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Kimora Lee Simmons

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Kimora Lee Simmons
Simmons at the Push premiere in January 2009
Born
Kimora Lee Perkins

St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Modeling information
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown
WebsiteOfficial website

Kimora Lee Simmons (born Kimora Lee Perkins on May 4, 1975[1]) is an American fashion model, author, and former president and Creative Director for Phat Fashions.[2]

Early life

Simmons was born in St. Louis, Missouri.[3][4] Although her mother, Joanne Perkins, was born in Korea, she is Japanese.[5] Perkins, a retired Social Security Administrator, was adopted by an American serviceman during the Korean War and she now goes by her own mother's Japanese name, Kyoko. Kimora's father, Vernon Whitlock Jr., is African American, has worked as a Federal Marshal, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigator, a bail bondsman, and is currently a barber in St. Louis.[6]

Growing up in the northern St. Louis suburb of Florissant, Missouri, Kimora was the target of schoolyard bullying and teasing, because of her height (she was 5 feet, 10 inches tall by the time she was 10 years old)[6][7] and mixed ancestry. To help her, Kimora's mother enrolled her in a modeling class when she was eleven years old. Two years later she was discovered by Marie-Christine Kollock (a representative for seminal Paris Agency Glamour) at a Model Search in Kansas City (organized by Kay Mitchell) and sent to Paris.

Kimora is a graduate of Lutheran North High School in St. Louis, Missouri.

Fashion business

Just after her thirteenth birthday, Kimora was awarded an exclusive modeling contract with Chanel and went to work under the tutelage of famed Chanel designer, Karl Lagerfeld. She quickly gained attention in the fashion world when she closed Lagerfeld's haute couture show in 1989. "Everything people thought was weird about me before," Kimora told People Weekly, "was now good".

In 2004 Russell Simmons sold Phat Farm to Kellwood Company for $140 million. When Russell stepped down as CEO of Phat Fashions LLC in September 2007, Kimora — who was already Creative Director of Baby Phat (which was a branch off Phat Farm Industries) — was promoted by Kellwood to President and Creative Director of Phat Fashions. It was her goal to fashion Baby Phat, launched in 1999, into an "aspirational lifestyle brand."[8] Her couture line, KLS, launched in Fall 2007.[9]

A self-help book written by Kimora, Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It, was published by HarperEntertainment in February 2006. The book is set to function as a 'lifestyle manual' on everything from spirituality and finances to fashion and beauty. She has also launched five perfumes for women: Goddess, Golden Goddess, Seductive Goddess,Baby Phat Fabulosity" and recently "Love me".

On September 1, 2010, Kimora parted ways with Baby Phat and its management company, Kellwood.[10] The details as to why Kimora was removed as Creative Director havent been very clear, some blog sites are claiming that it was because Kimora was spending too much money on company pursuits and giving way too much in pay to herself and her children. [11] . Since the split, Kimora plans to launch her KLS collection and Kouture by Kimora Brands. She also has a exclusive brand coming to Macy's that will offer stylish clothes for under $40.

Film and television

Simmons has appeared in small roles in television and films including Beauty Shop, Waist Deep, and Little Nicky. She has also appeared in music videos for Ginuwine and Usher.

In 2003, Simmons signed on as one of the judges on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 1. She was scheduled to return to the show as a judge starting with cycle 14.[12] However, she changed her plans and did not return to the show as judge.[13] She has been a co-host of Sony Television's syndicated talk show Life & Style.

On August 5, 2007, season one of her reality TV show, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, premiered on Style Network. The show chronicles her daily life and routine as a mother and then-CEO of Phat Fashions.

Personal life

On December 20, 1998, Kimora married Russell Simmons. They have two daughters; Ming Lee (born January 2000) and Aoki Lee (born August 2002). Kimora and Russell officially separated in March 2006.[3] Although the couple had split some time before, they continued to live together up to this point.

