and a large bow at the waist. She completed the look with matching blue shoes trimmed with fluffy white material, giving the outfit a playful, almost storybook-inspired feel that matched the elaborate HeidiFest setting.

The model wore her long brown hair loose around her shoulders and opted for noticeably dramatic eye makeup. That detail did not escape viewers watching footage from the event.

Some viewers liked what they saw, with one commenter writing, "So lovely 🌹🌹." Others, however, immediately focused on Leni's makeup. One person asked, "Who put on Leni's makeup????" Another commenter went further, saying, "I would fire leni's [sic] makeup artist."

The reaction added a second layer of conversation to what otherwise appeared to be a cheerful family appearance.

Then Henry and Leni Gave Everyone Something Else to Talk About

The makeup debate, however, was not the only thing viewers noticed. At one point during the HeidiFest festivities, Henry picked Leni up and carried her in his arms, producing one of the more playful moments captured from the event.

The siblings appeared to be laughing and enjoying themselves as they posed together against the colorful HeidiFest backdrop.

The moment was lighthearted in the footage, but some viewers interpreted the display differently. One commenter simply declared, "Completely inappropriate."

That reaction stood in contrast to the affectionate and playful tone visible in the images, leaving viewers divided over how to read the sibling interaction. And that is what makes the photos from the evening particularly striking: the same moment that looked playful to some became a point of debate for others.

A Rare Sibling Appearance amid Busy Careers

The attention surrounding Leni and Henry comes as both siblings increasingly step into their own public lives. Leni, who is Heidi's eldest child, has followed her mother into modeling and has already worked on major fashion campaigns.

Henry has only recently begun making his own mark in the industry. His Paris Fashion Week runway debut was followed by his signing with Next Management, marking a new chapter separate from his parents’ established careers.

Heidi has previously spoken warmly about seeing her children grow into their own people. In her PEOPLE cover interview, she described her home as a place where her children feel safe and said she loves having everyone around whenever possible.

"I love having a house where they feel safe," Heidi said. She added that she likes having all of her children at home, saying, "For me, it's always the more, the merrier."

She also spoke about the different stages of raising children, from worrying about them as young kids to later worrying about driving, relationships, and the choices they make as they get older.

"I hope the seed you planted in them grows," she said, explaining that she hopes her children grow into good and healthy people. Henry appears to have made an impression on people who have met him away from the cameras, too.

Heidi recalled that people sometimes approach her after meeting her son simply to tell her how kind and nice he was. "Because no one has to say that," she said.

The Siblings Are Part of Heidi's Blended Family

Henry and Leni are part of Heidi's blended family with former husband Seal. Heidi shares Henry, Johan and Lou with Seal, who also adopted Leni in 2009. Leni's biological father is Italian businessman Flavio Briatore.

Tom, meanwhile, became stepfather to Heidi's four children after marrying the model. According to TODAY, Tom is a founding member of the German rock and synthpop band Tokio Hotel, which he formed with his identical twin brother, Bill Kaulitz.

The couple first met at a mutual friend's birthday party, with Heidi later recalling that she was immediately attracted to Tom. They married in 2019 after getting engaged the previous year.

With the family spread across different careers and, in some cases, different cities, getting several of them together for a major celebration is not necessarily an everyday occurrence.

E! previously noted that Heidi's two oldest children were traveling the world as fashion models while Johan had started college in New York City.

That makes the Munich appearance all the more notable — particularly because Leni and Henry were photographed together in a moment that looked much more spontaneous than a typical red-carpet pose.

HeidiFest Has a History of Getting People Talking

The family-focused spectacle is not new to HeidiFest. As we previously reported, the 2025 celebration also placed Heidi and her family prominently at the center of the festivities, with Leni, Henry, Tom, Bill Kaulitz, and Erna among those attending.

The event combined Bavarian-inspired fashion, celebrity appearances, music, and elaborate visual staging, turning the Hofbräuhaus into something considerably more theatrical than a conventional Oktoberfest gathering.

But it was precisely this staging that drew criticism. "A disgrace for the Bavarians", was the comment online, as many felt the outfits were disrespectful of tradition. Between the bustier dirndls, glittery fabrics and daring cuts, critics saw more of a Hollywood show than Bavarian customs.

The mixture of glamor, family appearance and fashion spectacle divided opinion. While some celebrated Heidi for her courage, others spoke of a pure commercial show.

But Heidi and her family were by no means the only stars of the evening. Numerous other celebrities also came to the Hofbräuhaus - and caused a stir with their sometimes flashy, sometimes classic outfits. The following 15 photos show just how colorful and controversial the HeidiFest really was.

Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum appeared as hostess in an eye-catching red dirndl with a plunging neckline and floral embroidery. The shiny apron and red satin ribbon made the look glamorous and almost Hollywood-ready. Together with the red lips and loose mane, it looked less like a traditional costume and more like a catwalk outfit.

