Heidi Klum recently opened up about how meeting her third husband, Tom Kaulitz, almost didn’t happen — she nearly skipped the party where fate changed her story.

“I really wanted to stay home,” the 52-year-old supermodel told PEOPLE in a recent interview. “I had worked all day… but I forced myself to go out. And that turned out to be the moment the door opened for me.”

It was seven years ago at that party that Heidi met German rock musician Tom Kaulitz, guitarist for Tokio Hotel. They got engaged in December 2018 and secretly married just two months later. Their lavish wedding celebration took place in Italy in the summer of 2019.

For the mother of four, Tom was a fresh start. Previously, Klum was married to stylist Ric Pipino and later to singer Seal, whom she divorced in 2012.

“At first, I kept comparing everything to past relationships: ‘Oh, this feels like something I’ve been through before… is this a warning sign?’” Heidi admitted. “But Tom said, ‘Don’t do that with me. I’m not them. Erase everything and give me a fair chance.’”

And it seems he made the most of that chance. The couple openly shares their love on social media — from intimate selfies and trips together to lingerie shopping sprees.

“He loves watching me change,” Heidi laughs. “I come out of the fitting room and he’s like, ‘Wow!’ He’s into mini skirts, heels — anything that highlights my femininity.” The couple even got tattoos with each other’s names. “His turned out cooler, so I guess I’m also a better tattoo artist!” she jokes.

Heidi also revealed that Tom supports every version of herself: “He doesn’t mind makeup, but he loves me even without it. He just loves me — all sides of me.”

Though their 17-year age difference (Heidi is older) often sparks public conversation, Heidi takes it in stride.

“Nowadays it’s becoming normal for the woman to be older. Thank goodness. What really matters is what happens behind closed doors. Everything else is irrelevant.”

“I’m discovering things about myself in this relationship I never knew before. The most important thing is to live in the moment, respect each other, love each other, and see where it takes you.”