Heidi Klum has been at the center of serious tabloid talk surrounding the highly publicized split from her husband Seal. Now, the former supermodel is finally breaking her silence about her impending divorce to the soul crooner, whom she shares 3 children with in a second cover for ELLE mag’s April 2012 issue (Jessica Simpson has the alternative cover).

The “Project Runway” host also talks about her style evolution, when she feels most beautiful and more. Check it out below….

On the frenzy surrounding her split from Seal: “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. But as hard as it is, so is life.”

On not wanting to divulge the details of the split: “People don’t need to know who did what. I don’t want to talk positively 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—especially for our children—to have the lows being printed in magazines and talked about.”

On her style earlier in her career: “It was horrible. I wore too much makeup. I’d put on foundation, way too much blush. I had the worst clothes. I didn’t have heels. Where I come from, where would I need to wear heels?”

On when she feels most beautiful: “To be honest, it’s with my children. In my job, people tell you that all the time: ‘This shoot was great. You look amazing.’ But you never know what they say when you turn away. But the kids don’t edit anything. When they kiss you and tell you they love you and say, ‘Mama, you’re the best’—that’s really the only thing you care about.”

Images: Thomas Whiteside for ELLE