COVER STORY
Kimora Lee Simmons
The Sassy and Savvy Business Woman
by Carolina L. Saucedo
I
f simply being a mom isn’t enough hop entrepreneur Russell Simmons and In 2006, Kimora Lee Simmons pub-
hard work, Kimora Lee Simmons dated him on and off for several years lished her book “Fabulosity: What it is
goes far out and beyond in the corpo- until they wed in 1998. The new bride and how to get it.” Fabulosity is a term
rate world to prove that women can was very bored at home and soon that expresses Kimora Lee Simmons’
have it all. The American model, author, became driven by her husband who strong feminine instincts and drive to
CEO and creative director of Phat Fash- was launching Phat Farm. Mrs. Sim- be the best at whatever she does. Her
ions always knew that she wanted to mons took hold a part of the project and book delivers bold and empowering
rise above the rest even if it meant in 1999 introduced a clothing line for statements to women expressing to
working hard. women which she called Baby Phat. The them that anybody can have it all. “You
The St. Louis native was born to couple had two daughters, Ming Lee can’t care too much about what people
Joanne Perkins a Japanese woman who and Aoki Lee before separating in 2006. think of you. You have to establish
was adopted by an American service- Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons your own set of core values and live by
man during the Korean War. Her father, spin-off of Russell Simmon’s Phat Farm them.”
African American Vernon Whitlock Jr., men’s wear created an urban line of The fashion mogul is true to her past
was not always in the picture so she clothing for women and girls. Since it’s and has established the Kimora Lee
relied on her mother for most of her beginnings, Baby Phat has expanded to Simmons Scholarship Fund at the High
upbringing. By the time Kimora Lee perfume, cell phones, hair accessories, School she once attended in order to
Perkins was ten years old, her height footwear, handbags, and medical provide college tuition support for aca-
was an astonishing 5-feet 10-inches tall scrubs. As one of the forces behind the demically successful girls. Simmons is a
and was often the target of schoolyard success of Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Sim- supporter of other charitable organiza-
ridicule. The black students didn’t mons works hard to deliver high style tions and institutions that target the dis-
accept her because she wasn’t black and quality to assist customers in look- advantaged youth such as: Keep a Child
enough, and there was almost no Asian ing their best. Alive, G&P Foundation, Hetrick Martin
influence in the community. She was The savvy businesswoman enjoys Institute and Amfar.
often times called “chinky giraffe” by the luxuries of life and therefore works Kimora Lee Simmons is very pas-
other students because of her height hard to obtain them. As a child, she saw sionate about everything she is and
and her Asian ancestry. her mother struggle to make ends meet everything she does. Her line has
Ms. Perkins enrolled her daughter in and learned that she didn’t have to set- become more than just a label of
modeling classes at the age of eleven tle, “Since I was raised by my mother women’s wear, it has become a way of
and by the age of thirteen, she was alone, I came out more empowered not expression. Expanding into the make up
awarded a modeling contract to work less. From what I saw, women were the and perfume industry, KLS beauty
under the famed Chanel designer Karl center of the world! We are the center of products are just another touch of fabu-
Lagerfeld. During her two years with the universe! I had the proof in my losity to the already fabulous female.
Lagerfeld, Kimora Lee Perkins devel- mother that a woman can do anything, Because as women, everything we do is
oped her taste for expensive luxury. At even though the time, the situation and expected to be just right and as expect-
fifteen, she didn’t have a diver’s license everything else may be against her.” ed, no questions asked. “A woman may
but she did own an elegant Rolex and a Now as a mother, Simmons takes the be a mother, a sister, or she may own a
BMW Convertible. Going from Paris to time to teach her girls the value of hard business; women do many things, and it
St.Louis made school difficult, but with work. Ming Lee and Aoki Lee are in is important that we do it with grace
the help of an academic coach, the charge of keeping up their rooms and and style.” And for this, Kimora sets the
young model was able to graduate from helping with dishes in order to earn bar high for herself. She pushes herself
St. Louis’ Lutheran High School. their rights for certain activities or luxu- and sets the example of what determi-
In 1992, Kimora Lee Perkins met hip- ries. nation can deliver. PWM
60 PROFESSIONAL WOMAN’S MAGAZINE
www.professionalwomanmag.com
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