Kimora Lee Simmons is changing her name. The entrepreneur and model, who is widely recognized as the founder of Baby Phat, is now known as Kimora Lee.
Why did Kimora Lee change her name?
Lee said the change marks a new chapter in her personal and professional life. The Baby Phat founder explained the decision in a statement, per Complex, saying it is an intentional move that will impact her brand, name and future.
“Kimora’s decision to change her name legally — back to Kimora Lee — is rooted in a commitment to clarity and ownership,” the statement read, per Complex.
As she begins a new chapter with her new name, Lee is also hoping to distance herself from the controversies that have followed her through the years. According to The Grio, part of the controversy is related to the feud she had with her ex-husband Russell Simmons, who was accused of keeping the couple’s adult children away from their mother.
Lee later married former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner and again found herself in the midst of controversy. Leissner was sentenced to federal prison after he was accused of stealing millions in a global fraud scheme.
“She is no stranger to controversy,” Lee’s latest statement read. “Recently, The New York Post published an article based on a flawed premise and full of inaccuracies. That piece has since been quietly revised on multiple occasions in an attempt to evade accountability.”
According to the statement, Lee continues “to combat bad deals and dishonest attempts to bully and extort her out of what has always been rightfully hers.”
“Her focus remains on protecting her family, building a legacy, and moving forward with grace and power,” the statement adds, per Complex.
What did Kimora Lee say about the success she had in the early 2000s?
In a recent interview with Refinery29, Lee said she started her career with the goal of becoming an icon in hip-hop fashion and a figure who could build the culture.
“I didn’t build this thing for us to be all looking the same… the beauty of us is that we’re all different,” Lee said in the interview.
That era, according to Lee, was about “individuality… more flavor, more artistry, creativity.”
“I went to work every day. I made these clothes. I worked with my designers,” she said. “What we created… was a lifestyle. It was a movement.”
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