Kimora Lee Simmons' Husbands Explained: Who Was She Legally Married to and Where Are Her Exes Now?
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Kimora Perkins met Def Jam Recordings co-founder Russell Simmons in 1992 during New York Fashion Week. She was a 17-year-old Chanel muse handpicked by Karl Lagerfeld; he was a 35-year-old hip-hop pioneer running one of the most culturally significant labels in the world. After a six-year courtship, the pair married on December 20, 1998, in a star-studded ceremony on the Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy, officiated by Russell's brother, Rev. Run of Run-D.M.C.
Together, they built a lifestyle empire. Russell provided the corporate backing, while Kimora served as the creative engine behind Baby Phat, turning pink rhinestone baby-tees and fitted denim into a fashion powerhouse grossing hundreds of millions annually. The couple welcomed two daughters, Ming Lee Simmons (born January 2000) and Aoki Lee Simmons (born August 2002). Their opulent lifestyle became the focus of early reality television through the hit series Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane.
The marriage cracked under the weight of conflicting professional trajectories and lifestyle differences. They announced their separation in March 2006 and completed their divorce in January 2009. For years, the two maintained an unusually warm public dynamic, vacationing together with their new partners and co-parenting cooperatively. Even during tense periods in recent years, their complex dynamic continues to generate headlines. In September 2026, Complex reported that Russell used the trending "Hotel Lobby" AI social media audio trend to publicly praise his ex-wife's beauty and poise, demonstrating how entwined their public legacies remain despite their long-standing separation.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
