By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Something I've been waiting for the past few years will finally see the light of day:
Kimora Lee Simmons on reality television.
This morning, The Style Network announced plans to premiere a self-titled reality series fashioned for the ghetto fabulous fashionista.
The show, with the working title of 'Kimora,' is set to debut this summer on the niche digital cable channel -- a spin-off of E! Entertainment geared towards young women.
"Kimora Lee Simmons is simply a fascinating woman," said Style's Executive Vice President Salaam Coleman Smith, in announcing the show. "She is refreshingly blunt, absolutely honest and outrageously entertaining...the kind of woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. Nothing she does is small, nothing she says is insignificant and nothing she wants is unavailable."
Lee Simmons, currently separated from hip-hop music pioneer Russell Simmons, has become a formidable player in the hip-hop fashion business ever since being discovered at the age of 13 by designer Karl Lagerfeld. From her sensational modeling career, the St. Louis native is credited as being the only multiethnic woman to have a successful fashion empire and lifestyle brand which includes fragrance, cosmetics, beauty, and home collections.
With her Baby Phat brand -- a spin-off of her hubby's Phat Farm fashion empire -- the half-Japanese/half-African American clotheshorse has helped make the term "phat" a household name. She is also the author of the inspirational/lifestyle guide 'Fabulosity: What It Is and How To Get It' and established the Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship Fund at her St. Louis alma mater, providing college tuition support for academically successful girls with financial needs.
TV viewers got a taste of Lee Simmons' 'fabulosity' via stints as a guest judge on an early season of best friend Tyra Banks' mega-successful 'America's Next Top Model' competition, and as a co-host of the short-lived 'Life & Style' daily talk show.
Reality TV-wise, she owned every scene she appeared in on MTV's popular 'Run's House,' and even was the subject of her own VH1 TV special with 'Inside/Out',' which chronicled her history-making fashion show at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
What can we fans expect from the new show?
Viewers are invited along for the ride as she leads her company to new heights of success, from product launches to press tours to high fashion events. Her adorable two daughters, seven year-old Ming Lee and four year-old Aoki Lee are also apart of the program. And of course the family's New Jersey estate.
"This series is going to open a lot of women's eyes to the possibilities life has to offer, and all of us at Style are happy to be working with such an inspirational woman," Coleman Smith added.
Can't wait for this.
Comments: (112)
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By: Sheryl on 4/11/2007 1:03PM
I like Kimora, don't get me wrong, but do we really need another reality show?
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By: kslymm on 4/11/2007 9:10PM
i love kimora and think it would be fun to see what she does in her life. my first purchase after i lost 256 lbs was a baby phat outfit i had been eyeing. it fit me just right...love her style.
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By: Lorraine on 4/12/2007 8:41AM
SMART AND TALENTED WOMAN, WHY DO A REALITY SHOW, OOPS MORE MONEY.
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By: Cassandra on 4/12/2007 8:45AM
kimora would not be where she is today if she had not married RUSSELL SIMMONS. RUSSELL has the midas touch...and he certainly "touched" (LOL) kimora
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By: Yaeger on 4/12/2007 9:50AM
I think it is great that Kimora is successful in her eyes. Consequently, does she have a new man yet? I hate to see beautiful women grow older, without having a man to be with, on those cold nights. Is success really everything if you don't have a partner to share it with? Oh yes, I forgot we do have the vibrators.
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By: kelly Brown on 4/12/2007 10:25AM
No offense Cassandra, but why would you say that? Kimora never needed Russell. She started Babyphat on her own without Russell's help. Why do people like you hate all the time? The woman have more money than you would ever make in YEARS! I admire her courage to go on and raise her kids single. Stop hating, this world would be a better place if people like you would stop thinking negative all the time. I'm happy for her and I wish her the best of luck.
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By: justineintime on 4/12/2007 10:30AM
I DONT LIKE KIMORA SIMMONS, SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL LADY, BUT HER ATTITUDE IS NASTY. I WATCHED AN EPISODE OF MTV CRIBS THEY SHOWCASED RUSSEL SIMMONS HOME, HER ATTITUDE WAS AS IF SHE WAS ALL OF THAT AND THEN SOME I DONT LIKE HER AND I WANT BE WATCHING THE REALITY SHOW.
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By: MRS DIVA CT on 4/12/2007 11:47AM
I LOVE KIMORA LEE SIMMONS! SHE IS A TRUE DIVA! GOD BLESS HER ON HER NEW SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: Diane on 4/12/2007 12:00PM
God's Blessings to you Kimora! I will be watching for your tv show. you are fabulous and if others would pay attention they can learn something from you, our young women need to adapt that attitude of fabulousness, and may we could slow the rate of low self esteem, confidence, and security in our young women and old ones as well. Kimora would be crazy to be around someone like Russell Simmons and not learn anything and come into her own, Hooray for you!
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By: Sheryl on 4/12/2007 1:09PM
While it is true, that she couldn't have started BabyPhat without Russell Simmons, she was a top supermodel in her own right. I believe the name of the clothing line would have been different. But you do have to admit, Russell Simmons is a very powerful man and a force to be reckoned with, and she definately used that to her advantage. I knew the relationship wouldn't last as she is a recreational drug user and very loud, whereas he is a quiet, self contained man as well as a strict vegan ( they had separate refridgerators). I know they loved each other unconditionally, but they are two totally different people. You can see the respect they have for each other now, when you see them in the public eye, and I appreciate that.
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