EXCLUSIVE: Molly Sims tells Yahoo Canada about going to law school and admits to once being jealous of Heidi Klum

(Instagram/mollybsims)

When Molly Sims gets excited, she moves her arms rapidly. One gamine limb is flung sideways to highlight her passion for list-making and organizing, while two manicured hands, fingers outstretched, flit around her face as she enthuses about her favourite crime shows.

Everything about Sims is slightly exaggerated, from her deep, hazel eyes (they look greener, in person) to the first knuckle on her ring finger, long enough to hold three substantial pieces: a massive cushion-cut diamond engagement ring by Lorraine Schwartz and two Ivy Diamond Cole gold bands, with cutouts revealing the names of Sims’ children (son Brooks and daughter Scarlett).

But the biggest thing about the nearly 5′10″ supermodel is her enthusiasm – she has a tendency to sing out her answers, punctuating them with tongue clicks and little squeaks. For someone who has spent a lifetime perfecting her poses, these quirks are surprisingly unaffected.

I meet Sims during a press junket in New York City. She’s flown in from California to promote her website, book and recent sponsorship deal with California Almonds. So far, her morning has included a television spot and back-to-back interviews, but if Sims is tired, she shows no signs of it, greeting me warmly.

“Hi, I’m Molly,” she chirps, extending a long arm before releasing a torrent of compliments. “Oh my god, I love your pants, they’re great.” We shake hands and sit down together – she chooses the seat beside - not across - from me. “I love your braces,” she says. “I had them for three years. They’re going to look amazing. How long do they take you, two years? Where are you from in Canada? Toronto? I have a girlfriend in Toronto.”

We begin, my questions the catalyst for a vivid exchange punctuated by chirps, clicks, wild hands and warm answers.

Do you feel successful?

Yeah, I do. You know, I don’t look at success equals money. I think success, for me, is more about like, ‘Am I a mom?’ Check. ‘Am I a wife?’ Check. I did those things that I really wanted to, and that makes me feel successful. I’ve lived in six different countries, I’ve had three different careers, I have two amazing kids, so yeah, to me, I’m really successful.

So you always wanted to be a mom?

Always. I didn’t want to be a young mom. Nothing against it – for me I wanted to work and travel and live abroad, and I just always thought I would be an older mom.

(Instagram/mollybsims)

I’m sure a lot of people look at you and wonder ‘How can I get that feeling of success?’ It’s refreshing when you say it doesn’t come from being a supermodel, because that’s not accessible to most of us.

No, it comes from goals. I mean having goals and crossing them off. I don’t know that you can give people ambition. I’ve always had it. I hope my kids have it. To wake up and want to do something. To wake up and want to be something. Jimmy Caan, when I was on Las Vegas, said to me, “If you’re not nervous, something’s wrong.“ Change is the biggest thing, and people are so afraid to change, but with change comes the biggest amount of opportunity and the most amount of growth.

Let’s talk a bit about what keeps you balanced. In terms of diet, in terms of fitness, career – whatever that really means to you.

I don’t think I’ve ever had balance. I always used to say if my work life was good, my dating life sucked, and then when my dating life was amazing, my work life sucked. But now I’ve got the mother guilt. Work, husband - it’s always a scale that goes up and down. Some weeks you’re just on your game and some weeks you’re off your game. It’s hard. But I think the more organized you are, the better you feel. I’m very much an organization person. I have a little bit of OCD in me – I have to have things in order. When I get nervous, or if I’m upset about something, I clean.

That’s a great characteristic in a partner.

My husband loves it! He knows when something’s bothering me because the house is spotless. I was vacuuming the other day and he was like, “What are you doing?” and I was like, “I’m nervous, I’ve just got to think about something, so I’m vacuuming.” It’s weird, I know.

Do you ever compare yourself to other celebrities?

One time I was jealous of Heidi Klum. I saw her in a supermarket, she was on the cover – this was like, six, seven years ago. And I wasn’t jealous of the cover, I was jealous of her family. She was married, and she had four kids. At that moment I was like, “Oh, I want that.” I think we always compare. I think it’s innately human of us, but I try not to, because I think that can be very consuming and a big waste of time.

Heidi Klum. (Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation)

What’s something that’s still on your bucket list?

I’d like to take my husband to India, because I’ve been and it was one of the best trips of my life. I would like to speak French better. I would like to live one year with my family somewhere besides the States.

If you weren’t a model, actress and lifestyle maven, what do you think you would be doing?

I would be a lawyer. I went to university to be a lawyer. I really enjoy a thriller, I always have. “48 Hours,” “Dateline,” you name it, I’m watching it. I love anything criminal, or solving a problem. I think I’m a bit of a problem solver.

I think you would’ve been a good lawyer.

I think so too. My husband says I’m very convincing in a debate. I’ll just debate until I win!

We haven’t talked about almonds yet.

We’re a big almond household, we have almonds everywhere. We have almonds in bowls, we have almonds in plastic Ziploc bags, we have almond butter, we have almond milk – almonds are a great protein alternative. For me, they cut down cravings and give me that crunch that I like, and I’m satiated. I always call almonds the new peanut.

(Instagram/mollybsims)

We’re nearing the end of our time. Is there anything else you wish I’d asked?

Do you need to go to the bathroom? No, just kidding. It was a good interview.