What You Never Knew About Miranda Kerr

Most people know the basics about Miranda Kerr: She is world famous for her work with the Victoria's Secret lingerie brand and is considered by many to be one of the great beauties of our time. (Her look is so hard for some to resist that one man even almost lost his job after gazing at some of her racy pics, CBS News reports.) But there's more to the supermodel than the ability to walk seductively and sport a giant pair of wings. "I think of myself as a mom and a businesswoman," she told Into The Gloss.

Since making her mark by becoming the first Australian "angel" (via Vogue), she has proven herself to be a savvy entrepreneur and wellness guru. Her two high-profile marriages — which also contain shocking tidbits if you dig deep enough — have filled pages of tabloids and have often overshadowed her personal achievements and surprisingly quaint values. 

When it comes to this successful woman, it's definitely a case of don't judge the book — or better yet, in this case, a magazine — by its cover. Here's what you never knew about Miranda Kerr.

When Miranda Kerr was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1983 (via Hello!), her mother was just 17 years old, The Telegraph reports. So it's not surprising that her grandparents played a huge role in raising her, as she told The Drew Barrymore Show, and that she attributes many of her passions — including her love of crystals — to what they exposed her to as a young girl.

The former model is more than happy to give credit for her flawless style to her "Nan." While accepting an honor at the Australian Elle Style Awards, she shared how she learned how to dress according to her body shape by watching her grandmother put outfits together (via The Mirror).

In 2020, Kerr said her grandparents were happy and still very much in love. Sadly, they died in 2021: First her "Pa" died, followed by her grandmother just over one week later (via Yahoo! News). In a touching Instagram tribute she wrote: "Please know I could never have been who I am without you, your love, your influence and your support."

Miranda Kerr's big break came in 1997 when she won an annual modeling search put on by Dolly, an Australian magazine for teenagers. (As per Culture Trip, one of the other finalists that year was actress Abbie Cornish.) Her young age — she was just 13 at the time — drew criticism over fears that the resulting photos would be inappropriate, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Eventually, in 2005, a new editor-in-chief cancelled the annual contest, explaining on her blog that she felt it sent the wrong message to girls.

For her part, Kerr brushed off the concerns. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, years later, she said, "I was fully clothed! Doing a winter shoot! They just made something out of nothing."

As her career took off, Kerr posed multiple times for the magazine's cover — and, obviously, the practice served her well. Less than 10 years following her debut, she became an official Victoria's Secret angel (via Vogue) and entered the realm of supermodels. It was another step in the stunning transformation of Miranda Kerr.

Miranda Kerr is a huge fan of crystals, telling Vogue that she believes in their "power." She shares them as gifts, gives herself facial massages with a gua sha tool, and even uses a water bottle that features a large piece of rose quartz right in the center.

That particular gemstone is her favorite, she told The Cut. And she likes it so much she often carries multiple pieces of the pink mineral with her — sometimes in a very surprising place. "I have a small heart-shaped one I put in my bra," she said, adding that she keeps another in her purse.

The model favors rose quartz because it is affiliated with feelings of love, and she explained to Nylon that it's assisted her in staying positive over the years. Most importantly, it has helped her with feelings of self-love. She may be considered one of the most beautiful women around, but she can still be a harsh critic of herself, she said, and carrying a piece of rose quartz is a reminder to be kind.

She's a former "angel," but Miranda Kerr's favorite hobby is much more down-to-earth. The Aussie is a big-time gardener, and, as she told Vogue Living, she derives great pleasure out of growing her own food. The pastime also brings to mind happy childhood memories for her: "My grandpa used to always pick the vegetables from the garden and my grandma would always make them," she said.

Her large garden is one of the standout features of her Malibu home, as Harper's Bazaar reported. The list of fruits and veggies she's planted in the outdoor space — which also features a private waterfall and koi pond — includes kale, strawberries, blueberries, and lemons. 

As she's expanded her real estate portfolio, she's made sure to keep her green thumb in mind. In 2020, Kerr purchased a homestead complete with vineyard in Australia (via Elite Agent). And, one year later, Kerr and her husband spent a whopping $30 million on a mansion in Paris, according to the New York Post. The property boasts its own private park, complete with gardens. No wonder the $2.15 million Malibu house is now considered a mere "cottage" (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Crystals, fresh veggies, glowing skin — obviously Miranda Kerr takes wellness seriously. So much so, in fact, that even as her modeling career took off, she went back to school to learn more. In 2010, she earned the designation of "certified health coach" from a New York-based institute of integrative nutrition, her website reports. "Wellness to me is about a holistic 360-degree view to looking after yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and finding what works for you," the model shared with Poosh.