By March 2007, Kimora was dating actor and model Djimon Hounsou,[14] and in March 2008, she filed for divorce from Russell.[15] The divorce was finalized in January 2009.[16]

In the summer of 2008, Kimora and Hounsou participated in a traditional Benin wedding ceremony, and in May 2009, their son, whom they named Kenzo Lee Hounsou was born.[17][18][19]

She established the Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship Fund at her high school alma mater in St. Louis to provide college tuition support for academically successful girls with financial needs and is an active member of youth advocacy organizations including Amfar, The G&P Foundation, Keep a Child Alive, Hetrick-Martin Institute and Rush Philanthropic where she is on the Board of Directors. The mayor of St. Louis presented Simmons the key to the city and named March 18, 2008 "Kimora Day" in St. Louis.[20]

Kimora is childhood friends with Tyra Banks.

References in modern culture

On the RuPaul's Drag Race episode on February 22, 2010, contestant Jujubee portrayed Kimora Lee Simmons in a Match Game-like game show segment where contestants portrayed celebrities.[21]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1993 For Love or Money Model Alternative title: The Concierge
1999 The Big Tease Dick Miyaki's Hair Model
2005 Beauty Shop Denise
Rebound Female Reporter #1
2006 Waist Deep Fencing House Lady
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2001 For Your Love Shamira 1 episode
2007–present Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane Herself

References

  1. ^ Russell's hip-hip birthday gift (April 26, 2004) People. Accessed 2008-02-19.
  2. ^ Kimora Lee Simmons and Baby Phat Parting Ways (August 20, 2010) E! Online. Accessed 2010-11-09.
  3. ^ a b Stephen M. Silverman with Tiffany McGee (March 31, 2006) Russell, Kimora Lee Simmons Split People. Accessed 2007-12-20.
  4. ^ 'Fabulosity,' by Kimora Lee Simmons (review January 22, 2006) TheBookStandard.com. Accessed 2007-12-20.
  5. ^ 'TV One on One' with Cathy Hughes (original airdate March 25, 2007) Tv One. Accessed 2010-01-29.
  6. ^ a b Phoebe Eaton (June 14, 2004) Kimora Lee Simmons, the New Queen of Conspicuous Consumption New York Magazine. Accessed 2007-12-20.
  7. ^ Galina Espinoza (July 1, 2002). Phat Cats. People. Accessed 2009-03-02.
  8. ^ Lee's 'Fabulosity'. (December 2, 2005) ABC News 20/20. Accessed 2009-05-21.
  9. ^ Julee Greenberg (February 1, 2007) The Dressy Side of Kimora (page 10) WWD. Accessed 2009-05-21.
  10. ^ "Kimora Lee's split from Baby Phat wasn't amicable; 'It's very, very sad for me,' she says at FNO". NY Daily News. NY Daily News. Retrieved 11 April 2011. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  11. ^ "Kimora Lee Simmons 'dumped' from Baby Phat". New York Post. New York Post. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  12. ^ Daily News. New York http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/11/12/2009-11-12_top_model_to_get_major_makeover_with_kimora_lee_simmons_as_new_judge.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ "Kimora Lee Simmons Won't Judge America's Next Top Model". New York. 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2010-02-09. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Russell Simmons Okay with Kimora & Djimon (March 6, 2007) People. Accessed 2008-01-21.
  15. ^ Kimora Lee Simmons files for divorce (March 26, 2008) MSNBC. Accessed 2008-05-17.
  16. ^ Russell, Kimora Lee Simmons settle on child support. (February 27, 2009). USA Today. Accessed 2009-03-02.
  17. ^ Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou Expecting a Baby! (January 16, 2009). Us Magazine. Accessed 2009-01-16.
  18. ^ Sarah Michaud and Missy Ritt (May 31, 2009) Kimora Lee Simmons, Djimon Hounsou Have a Boy People. Accessed 2009-06-28.
  19. ^ Kimora Lee's Designer Baby (June 3, 2009) New York Post. Accessed 2009-06-28.
  20. ^ Kimora Lee Simmons Helps Launch St Louis Fashion Week. (March 19, 2008) Apparel Search. Accessed 2009-05-05.
  21. ^ "The Snatch Game". RuPaul's Drag Race. Logo. February 22, 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.

External links

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