Aoki Lee Simmons is taking some inspiration by her multi-talented mom, model, business mogul and Baby Phat founder, Kimora Lee Simmons, by doing what makes her happy across multiple subjects. Aoki, who just celebrated her 20th birthday, will be entering her senior year at Harvard University this fall. She was accepted into the prestigious school in 2019 when she was just 16 years old “on her own merit” and is interning at the NYC Office of the Mayor this summer.
She’s also pursuing a modeling career simultaneously and is signed to Nomad Management. She’s designed a line for JustFab last year and walked the runways at Pyer Moss and Carlton Jones. The model is currently facing the campaign for Baby Phat’s collaboration with Puma alongside her mother and sister Ming Lee Simmons.
Recently, she received criticism regarding her choice to model while receiving an Ivy League education. And now, Aoki’s mom is coming to her defense. “I love it that she’s trying to follow in my footsteps,” Kimora told People. “But also I think it’s a pain because if I had had some of what they have, maybe I wouldn’t have been a model. But I think it’s just looking at different sides of a coin. Whereas she says, ‘Mom, you should be proud.’ It’s like aspirational, this is what people want to do also. And I just feel like sometimes you don’t want your kids to face hardships. I think that’s what any mom would say, right?”
The mom of five continued, “If I’ve done it and I know it’s tough and I know it’s a little janky. Why would you want to do it? But we love an educated clumsy queen. She is an educated, clumsy queen.”
Earlier this summer, Aoki was asked on TikTok why she’s pursuing a modeling career while attending Harvard. “You’re so articulate and obviously educated,” the fan comment read, “how come u chose modeling?”
The 20-year-old daughter of Kimora and record executive Russell Simmons took to the app to respond. “One, models aren’t uneducated and not articulate,” she said. “But two, I think what you’re really getting at is, ‘Why am I going into a field that doesn’t necessarily require a degree or require a whole lot of book smarts when I have a lot of education?’” Keeping her answer as clear as day, Aoki explained, “because I love it.”
She went on to say in the video, “I really want us to move towards a future where young women aren’t being asked this question. Like, you’re not being asked, ‘Why did you follow your more creative passion even though you’re smart?'” She continued, “I would like to change the idea that you can’t be smart and pretty, or you can’t be smart and enjoy your looks or enjoy a creative, beauty/ fashion-based career,” she said. “You can be two kinds of people in one person.”
Echoing this sentiment before, Aoki’s Instagram bio reads, “That Harvard Model” while having posted some bikini snapshots of herself last year that were featured in Maxim, writing, “Who said @maximmag and Harvard were mutually exclusive 😜?”
Aoki made a splash walking in designer Kerby Jean-Raymond‘s Pyer Moss Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2021 presentation in Paris last year. Her mom gushed on Instagram, “Bravo! Mama is beaming right now for you my baby,” adding to her caption, “Aoki was the youngest girl on that runway!”
Kimora wants Aoki to do what makes her happy. “We wish Aoki the best and she knows that,” Kimora said in the new interview. “So whether it’s in front of the camera or behind the scenes, it doesn’t take away anymore. And I think she’s probably seen that with her mom,” she said. “It doesn’t make you any more or less of a businessperson or any more or less of a student or a student of the world or any more or less than a model. It’s important to explore all your passions.”
Cheers to Aoki for not letting society put her in a box, and kudos to Kimora for supporting her daughter’s passions!
