Aoki Lee Simmons Contemplates Quitting Modeling Amid Comparisons To Mom, Kimora Lee Simmons
Aoki Lee Simmons could possibly quit modeling soon.
The 22-year-old made the frustrated announcement over the weekend in a since-deleted rant after being compared to her mother, retired supermodel Kimora Lee Simmons.
“I think I’m probably wrapping up modeling soon. I’m getting a job in my degree field […] I think I’m gonna end up switching back to working in government,” Aoki expressed.
She continued, “I love modeling, but it’s hard to go somewhere and get told over, over, and over [again], ‘No, no, no, you’re not pretty enough,’ that’s not a fun time. While I’m here, I should do my best. Does that make sense at all? Like, going to a casting that my mom always got, and it feels like one big fat comparison all the time.”
Aoki spoke on how others typically think it’s “cool” for her to go to a casting that her mom did, but for her—”No, it’s not because it’s like when you don’t get it, it feels even more like [exasperated sigh].”
She added, “Like, OK [I’m] not as good. I get that. My mom is always going to be a way better model than me, but it’s just annoying to have that comparison sometimes.”
The Harvard grad did note that she doesn’t need a coach because she is a good model. “I worked really hard at it,” Aoki shared. “But it’s a hard industry. There’s a lot of beautiful girls, great models who don’t have a job.” She also reflected on some advice that her mother gave her: “If you leave something, just in general, you should finish out strong and finish out with respect to the job and the industry that you chose to be involved in.”
While Aoki won’t be walking in this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, she will be “taking the foreign service test to get back into international relations,” which is in line with her degree.
Kimora started modeling at age 14 and was first signed to Chanel as the Karl Lagerfeld’s muse. She hit the runway for the likes of Fendi, Valentino, Armani, Versace and Calvin Klein before becoming a mom and launching Baby Phat to accompany ex-husband Russell Simmons’ Phat Farm franchise.
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