UNICEF USA Announces Television Host, Producer and Supermodel Heidi Klum as Newest Ambassador
NEW YORK (June 3, 2026) – UNICEF USA has appointed world-renowned supermodel, television personality, producer and businesswoman, Heidi Klum, as the organization's newest Ambassador. The announcement comes ahead of the International Day of Play, a day designated to celebrating both structured and imaginative play as a critical right for children. Klum began working with UNICEF USA in 2011 and has been a critical voice in advocating for children globally, as well as rallying the American public through the iconic Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign.
“Working with UNICEF USA has long been a passion of mine,” said Klum. “I have had the privilege of seeing UNCEF-supported programs around the world and leading the original kids helping kids campaign here in the United States. It is an honor to be named the newest Ambassador for an organization that does so much for so many.”
In 2012, Klum traveled to Haiti to learn firsthand how UNICEF was supporting recovery efforts from the 2010 earthquake. While there, Klum visited the neonatal unit of a Port-au-Prince hospital, a health clinic where mothers and children received special fortified food, and a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space. She also traveled to India where she learned about UNICEF programs involving WASH and girls' education and empowerment. She met with a group of adolescent girls, peer educators and mothers involved with a UNICEF-supported initiative to combat gender-based violence, address reproductive health, break the culture of silence about menstrual hygiene and increase access to the justice system.
Domestically, Klum has led the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign since 2011. She has starred in multiple PSAs, spoken about the program on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and integrated the campaign into events, including her own legendary Halloween party. This work has directly contributed to the longevity of the campaign which turned 75 in 2025 and has helped raise nearly $200 million for children globally.
“Heidi Klum and the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign are synonymous,” said UNICEF USA Chief Marketing Officer Shelley Diamond. “Her commitment to UNICEF’s mission has inspired generations of Americans not just to learn more, but to pick up a little orange Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF box and get involved. We are grateful for her continued commitment to relentlessly pursuing a more equitable world for every child.”
An Emmy-winning television personality, Klum has been one of the most iconic fashion personalities of the last 25 years. Under her tenure as the host, co-creator, and executive producer of Project Runway for 16 seasons, the show received fourteen consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition – the third-most nominations in the category’s history. In 2025, Klum made her highly anticipated return as host of the show for its 21st season.
As UNICEF’s newest Ambassador, Klum joins a roster of high-profile individuals who advocate for children’s rights on behalf of UNICEF including Amanda Gorman, Sofia Carson, Selena Gomez, Laurie Hernandez, Justin H. Min and P!NK among others
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About UNICEF USA
UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
For more information, contact
Julianne O’Connell, UNICEF USA, joconnell@unicefusa.org