The rumors are true — Kimora Lee Simmons is no more.
The Baby Phat mogul has officially changed her name to Kimora Lee, a move that reflects both a personal and professional reset. In a statement announcing the change, she noted that the decision is intentional and rooted in control over her name, brand, 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 began.
The statement also addresses recent headlines and speculation, pushing back on how her story has been framed in the media.
“She is no stranger to controversy,” the statement continued. “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.”
It continues: “She has threatened to sue — and is suing others — in order 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 concludes by framing the name change as part of a larger evolution.
“While some areas of her business and brand portfolio will reflect this evolution, she welcomes the transition as an opportunity to move forward with greater intention and cohesion,” she said.
That focus on legacy comes into sharper view in her recent interview with Refinery29, which dropped on February 23, where Lee revisited the era that helped define her influence.
Reflecting on the early 2000s, she positioned herself not just as a defining figure in hip-hop fashion, but as a builder of the culture. “I’m a mogul and a model and best of all, I’m a mom,” she said, describing a time when she was simultaneously raising her daughters and scaling Baby Phat into a global brand.
She emphasized that the success of that era came from originality. “There was more individuality… more flavor, more artistry, creativity,” she explained, contrasting it with what she sees as a more uniform aesthetic today.
She also made it clear that her career was self-driven. “I went to work every day. I made these clothes. I worked with my designers,” she said, underscoring her hands-on role in building the brand.
For her, Baby Phat was never just about clothes. “What we created… was a lifestyle. It was a movement,” she said, pointing to a mix of fashion, tech, and culture that resonated far beyond retail. From diamond-accented phones to accessible luxury pieces, the brand blurred the lines between aspiration and accessibility.
“I didn’t build this thing for us to be all looking the same… the beauty of us is that we’re all different,” she added.
Lee’s name change also creates distance from a complicated chapter tied to her estranged husband, Tim Leissner.
The former Goldman Sachs banker pleaded guilty in connection to the 1MDB scandal, admitting to stealing millions and participating in a global fraud scheme. In 2025, he was sentenced to federal prison after years of cooperating with authorities, and a $25 million Beverly Hills mansion is currently at the center of the ongoing financial entanglements.
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