Alessandra Ambrosio

The Brazilian beauty appeared in an eye-catching silver dirndl with a shiny apron and plunging neckline. She paired it with a white lace blouse, which made the look classy and very sexy at the same time. Her styling looked less traditional and more like a high-fashion version of the traditional costume - perfect for the red carpet, but a far cry from the Bavarian original.

Leni Klum

Leni appeared in a simple but striking white dirndl with puffed sleeves and a narrow waist. The combination of white knee-high socks and black strappy shoes gave the look an almost girlish, nostalgic touch. The all-white styling made her look like a modern interpretation of innocence and classicism - minimalist, elegant and at the same time very striking among all the colorful dirndls of the evening.

The Klum family

Kayla opted for a light, delicate dirndl-style dress that exuded elegance and restraint at the same time. No flashy glitter, no plunging neckline - just a modern but rather delicate interpretation. She brought a touch of style calm to the fashionable chaos of the evening.

Tom showed up in a bright red janker with classic lederhosen - the perfect partner look to Heidi's red dirndl. His son Henry, also in lederhosen, looked almost like a mini gentleman. Together, the two made a father-son appearance that seemed almost too perfectly styled to be real.

Stefano Zarrella

The influencer appeared in dark leather trousers with a light-colored traditional vest and white shirt - classic, but with a modern fit. With the sleeves rolled up, the look was casual and young, much less stiff than that of many other guests. It brought a bit of street style to the Hofbräuhaus without completely losing the Bavarian elements.

Kristina Bach & Jürgen Drews

Schlager singer Jürgen Drews came in a traditional look: dark leather trousers, a white shirt and a dark traditional jacket - down-to-earth, but with his well-known entertainer charisma. Kristina Bach, on the other hand, went for glamor: a glittering, bright dirndl with a silver apron and a plunging neckline. Together they looked like the dazzling hit couple of the evening - he classic, she sparkling and eye-catching.

Michael Holm

The singer stuck to the basics: simple colors, classic jacket, understated styling. Between all the glittery looks, he seemed almost refreshingly normal. A performance that showed that less is sometimes more.

Franziska Knuppe

The model shone in a purple dirndl with floral embroidery and matching apron. The white, high-necked lace blouse with puffed sleeves added a classic touch, while the pink flower crown in her hair playfully rounded off the look. With a beer mug in her hand and red lipstick, Knuppe looked exuberant, fresh and elegant at the same time - a mixture of Oktoberfest romance and model glamor.

Rúrik Gíslason

The former professional footballer appeared in a classic traditional look: dark blue vest, white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a beer mug in his hand. With his open smile and his hair tied back, he looked relaxed, laid-back and charming - almost like the perfect Oktoberfest ambassador. Instead of glamor, Rúrik opted for authenticity, a look that ideally combined tradition and nonchalance.

Elias Becker & Yasmine Dahlberg

Elias Becker came in a light-colored traditional jacket, white shirt and classic leather trousers - a traditional but modern combination. Yasmine Dahlberg opted for a dark blue dirndl with an equally dark blue apron and a white, off-the-shoulder lace blouse. Together they looked elegant, stylish and perfectly coordinated - a young couple who presented the traditional costume in a fashionable but respectful way.

Barbara Meier

The former GNTM winner opted for a simple, classic dirndl in muted colors. Between all the show outfits, her appearance was almost a relief. A small return to real tradition, which certainly went down better with the critics.

Christine Neubauer & son Lambert

The actress opted for an extravagant dirndl in black and gray with a transparent lace blouse. Particularly striking: the wide, grey apron belt and the playful, purple flower wreath in her hair, which gave the look a colorful accent. Her outfit looked elegant and sensual at the same time - a mixture of classic traditional costume and evening wear that immediately caught the eye.

Reactions from the web

The verdict of many users online was scathing. One short comment put it in a nutshell: "Embarrassing 😱". Others were even clearer: "This is a disgrace for Bayern, really now, has nothing to do with tradition, simply ridiculous. A bunch of clowns, nothing else." Criticism was also expressed in Bavarian dialect: "It has nothing to do with Munich and traditional costume. It's a shame that it's being carried out like this! A disgrace 🤦 Kaschperltheater!"

Another user compared the festival to a staged TV show: "What a mise poor mini playback show. Everything was completely forced and acted. As cruel as you would expect from Klum. She even lets TV finance and pay for this nasty spectacle." And even those who were less harsh were less enthusiastic: "Carnival in Munich... to be honest, it's terrible for me 😅. So much hustle and bustle, noise and chaos - not for the quiet mind. Sure, it's great fun for some people, but I personally can't do much with it."

Whether a "disgrace for the Bavarians" or simply a garish glamor show - HeidiFest has achieved exactly what Heidi Klum always strives for: Attention. The pictures are all over the net, the discussions are boiling, and in the end what remains is an event that polarizes like no other. One thing is clear: this festival will be talked about for a long time to come - in Munich, in Bavaria and far beyond.