
Kimora Lee Simmons’ Kids Are All Grown Up, Here’s Where They Are Now

Very few early 2000's fashion labels have survived the test of time while simultaneously crafting the culture. There's Rocawear, which, I mean, who didn't wear Rocawear? There's FUBU, who came through with the ultimate 'For Us, By Us' empowerment vibes. There's Sean John, which I still see people wearing to this day. And for the ladies, there was Baby Phat.
Woman-owned, woman-curated, and woman-championed.
Listen, say what you want, but Baby Phat was a staple in a male-dominated game and competed at a level that not many could. Baby Phat was simply revolutionary. Revolutionary in the sense where, prior to its arrival, women's streetwear were mostly created as a subsidy of male brands, often ran by...men. Kimora Lee Simmons was simply on another level with how she moved, and for over 20 years, sis has paved a lane of making women of color feel seen and heard; or women in search of a blueprint.
These days, Kimora has opted for a tamer, quieter family life since ending operations in 2011, allowing her famous daughters, Ming and Aoki Lee, to pick up the baton and rep the name. But what are each of Kimora Lee Simmons' kids up to now?
Recently, her and her famous daughters relaunched the Baby Phat brand in a 2019 partnership with Forever 21 (which sold out in 24 hours), complete with enough nostalgic bedazzled shirts and fur-hooded coats to go around. Their newest venture, Baby Phat Beauty (an extension of the brand's relaunch) served as a reintroduction into the fragrance and beauty empire she very much so previously established with products such as Golden Goddess, Seductive Goddess, Fabulosity, and KLS Cosmetics. Oh, and a portion of all proceeds from sales went directly to Stacey Abrams,Fair Fight Initiative, to help end voter suppression--a move very on-brand for Kimora Lee Simmons, and very on-brand for Kimora Lee Simmons' kids.
Additionally, here's a fun update on what these mini moguls have been up to:
Ming Lee Simmons
Ming Lee Simmons/Instagram
Ming Lee Simmons, 20, the oldest of Kimora Lee Simmons' kids, has definitely picked up her mother's pair of Christian Louboutin stilettos. Aside from the hilarious trolling that her sister Aoki throws her way, you can often find her flexing her nearly identical maternal looks for the 'gram to her 1.1 million followers. She often posts her collabs with varying brands, demanding justice for social issues, posts throwbacks of her mom and/or dad, Russell Simmons, and flaunting her top-notch smize game. And despite her age, Ming's resume runs deep as she's ventured into modeling, with brands such as Lexus, and of course, Baby Phat.
The more docile of the bunch, Ming, has decided to carry the torch of fashion designer and trendsetter, something that her mom had her hand in since she could barely walk the runway. In her last interview with Teen Vogue, Ming says:
"When we were children, the world that my mom brought us into, it wasn't a choice. We did a lot of things that not a lot of other kids were doing. I would be like, 'I can't go to this school thing because I have to go with my mom to a photo shoot.'"
(Kimora was notorious for including her daughters in her productions, whether ending a fashion show or releasing new campaigns).
Ming is currently attending NYU, majoring in fashion and business, and also considering law school to further develop her business brilliance. And alongside her sister, she sits at the head of the Baby Phat conference room table as a lead designer, jotting her ideas, adding her personal flair, and having no problem proving how incredibly prepared she is to take the family name to the next level.
"Every step and every new piece brings me back to the conclusion that this is what I want to be doing," she says.
Aoki Lee Simmons
Aoki Lee Simmons/Instagram
Aoki Lee Simmons, 18, is less into the designing aspect of Baby Phat, and more into the business operatives. She manages the budget and financials, in addition to providing her design input and balancing her economic major at Harvard University—where she was accepted at age 16—and attends with the likes of other young black and brown starlets such as Malia Obama and Yara Shahidi. She often playfully gathers Ming by the neck for the entire world to see in the comedic banter of little sister teases, and like her mother and sister, Aoki also models for the brand, showing off her paternal beauty for the 'gram to her 640K followers.
Her bio reads "Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking", (a nod to Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris), where similarly, she has proven that she literally gives zero f*cks about getting you together, as she recently sparked attention after she called out a classmate who called her, and other classmates, the N-word, which as you can imagine, didn't go over so well for him.
At Harvard, Aoki ran for undergraduate council, which makes sense being that she often makes completely sensible demands in politics, and holds future Presidential aspirations. #Simmons2040 Additionally, she served as a panelist of 2019's Revolt Summit, perfectly divulging her generation's perspective on hot topics. From book recommendations to references to historical characters and following quantum physics and tech news hashtags, Aoki is pretty clear that she is one of a kind.
