Meet her 5 children and their fathers
Kimora Lee Simmons, a renowned fashion designer, has given birth to five children with three different men over the years. While married to Russell Simmons from 1998 to 2009, she became a mother to daughters Ming and Aoki before their separation. Kimora also shares sons Kenzo and Wolfe with exes Djimon Hounsou and Tim Leissner, respectively. She adopted son Gary with the latter in 2020. In March 2023, Kimora opened up about the challenges of being a single parent to five children, saying that it takes a lot of effort to keep them happy.
Ming, Kimora’s eldest child, was born in January 2000. She followed in her mother’s footsteps and made her debut as a model at a Baby Phat show when she was a child. In May 2023, Ming graduated from New York University, expressing her joy at finally being done with school. Aoki, Kimora’s second daughter, was born in August 2002. She graduated from Harvard University in 2023 and has modeled like her family members. Aoki has a strained relationship with her father, Russell, which led her to slam him on Instagram, claiming that he was “awful” to her for years.
Kenzo, Kimora’s son with Djimon Hounsou, was born in May 2009. By June 2023, he had grown to be 6’4″ and was still growing. Kimora expressed her pride in her son, calling him caring, humble, kind, smart, and saying that he had the biggest heart. Wolfe, Kimora’s son with Tim Leissner, was born in April 2015. Kimora described his birth as the most challenging of her four deliveries, as it was all-natural with no drugs. She revealed that Wolfe was a “big boy” who was handsome like his father.
Gary, whom Kimora adopted at age 10, joined the family before her separation from Tim Leissner. Kimora’s rep announced the news in January 2020, saying that Gary joined the family when Kimora’s two daughters went off to college. Kimora described the transition as “very painless” and said that Gary “just dropped in like he was born there.”
From model to mom! Kimora Lee Simmons has welcomed five children over the years with three men.
The fashion designer became a mother while married to Russell Simmons from 1998 to 2009, giving birth to daughters Ming and Aoki before their breakup.
Kimora also shares sons Kenzo and Wolfe with exes Djimon Hounsou and Tim Leissner, respectively. She adopted son Gary with the latter in 2020.
In March 2023, Kimora opened up about how “hard” it feels to be a single parent to five children.
“That’s the work that I do every day to keep that smile on their face,” she gushed to People at the time. “That smile means so much.”
Keep reading for everything you need to know about Kimora’s family.
Ming Lee Simmons
Kimora’s eldest child, daughter Ming, arrived in January 2000.
She has followed in her mom’s modeling footsteps over the years, making her runway debut at a Baby Phat show as a child.
In May 2023, Ming graduated from New York University, telling Hypebae at the time how “crazy” it felt to “finally be done with school” with the ability to “focus a little bit more.”
Aoki Lee Simmons
In August 2002, Ming became a big sister when Aoki was born.
The former reality star made headlines in 2019 for her acceptance into Harvard University at age 16, and she graduated four years later.
For more TheFantasyTimes you love …
The college graduate has also modeled like her family members — a career choice that she defended in 2022.
“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?” she asked her TikTok followers. “One, because I love it. … Two, you can be two kinds of people in one person.”
Aoki has a contentious relationship with her dad, slamming Russell via Instagram in June 2023 and claiming the record executive was “awful to [her] for years” so she “stopped talking” to him.
She alleged, “It got to the point … I could not hear your voice without having an anxiety attack.”
Kenzo Lee Hounsou
Kimora moved on with Hounsou, and their son, Kenzo, arrived in May 2009.
By June 2023, Kenzo was “a WHOPPING 6’4″ … and still growing,” the businesswoman revealed via Instagram.
“I am so proud of you my young prince!” she gushed on the teen’s 14th birthday. “You are caring, humble, kind, smart, and have the BIGGEST HEART! Mama loves you! My lil partner in life! You’re the best son, brother and friend.”
Wolfe Lee Leissner
Kimora secretly married Leissner in February 2014, and their son, Wolfe, was born in April of the following year.
“My fourth delivery was definitely the most challenging — all natural and with no drugs,” she told People at the time, calling the infant a “big boy” and “handsome just like his father.”
News broke in 2022 that the “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane” star, who often documents Wolfe’s life via Instagram, was estranged from Leissner.
Gary Lee
Before her and Leissner’s breakup, Kimora adopted son Gary at age 10.
“He joins the family as Kimora’s two daughters have gone off to college,” her rep told Us Weekly in January 2020. “Kimora now has all boys at home. Gary joins sons Kenzo Lee Hounsou and Wolfe Lee Leissner.”
Gary “just dropped in[to the family] like he was born there,” Kimora gushed four months later, calling the transition a “very painless sensation.”
