Heidi Klum, who is currently dating Vito Schnabel, says their 13-year age difference is irrelevant thanks to the “amazing connection” the two share.

The 43-year-old model told Ocean Drive magazine: “It’s not about age. We have an amazing connection, we have fun together and we love each other. It doesn’t matter what people say. As long as you know when you close your door in your own home, you have an amazing time together.”

And Heidi – who has four children with her former husband – is frequently seen being cozy and affectionate with Vito in public. However, she insists they’re not “putting on a show” or performing any sort of publicity stunt.

She explained: “I’m not doing PDA on the beach with tons of people. I go on a boat or I take a hike somewhere . . . If you would zoom out in the places where I’m with my boyfriend, there’s nobody there . . . But to the outside world, it looks like we’re frolicking on the beach having a show in front of everyone.”

The America’s Got Talent judge also considers herself a nudist and has never felt self-conscious about revealing her body to other people.

“I grew up going to nude beaches with my parents, so I’m a nudist. I have no problems with nudity at all. I’m very free. When I go to the beach, it’s in a very remote place where there are not a lot of people, and I like to go topless.”

The star encourages everyone to feel liberated, adding: “Everyone should do what they want to do, [even if it’s] thigh-high stockings and a garter belt that shows a little bit when you sit at the dinner table.

“I don’t think that’s vulgar. I feel comfortable and don’t care if someone sees my nipples necessarily — it’s OK to see the nipple! But not everyone feels comfortable with that.”