And much like our readers, she is big on identifying, and practicing, affirmative self-care habits. She tells Vogue:
"A huge part of self-care for me is reading. I just organized my personal library. I've been collecting books my whole life, so I've had a comfort thing over novels already. I've been doing some ballet. I love to journal as well."
Needless to say, the sisters aren't just living on the ranks of their very famous family. They have positioned themselves to be business women and fearless future leaders of an entire empire as well.
Wolfe, Kenzo, & Gary
As for the fellas of Kimora Lee Simmons' kids, they are growing and flourishing alongside their sisters. Still too young to determine any future endeavors, they're growing every day and experiencing life through their family's loving lens.
Kenzo Lee Honsou, 11 (with Djimon Hounsou), Gary Leissner, 10 (with Tim Leissner), and Wolfe Lee Leissner, 5 (with Tim Leissner), all of which are on the path of being groomed to join the empire as well. In speaking about them all, Kimora says:
"The most fulfilling thing in my life is to be a parent and a mother…That's what I was made to do, I'm very good at it; that's what I do. It's my thing."
Aoki shared a beautiful family photo of each of Kimora Lee Simmons' kids earlier this year, with more photos on them often shared on each of their Instagram accounts.
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We're enjoying seeing this family grow into their own, especially being that some of us have literally watched Ming and Aoki grow up before our very eyes. So for now, the ladies are holding down their mom's vision as they continue to expand the family brand.
And we cannot wait to see what brilliance they have up their newly revived, colorfully bedazzled sleeves.
Feature image by Ovidiu Hrubaru / Shutterstock.com
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Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Feature image screenshot/ xoNecole YouTube
Gabrielle Union Dishes On Her Skincare Journey: 'It's Like Dating, You Just Keep Trying'
Gabrielle Union has always been known for her natural beauty. At 52 years old, she still holds the crown as one of Hollywood's most beautiful actresses and she's spilling her beauty secrets. During Vogue's Beauty Secrets series, the Riff Raff star shares her morning routine, which includes using multiple skincare devices for clear skin to lash serums.
Get all the deets below:
Cleanser
Gabrielle starts with a cleanser from U Beauty and follows that up with witch hazel (toner). "I was really lucky because I never really had crazy, problem skin," she said.
"Not until my hormones changed and it was like, 'is this acne? How do you get acne as a fully-grown ass woman?' But I found a way and I just had to start experimenting."
Exfoliator
Vogue's YouTube/ Screenshot
Next, she uses PCA Skin Pore Refining Treatment for exfoliation. "When I lived in Miami, I was like an oil slick, but in California where it's dry heat--I've also gotten a little dry in my older age," she said. "So I have to switch up my routine based on where I'm at."
The Being Mary Jane star also gave advice to those looking to improve their skincare routine. "If you see someone's skin that you like, 'what are you doing? What are the products? Tell me the routine,'" she shared. "I hope that it works for you, and if it doesn't, it's like dating. You just keep trying."
Retinol
"Some people have very strong opinions about retinol in the daytime, mainly because of the sun. For me it's kinda interchangeable, because I'm psycho about protection from the sun," she explained.
Facial Wands
Vogue's YouTube/ Screenshot
Gabrielle talked about her love for skincare devices. She uses Therabody Theraface Depuffing Wand to help push down the swelling and inflammation around her eyes. She then follows that up with Shani Darden Skin Care Facial Sculpting Wand.
Moisturizer
For moisturizer, she returns to U Beauty. "I started using U Beauty in September. I've never gotten more compliments on my face," she said.
Serum
Vogue's YouTube/ Screenshot
Next is PCA Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum and U Beauty The Return Eye Concentrate. "And with all the things I've used thus far, you have to commit to sunscreen because these products left without any protection from the sun will work against you," she said.
Lash Serums
"I don't know who else out there has a problem with TikTok Shop. I can't stop myself," she said. "The Babe Lash lash serum, the NuOrganic lash serum and I use one on one eye and the other on this one. And I just want to see which one is better."
Sunscreen
For sunscreen, she likes Allies of Skin The One SPF 50 Invisible Sunscreen Gel. "It just disappears right on my face," she said. Shen then ends her skincare routine with Winnie Harlow's Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30.
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Feature image Vogue's YouTube/ Screenshot