Miranda Kerr: ‘A runway … in underwear? I’m horrified to think of doing that now’

She was Australia’s first Victoria’s Secret Angel. Now, supermodel Miranda Kerr has revealed why the thought of walking the runway again makes her ‘horrified’.

Model and entrepreneur Miranda Kerr opens up on her busy home life, the future of her business and “what I’ll keep for my husband”.

Stellar: You attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party earlier this month with your husband, Snap Inc co-founder Evan Spiegel. How much preparation goes into a red-carpet look?

Miranda Kerr: Evan chose my dress. Evan was like, “I like the red one.” And actually, so did Pierre, our one-year-old.

Stellar: How did Pierre convey that he liked the red dress?

Mirnda Kerr: We had a few dresses on the rack and that was the one he was pointing to. I was like, “Yeah, we’ll get to that – we have to go through the other dresses first.” Then I put that one on, and his little eyes lit up and I was like, “OK, I think that’s the dress.”

Listen to the full interview with Miranda Kerr on Something To Talk About:

Miranda Kerr wearing THAT red dress chosen by her one-year-old son at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in Beverly Hills earlier this month. Picture: Getty Images

Picture: Getty Images

Stellar: Today marks your third appearance on the cover of Stellar. You’ve been modelling since the late ’90s, but your main focus now is as CEO and founder of organic skincare brand Kora Organics, and ambassador for Australian jewellery retailer Michael Hill. Are photo shoots still second nature?

Miranda Kerr: I had a lot of freedom with this shoot. I got to direct it a little bit, which is something I like doing. My head is really deep in being the CEO of Kora Organics and that’s my day to day, as opposed to doing shoots, but it’s like riding a bike – I just get back on and enjoy it.

Shoots are just like ‘riding a bike’ for Australian supermodel, Miranda Kerr – who wears Michael Hill jewellery. Picture: Veronica Sams for Stellar

Picture: Veronica Sams for Stellar

Speaking of Kora, you founded the certified organic brand in 2009. Late last year, you told Vogue Australia you’d actually considered selling it.

I know! I was like, “Oh … did I just say that? Or was I just exhausted from breastfeeding?”

But it’s relatable, that juggle of being a working parent. You’ve said Kora was your “first baby” and you now have your four boys: Flynn, 14 (with ex-husband, British actor Orlando Bloom, to whom Kerr was married from 2010 to 2013); and Hart, 6, Myles, 5, and Pierre (with Spiegel, whom she wed in 2017).

Kora is definitely my baby girl and always will be. At that time I had the Vogue interview, it was really about giving myself a little bit of grace. I’m more open to the idea of having someone else come on. I don’t want to limit the growth of the company, so I’m in talks about potentially working together to take the company to that next level.

I’m so hands-on when it comes to product development, formulation, brand strategy. I was closed-minded about having anyone else come on because, to this day, I own 95 per cent of the company. Now I’m trying to be more open.

You’re about to launch a new product, Kora Organics Active Algae Balancing Probiotic Mask. Tell me a bit about that.

It’s exciting finding ingredients that are at the cutting edge of skin care. I originally created Kora for myself and my family, when my mum had cancer in her spleen. I never had the vision of wanting to make money from this. It doesn’t come from an entrepreneurial mind, it comes more from my heart – [and] really wanting to help people with their skin.

Picture: Veronica Sams for Stellar

In terms of your home life, you and Spiegel have demanding jobs, with him also CEO of his tech company. How do you manage having two people with big careers in one household?

I learn from him and he learns from me. We really do balance each other. We’ve been together [for] 11 years and he’s my favourite person. He’s such a family man. We prioritise each other and family time. That’s why when you see us on the red carpet, everyone was like, “Wow, Miranda, you’re out?” Honestly, Evan and I prefer to stay in. But every now and then, Mum and Dad have to get out, too.

‘We do balance each other!’ Miranda Kerr, right, with her husband, Snap co-founder Evan Spiegel. Picture: Getty Images

Listen to the full interview with Miranda Kerr on Something To Talk About:

What values are you seeking to instil in your four children?

I see it as the most important role in my life trying to instil kindness, respect, creativity and resilience in them. I’m very aware of making sure that I’m here to support and help them have confidence in themselves. The most important role, in my opinion, is being a parent – and you don’t get a guidebook for it. Something I’ve found helpful is no matter what my child is feeling, trying to encourage them to really feel that feeling. I kind of grew up a little bit more like, “Oh just get on with it.” It’s a little bit Australian. It’s important that whatever they’re feeling doesn’t get pushed down, so that it can become something they fully embrace.

You and Evan are part of a modern extended family that includes Orlando, his fiancee Katy Perry, and their four-year-old daughter, Daisy. What’s that dynamic like?

The basis for all of us is what’s in the best interest of the children … We have so much love and respect for each other. I’m so grateful for the relationship I have with Orlando and Katy. We really are like a big, blended family. A lot of times, we have holidays together, but there are times when we’re on other sides of the world. We really try to organise it the best way that we can, to put the needs of the children first.

‘We put the children first!’ Katy Perry and Miranda Kerr pictured together in November last year. Picture: Getty Images

‘It’s really sweet!’ Katy Perry is stepmother to Miranda Kerr’s son, Flynn. Picture: Getty Images

‘He’s my favourite person!’ Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr. Picture: Getty Images

Miranda Kerr (continued): We’re going to be in each other’s lives for the rest of our lives. We have a child together. So let’s be as kind as we can to each other. Flynn was baptised the other day. Orlando was here and, unfortunately, Katy wasn’t able to make it, but Daisy was. Daisy comes and plays with my boys and calls them her brothers … that’s how close we are. She’s like, “My brothers, I’ve missed you!” It’s really sweet to see them together.

Between Kora Organics and your role with Michael Hill, you work in a very glamorous industry. But you’re also a mum to four rough-and-tumble boys. It’s a bit of a dichotomy.

The amount of times people have said, “Aren’t you going to have another?” I’m like, “You know what? I’m just happy with my four healthy boys.” I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone. I feel in my heart of hearts that we’re done now – and my husband feels the same. When I was in Australia, [Michael Hill] was one of my first jobs, so to have that full-circle moment and now work with them all these years later, I do feel very proud to be their brand ambassador.

Listen to the full interview with Miranda Kerr on Something To Talk About:

Are there other work opportunities that might come full circle for you? For instance, Victoria’s Secret – for which you were an “Angel” between 2006 and 2013 – relaunched its annual Fashion Show last year …

I was really honoured they asked me to be part of that, but that feels like a whole other part of my life. It doesn’t feel like something I want to open up again. I feel like that [was] almost like going to college, like that stage of my life of being so open and free – and walking down the runway in my underwear. I would be horrified to think of doing that now. I’m not in that headspace. I’m definitely not there. I’ll just keep that for my husband.

Kora Organics Active Algae Balancing Probiotic Mask ($75, koraorganics.com) is available from Friday. Miranda Kerr is the face of Michael Hill.

See the full cover shoot with Miranda Kerr inside the new issue of Stellar, out via The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (QLD) and Sunday Mail (SA) today.

For more from Stellar and the podcast, Something To Talk About, click here.

Originally published as Miranda Kerr: ‘A runway … in underwear? I’m horrified to think of doing that now’