For Gigi—who shares daughter Khai, 4, with ex Zayn Malik—finding love like this could only happen after looking introspectively.

“I think just getting to the point where knowing what you want and deserve in a relationship is essential,” she reflected. “Then to find someone that is in a place in their life where they know what they want and deserve…and you both do work separately to come together and be the best partner that you can be. I just feel really lucky.”

Like much of her life, the former Victoria’s Secret Angel prefers to keep some aspects of their dynamic private. As she put it, “It’s just not part of our relationship to share for whatever reason.”

She knows that being a celebrity means speculation about the inner workings of their romance. However, she emphasized, “You just have to let it go; you can’t always correct everything.”

Instead, she’s focusing on what really matters in her relationship with Bradley, who shares daughter Lea, 7, with ex Irina Shayk.

“I respect him so much as a creative,” she gushed, “I feel that he gives so much to me: encouragement and, just, belief. For those people you admire to encourage you, it can create so much belief in yourself. Like, what’s the worst thing if I auditioned for this? You jump and take the leap.”

The Oscar winner has also expanded Gigi’s interests and hobbies. She added, “Bradley has opened me up to going to the theater more and that’s something that’s so nice to bring back into my life.”

For more of Bradley and Gigi’s sweetest moments, read on.