Heidi Klum Focusing On Protecting Kids Following Split With Seal

Heidi Klum is speaking out for the first time since her split with Seal in January after almost seven years of marriage.

“I feel like I’m in the eye of the tornado. It’s emotions inside of your body that are a tornado. And then the outside world doing all this craziness — with you wanting it or not wanting it — is another tornado,” the 38-year-old star told ELLE’s April issue. “But as hard as it is, so is life.”

The model/“Project Runway” host stressed that the details of her split do not need to be dragged out in the media.

“People don’t need to know who did what,” she explained. “I don’t want to talk positive or negatively about the ups and downs that we had. Every couple goes through things. Unfortunately, we’re in the public, so the highs are out there. But I don’t think it’s necessary for – especially for our children – to have the lows being printed in magazines and talked about.”

Heidi said she can’t control what her estranged husband, who has spoken out on a number of occasions about the split, does.

“He’s going to be 50 next year. He’s a grown man,” she explained. “I can’t tell him what to do and what not to do. It’s hard.”

The supermodel told the mag she’s focusing on her family life to help get her through the split.

“I’m a lioness,” Heidi continued. “I have four cubs. I’m a mom. I want to take care of my kids and protect them. I don’t want to talk about them, or him, or me.”

When asked by the mag if she thought her success and busy career played a part in their split, Heidi told the mag, “I’m a strong person. But I’m also a soft person. I can hurt. I’m not a robot. I’m not made of stone.”

In January, Seal appeared on Access Hollywood Live, where Billy Bush asked the singer if he thought a reconciliation was possible between the star couple.

“There is nothing to reconcile. We haven’t fallen out,” the singer at the time. “We’re not getting divorced. We’re not even legally separated. We are separated. The reality of the situation is we have grown apart. And so… is there a chance of us getting back together? Honestly, Billy, I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that.”