What exactly is such a coach trained to do? As the school's founder told Forbes, the course is meant to teach people how to provide one-on-one nutrition and health advice, although graduates use their acquired knowledge in many different ways. (Other celebrity pupils include Alicia Silverstone and Bobbi Brown.)

Not everyone is impressed by the program, however, which takes one year to complete and can be done remotely, the Daily Mail reports. Critics say the learning is not in-depth enough and that the "certified" title misrepresents the level of education received.

It was a beautiful meeting of Hollywood and the catwalk when Miranda Kerr married actor Orlando Bloom in 2010 (via People), but the union was not destined to last. The couple split in 2013 (and this is why).

The separation was hard on the model, and she suffered from depression afterward, she told Net-A-Porter. But, as she explained at The Future of Everything Festival (via People), the exes made it a priority to stay on good terms for the sake of their son, Flynn, who was just 2 at the time. And it appears they've succeeded — and then some. The former spouses co-parent, spend holidays together, hang out, and even join each other on vacations, she told the "Moments with Candace Parker" podcast. Orlando Bloom is like a brother to her now, she even joked.

Of course, Flynn has a new stepmom, Katy Perry, to whom Bloom is rumored to have already married — and just what goes on inside her relationship with Kerr? "I love her," Kerr said on the podcast. "I mean, it'd be safe to say that I love her more than Flynn's dad." No wonder the two are always posting about each other on Instagram.

In August 2010, Miranda Kerr announced she was expecting a child with then-husband Orlando Bloom in the most model way possible: by revealing the news to a fashion magazine — specifically Vogue Spain (via the Daily Mail). A couple of months later, she shared more baby joy with the powerhouse style brand, becoming the first pregnant woman to appear on the cover of Vogue Australia (via The Cut).

Kerr kept her bump busy throughout her first pregnancy. In a video to promote the Kora Organics skincare line, she revealed her growing belly while doing yoga (via the Daily Mail). She walked the Balenciaga catwalk during Paris Fashion Week at 5 1/2 months along (via InStyle). And, when she reached the 6 1/2 months mark, she even appeared nude in W magazine (via the New York Post). "It's been a great experience, mode[l]ing whilst pregnant, because I'm really proud of my belly — and I'm really happy about [t]his moment in my life. I feel extremely blessed," Kerr told Vogue Australia. 

Little baby Flynn was born in January 2011 (via People) and — no surprise, given his parents — was quite the little cutie.

Miranda Kerr's face is her livelihood — so, of course, she cares deeply about making sure it stays healthy and looks as good as possible. And, despite having access to the best beauty products in the world, the model still felt nothing out there was good enough. So she took matters into her own hands.

In 2009, she launched Kora Organics, a skincare line that brings together several of her passions. According to her website, the range is certified organic, and each product is filtered through rose quartz crystal "to infuse the vibration of love." The company has seen remarkable growth and launched in the U.S. through an exclusive deal with Sephora, Forbes reports. Despite several offers to sell the brand, Kerr maintains 95% ownership, because, for her, it's about more than money. "I really want these products to help transform people's skin all over the world, and I want it to be part of my legacy," she told Forbes.

Since modeling is a career that generally comes with an expiry date, the model has launched other product lines and brand partnerships as well. Her website highlights the Miranda Kerr Home line of furniture and decor accessories, plus the Miranda Kerr for Royal Albert collection of fine, floral bone china.

What do you do on a first date with a billionaire? Miranda Kerr decided to keep things low-key for her initial outing with Evan Spiegel, the Snapchat co-founder who boasts a net worth of $13.6 billion (via Forbes). The pair went to a kundalini yoga class in Los Angeles (per The Wall Street Journal Magazine). If that wasn't unusual enough — she showed up 45 minutes late, and they didn't even sit together!

The two met at a party thrown by luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where the model asked for the tech giant's phone number, the couple — now parents to sons Hart and Myles — told The Wall Street Journal Magazine. It was very much an "opposites attract" situation.

Obviously, everything worked out in the end. The two got engaged in 2016 and were married in 2017 — and, appropriately enough, kicked off the big day doing yoga together before tying the knot in front of family and friends at a backyard ceremony, Hello! reports. Kerr wore a custom-made gown by Dior Haute Couture that featured full sleeves and drew its inspiration from Grace Kelly's iconic wedding dress. "I think it's every girl's dream to have Dior design her wedding dress," the model told Vogue.

