BERLIN, March 5, 2009 (AFP) - Supermodel Heidi Klum Thursday hit back at critics who claim she does not have the right figure for the catwalk, saying she has never been the type of person to diet.

Heidi Klum - Photo : Jason Merritt/AFP

In an interview with Bunte magazine, the 35-year-old German celebrity -- who is currently fronting one of the country's most popular reality TV shows, "Germany's Next Top Model" -- said, "I was never a diet sort of person."

"But when I started to model, I knew already that I would have to watch what I ate and for example stop eating wiener schnitzel," she said referring to a traditional Austrian dish popular in Germany, consisting of a thin slice of veal fried in breadcrumbs.

She said: "My children are my best workout," adding with a twinkle in her eye, "and I am of course also busy with my husband."

Klum, married to British soul singer Seal, has come under fire for her merciless criticism of the would-be models on her show, which has millions of Germans glued to their screens every week.

Her attacks on the young girls for their looks and figures have prompted sniping over her own appearance.

Wolfgang Joop, a well-known fashion designer in Germany, recently said she was too fat, too small, her breasts were too large and her hips were too big.

Klum hit back in the Bunte interview, saying: "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. So am I."

The supermodel is rarely out of the news. Earlier this week, she wowed Los Angeles by handing out lingerie on the streets. She recently said she wants to keep modelling until she is 80.