Kimora Lee Simmons is of African American, Korean and Japanese descent. By the time she was 10 years old, Kimora Lee was already 5’ 10” tall. Although she became a target of teasing at school, her unique features and height were put to good use when Kimora enrolled into modeling classes by age 11. Two years into modeling class, Kimora Lee was discovered by Paris Agency Glamour and was sent to Paris. Her first big break as a model came when she was given a modeling contract by Chanel exactly on her 13th birthday. Under Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld’s wing, Kimora Lee walked the runway and became an official muse of Lagerfeld alongside models Olga Sobolewska, Bernadette Jurkowski and Shoshanna Fitzgerald, who were known then as “the four Karlettes.”

Throughout the 90s, the six-footer Kimora Lee walked the runways and modeled for a wide variety of brands. In 1999, she married Russell Simmons, with whom Kimora had two daughters – Ming Lee (born January 2000) and Aoki Lee (born August 2002). Although Kimora Lee Simmons already had a name in the fashion industry, she became famous around the world when she signed on to become a judge on Tyra Bank’s “America’s Next Top Model – Cycle 1” in 2003.

In 1999, Kimora Lee Simmons formed the fashion line “Baby Phat,” under Russel Simmon’s urban fashion company “Phat Farm.” When Russell sold his company to Kellwood Company for $140 million in 2004, the CEO of Phat Fashions LCC promoted Kimora as President and Creative Director of Phat Fashions. Kimora Lee Simmons has launched for perfume brands for women – Goddess, Seductive Goddess, Golden Goddess and Baby Phat Fabulosity. Baby Phat has also extended its products to jewelry, shoes, clothing, phone accessories and even medical uniforms under the ‘Baby Phat Scrubs’ line.

In February 2006, Kimora Lee Simmons released a lifestyle guide book entitled “Fabulosity: What it is and How to Get it.” The following year, the Kimora Lee Simmons’ Barbie doll was made available. Also in 2007, Kimora Lee Simmons starred in her own reality TV show called “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane,” which first aired on Style network and then re-aired on E! Entertainment Television.

Aside from her successful fashion business and TV show, Kimora Lee Simmons also appeared on several films, such as the 1999 “The Big Tease,” Queen Latifa’s “Beauty Shop,” “Rebound,” “Waist Deep,” and “Life on the Road with Mr. and Mrs. Brown.” Kimora Lee Simmons was also featured on several music videos, including Usher’s “Nice & Slow” and Ginuwine’s “In Those Jeans.”