he remarkable Kimora Lee Simmons was born May 4th 1975 in St. Louis, Missouri to a Korean, Japanese mother and an African American father. Midwest life was not always easy for the overly tall, gangly yet exotic looking Kimora. At eleven years old her mother enrolled the 5’11’’ seventh grader in modelling school in an effort to help build self-confidence and poise to carry off her height. She quickly learned her look was special and instead of just classes, she was attending real casting session and landing small modelling gigs. Sensing her drive, a teacher convinced her to attend a modeling convention in Kansas City. There, Simmons was spotted by a one of the biggest agents in Paris and the rest as we say is history.

At fourteen years old Kimora Lee Simmons had convinced her mom, packed her things and moved to Paris to begin her career as a model. Soon after arriving, she was meeting with the head of the house of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld and not only became one of his top models but one of his muses. It didn’t stop there though, she modeled for some of the world’s most influential and infamous designers like Christian Dior, Roberto Cavalli, and Yves Saint Laurent and appeared on the covers and pages of premier fashion magazines Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar.

By the mid-nineties Kimora’s work life was on track and her private life was about to pick up the pace. Hip-hop pioneer and business magnate Russell Simmons spotted her during a runway show and the attraction was instant. They dated on and off for years before finally tying the knot in 1998. Soon after marrying Russell, Kimora’s design side started to rear its fabulous head. Upon learning about her husband’s plan to expand Phat Farm, she got in on the action and a whole new line was created. In 1999 Baby Phat was launched with Kimora as the face and visionary, stepping into the roles of Creative Director and President. In 2004, the Simmons’ sold both Baby Phat and Phat Farm to the Kellwood Company, allowing the expansion of jewelry, fragrances and, footwear. From then on it has been non-stop for Kimora who has since launched Fabulosity, a junior’ line in collaboration with J.C. Penney, an anti-aging skincare line, Shinto Clinical, with Swiss skincare company Makari de Suisse, a line for Macy’s called Kouture by Kimora, the expensive, contemporary line, KLS and of course her top-level Kimora Lee Simmons collection.

Not one to stick with a single career, Kimora tried her hand at writing; publishing her book, “Fabulosity: What it is and How to get it” in 2006. A year later Kellwood named her President and Creative Director of Phat Fashions. Meanwhile ‘Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane’ premiered and was a hit reality show, lasting four seasons. The show gave us a peak into Ms. Simmons everyday life at work and home. For the next few years her career continued to blossom and her personal life started seeing some changes. Kimora and Russell legally separated and a few years later officially ended their marriage in 2009 (they remain friends, co-parenting their two daughters). During her separation, Kimora met and fell in love with actor Djimon Hounsou and the couple have a son together, Kenzo Lee Hounsou.

In 2011 Kimora was appointed President and Creative Director of online retailer JustFab, where her motivation is to reinvent the online shopping experience for Fashionistas everywhere. Then after 13 years heading up her brainchild, Kimora parted ways with Baby Phat in 2012 in order to put all her energy in other endeavors. The next year Kimora graced our TV screens once again in her second reality show, “House of Fab”. Unlike ‘Life in the Fab Lane’, ‘House of fab’ focused solely on Kimora’s day to day life at her JustFab offices. A few years later in February of 2014, Kimora secretly married investment banker Tim Leissner and is currently expecting her first child with him.

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