Biography of Kimora Lee Simmons

Kimora Lee Simmons, born on May 4, 1975 in St. Louis Missouri as “Kimora Lee Perkins,” is an international fashion model, author, TV personality and businesswoman. At age 11, Kimora Lee attended modeling classes and was discovered two years later by Paris Agency Glamour representative Marie-Christine Kollock. Kimora immediately went to Paris and was awarded with an exclusive modeling contract with Chanel exactly on her 13th birthday. Under the renowned Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, Kimora Lee walked the runway around the world through most of the 90s.

Kimora Lee Simmons has also released her own book entitled “Fabulosity: What it is and How to Get it,” starred in her own TV show “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane” and appeared in several movies such as “The Big Tease,” “Beauty Shop,” “Life on the Road with Mr. and Mrs. Brown,” “Rebound,” and “Waist Deep.” Kimora Lee Simmons is also the President and Creative Director of Phat Fashions.

On December 20, 1998, Kimora Lee married hip-hop icon Russell Simmons, with whom she has two daughters – Ming Lee (born in 2000) and Aoki Lee (born in 2002), who both model for the Baby Phat Kids Collection. Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons separated in March 2006, but she only filed for divorce in March 2008, which was finalized in January 2009. Since March 2007, Kimora Lee Simmons has been dating actor Djimon Hounsou, with whom she has a son named Kenzo Lee Hounsou (born May 2009).

Kimora Lee Simmons is a graduate of Lutheran High School North in Missouri, where she established the Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship Fund to help high school girls in need of financial assistance. Kimora Lee also supports Keep a Child Alive, Ketrick-Martin Institute and Rush Philatrophic, Amfar and The G&P Foundation.