Kimora Lee Simmons was born May 3, 1975 in St. Louis, Missouri to a Japanese mother and African American father. She is a fashion designer and former model married to hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. They have two daughters, Ming Lee Simmons (born January 21, 2000) and Aoki Lee Simmons (born in August 2002). Both are models for Baby Phat Clothing. The couple shares an estate in Saddle River, New Jersey.

She began her modeling career at age 13, and by age 14 (and six feet tall) was a muse for Karl Lagerfeld.Kimora was very self conscience as a child because she was bi-racial.She founded the Baby Phat clothing line, featuring urban fashions for women (Baby Phat is an extension of Phat Farm, which her husband founded in 1992).

She was one of the celebrity judges on the reality show America's Next Top Model.

On July 26, 2004 Simmons was arrested outside their estate in Saddle River for eluding an officer, marijuana possession, cocaine possession and careless driving after a two mile chase that began near the Saddle River Police Station.