You're probably thinking: Who doesn't like koalas? Well, Miranda Kerr loves the adorable marsupials so much that she posed nude for them, Marie Claire noted, appearing bare on the cover of a special "green issue" of Rolling Stone. She posed tied to a tree by chain link, her hands and long tresses concealing anything that would make the image X-rated. The reason? To raise awareness of the fact that 80% of koala habitat has been destroyed (and that was back in 2009).

This isn't the only time Kerr has expressed an affinity for the furry little things. She once showed off her koala impression on Instagram. And, telling Esquire about the joy she got from scrambling up trees as a child, she said: "I loved to climb all the way up to the top. I must have been a koala in my past life." 

Her appreciation of the eucalyptus-loving animals makes sense. She grew up in the town of Gunnedah in New South Wales, Australia, which is known as the koala capital of the country. She even approached Gunnedah Shire Council about doing promotional work while in the area for a fashion shoot, Pedestrian.tv reports. So, if you're ever driving through New South Wales, keep an eye out for a billboard with the slogan "Gunnedah, naturally beautiful," featuring the model and a koala. Which one is cuter, we'll let you decide.

Because being a supermodel, running a successful skincare brand, and collaborating on teacups and furniture lines isn't enough — Miranda Kerr is also a best-selling author. She has written two self-help books: "Treasure Yourself: Power Thoughts For My Generation" (2010) and "Empower Yourself" (2013). According to her website, the first title was selected for Australia's Get Reading Initiative, which promoted the works of national authors and encouraged people to check out new books (via Books + Publishing).

In "Treasure Yourself," the model provides advice, such as "passion takes you places" and "confidence is appealing," using lessons she's learned throughout her own life. It starts off talking about her childhood, takes the reader through her modeling career thus far, and even gets practical with specific tips on health and nutrition. And, lest you think, "Well, easy for the supermodel to say...," Kerr says she wrote the book precisely because she has also experienced a lot of personal growth, despite what people might assume. "I was not always the confident, determined young woman you see today," she revealed in a promotional video.

It's a stereotype that supermodels don't eat — and one that Miranda Kerr seems keen to put to rest. The Aussie speaks often about her love of food and cooking — and of one dish in particular: her slow-roasted chicken. She even spent the morning before her vows to Evan Spiegel preparing it! "It holds a special place in my heart because I cooked it and served it at our wedding," she told Beauticate. "I really wanted, as his wife, to be the one to cook the first meal he ate as my husband."

The recipe — available here, if you'd like to try making it — seems simple enough, but definitely differs from more traditional roasts with a few unusual ingredients. Kerr replaces the typical butter with coconut oil, specifies Himalayan rock salt as opposed to kosher, and includes Bragg's Liquid Aminos among her seasonings.

So how good is it? Well, when she appeared on an episode of Gordon Ramsay's cooking competition show "The F Word," the celebrity chef was a huge fan of her sauce. Ultimately, however, two out of the three judges went with the Brit over the Aussie, although they did praise her dish as "really bright." Why not buy a bird and taste for yourself?

In Miranda Kerr's life, the importance of being "clean" extends well beyond her diet and skincare routine. As she explained to New Beauty, wellness is top of mind when it comes to all aspects of her home. She uses an air purifier, monitors for electromagnetic fields, and "clears" the air by burning Palo Santo wood and essential oils. When it comes to surface-level dirt, she has a special technique. "We even mop the floors with hot water and eucalyptus oil, which is what my mother used to do. It's good for the wood and it's antibacterial. It also smells really nice." Afterward, to dry the floors, she walks around with towels underneath her feet, she told The Zoe Report. (That's one way to get your 10,000 steps in.)

Kerr admits she's a neat freak, My Domaine reports. And she's been one for a long time, apparently. When she first moved to New York, she was adamant the apartment she shared with five other models would stay in tip-top, clutter-free shape. Kerr even went so far as to take down their posters and repaint.

Miranda Kerr made headlines in 2017 when she revealed that she and husband Evan Spiegel did not have sex before their wedding. "Not yet," she revealed to The Times. "Not until after we get married. My partner is very traditional."

But did you know that Kerr can be a bit old-fashioned herself? When discussing her romance with her ex-husband, Orlando Bloom, she told British GQ (via E! News) that she waited six months before she even kissed him and that she has no interest in casual flings. It's possible this stems from her Christian beliefs, which promote abstinence before marriage. As she told Into The Gloss, she prays every day, making a point to thank Mother Earth and Christ.

When it comes to dating, men should do the chasing, and women should not text first, she explained to Harper's Bazaar. Mind you, she also told GQ that she's had sex on planes (alone and with a partner) and always asks for feedback on her "performance" (via The Daily Telegraph) — so, clearly, the lady is no prude despite her traditional ways.