Kimora Lee Simmons Biography: Early Life, Education, Career, Age, Personal Life, And Networth

Kimora Lee Simmons Biography: Early Life, Education, Career, Age, Personal Life, And Networth

 

Kimora Lee Simmons, born on May 4, 1975, is a prominent American entrepreneur, renowned for her accomplishments as a fashion designer, television personality, and former fashion model. During her teenage years, she secured a contract with the prestigious fashion brand Chanel, propelling her career as a model. 

 

Simmons has graced the catwalk for esteemed fashion houses like Fendi and Valentino, while also gracing the covers of esteemed publications such as Vogue and Elle. In 1999, she successfully launched the globally recognized lifestyle brand, Baby Phat. Furthermore, in 2007, Simmons delved into the realm of reality television, captivating audiences with her family’s journey in the show “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane.”

 

Kimora is recognized for her charitable efforts and advocacy work. She actively supports a range of causes including education, women’s rights, animal rights, environmental issues, and health awareness. 

 

Her contributions have benefited organizations such as The G&P Foundation for Cancer Research, The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, The Lupus Foundation of America, The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), The Environmental Media Association (EMA), The Keep A Child Alive Foundation (KCA), The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), The Unmentionables (TUM), The Art of Elysium (AOE), and The Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship Fund.

 

Kimora Lee Simmon Biography: Early Life and Education 

 

Kimora Lee Perkins was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Raised in the northern suburb of Florissant, she faced bullying due to her height and multiethnic background. With African-American and Japanese-Korean heritage, she struggled with confidence and feeling different. 

 

To boost her self-esteem, Kimora’s mother enrolled her in modeling classes at eleven. At a model search event in Kansas City two years later, she was discovered by Marie-Christine Kollock from Glamour agency in Paris. This led to her successful modeling career in Paris.

 

Kimora is an alumna of Lutheran North High School in St. Louis. She furthered her education by returning to school in 2017 and earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Entrepreneurial Affairs from the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business in 2018.

 

Kimora Lee Simmon Biography: Career

Modeling

 

Simmons signed an exclusive modeling contract with Chanel at the age of thirteen and began working closely with the late Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s designer at the time. Lagerfeld’s decision to feature a multiethnic model like Simmons in high-end fashion advertising was groundbreaking. Simmons credits Lagerfeld for inspiring her to pursue her dreams fearlessly and turn them into reality.

 

Following her iconic appearance as “The Bride” in the 1989 Chanel haute couture show, Simmons walked the runways for renowned fashion houses like Fendi, Valentino, Emanuel Ungaro, and Yves Saint Laurent. She also graced the covers and pages of prestigious fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle.

 

Fashion design

In 1999, Simmons introduced the global lifestyle brand, Baby Phat. The brand was established as a women’s wear extension of the men’s streetwear line, Phat Farm, and the overarching fashion label Phat Fashions, which was founded by Russell Simmons, her then-husband, 

 

ln 1992, Similar to Phat Farm and other black-owned fashion labels that emerged during that time, Baby Phat aimed to provide consumers with color collections that were true to the culture. Despite being inspired by hip-hop music and style, Baby Phat eventually transcended cultural and racial boundaries, becoming widely marketable and making its mark in both the fashion and popular culture realms.

 

On September 15, 1999, Baby Phat showcased its first fashion show at New York Fashion Week. The event took place at Radio City Music Hall and was live-streamed to the Jumbotron in Times Square. With celebrities such as Aaliyah, Lil’ Kim (who also graced the Baby Phat runway in 2000), Missy Elliot, Mary J. Blige, and Paris Hilton in attendance, Baby Phat fashion shows became a prominent highlight during New York Fashion Week. 

 

Simmons would always conclude each Baby Phat show by walking the runway with her daughters, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee, by her side. Reflecting on her role as a mother and a businesswoman, Simmons expressed to Refinery29: “Having my babies on the runway with me will always be my top priority as a mother. 

 

However, I also cherished our front rows. The support from celebrity and musician friends who embraced the brand was truly inspiring – these were innovative women who led the way in embracing the urban lifestyle at a time when many in the industry and society as a whole lacked the vision or foresight to do so. It was a movement. People tend to forget that.”

 

Simmons was appointed as president and creative director of Phat Fashions, overseeing brands like Baby Phat, Phat Farm, Baby Phat Girlz, and Phat Farm Boys. This made her one of the pioneering women of color to lead a group of fashion brands. Under her leadership at Baby Phat, Simmons introduced a new line of urban lifestyle apparel and accessories tailored for women by women.

 

The commercial success of Baby Phat, with the company being valued at over $1 billion at one point, led to the expansion of Phat Fashions into various product categories such as jewelry, handbags, footwear, swimwear, outerwear, infant accessories, and fragrance, all distributed globally. The Baby Phat fragrance line grew to include six perfumes: Goddess, Golden Goddess, Seductive Goddess, Fabulosity, Luv Me, and Dare Me, the latter being a collaboration with COTY Fragrances.

 

In 2010, Simmons left Phat Fashions and Kellwood, its parent company. The next year, she took on the role of President and Creative Director at JustFab, an online shopping platform. Simmons held this position until 2015.

 

After her time at JustFab, Simmons embarked on creating a new fashion brand. In the pre-fall season of 2015, KLS by Kimora Lee Simmons launched its first collection. This women’s wear line offers high-quality apparel at affordable prices within the American designer market. Following its development, KLS by Kimora Lee Simmons was introduced to luxury retailers like Bloomingdales, Lord and Taylor, and Farfetch for nationwide distribution.

 

Kimora Lee Simmon Biography: Personal Life

 

Kimora Perkins and Russell Simmons tied the knot in December 1998. However, their marriage came to an end in 2009. During their time together, they were blessed with two daughters: Ming Lee Simmons, born in January 2000, and Aoki Lee Simmons, born in August 2002.

 

In May 2009, Simmons gave birth to her first son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou, whom she shares with actor and model Djimon Hounsou. Later, in February 2014, news surfaced that she had married investment banker Tim Leissner. The couple welcomed their first child together, a son named Wolf Lee Leissner, in April 2015. 

 

Simmons expanded her family further in 2020 when she adopted Gary Lee Foster, making her the mother of five children in total. However, in February 2022, it was revealed that Simmons and Leissner were estranged from each other. The exact nature of their relationship status remains unclear.

 

Kimora Lee Simmons Networth

 

Over the course of her professional journey as a model, fashion entrepreneur, and actress, she has acquired a significant amount of wealth. As a result, her net worth is estimated to be around $200 million.