Kimora Lee Simmons

They've called her "The New Queen of Conspicuous Consumption." They talk about her Franck Muller diamond-platinum watch, her extra-long platinum-colored Bentley, her collection of Manolo Blahniks. She's married to Russell Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Records and the godfather of hip-hop, she's conquered the urban clothing market with Baby Phat, with customers from Alicia Keys to Madonna, Carmen Electra, and Pink. And now, Kimora Lee Simmons has launched her début fragrance, Baby Phat Goddess.
Goddess—the name says it all. Bold. Glamorous. Full power. Sexy. As President and Creative Director of Baby Phat, Kimora decided to create her scent with Coty Inc., which has done scents with Celine Dion, Shania Twain, David and Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, and Sarah Jessica Parker. She wanted "a passionate, floral bouquet that evokes all the power and grace of a goddess. Shimmering. Sophisticated. Seductive." And so the perfume opens with the flirtation: fresh white florals, top notes of pure gardenia, white rosebuds and cedrat. Then she gets more serious with mid notes of blue lily and hyacinth (the dash of black pepper spikes it with "urban vibe"), and Kimora finishes it off with woods and soft musk bottom notes.

“I like everything with a heaping dose of femininity,” says Kimora. Baby Phat Goddess is a serious floral designed to flow as gracefully as the graceful, modern, elegant, urban woman its meant for. Designed by a model, working mother— she and her husband have two daughters, Ming Lee and Aoki— philanthropist, patron of the arts, and "über-babe," this perfume needs to carry its wearer through an entire day, from office to home to taking the town by storm at night.
It is Kimora's story that is tied intimately to her perfume. She was born in St Louis, Missouri, her father black and her mother Japanese-Korean, in a tough neighborhood. "I’m not old money," she's said defiantly. "I’m from a place where Asians were unpopular. We were told we won’t make it in life.
But I made good for myself, I’m not going to apologize to anyone." And she made good young. At 13, she was scouted by a local model talent agency and became Karl Lagerfeld's muse, but she kept St Louis with her, visiting her local Paris McDonald’s covered in Chanel. It was Lagerfeld who, she says, taught her to speak very fast. "He said no one gives a damn what you say. Say it slow and people will fall asleep," she recalls.

Today Kimora's life is very different—her own company is raking it in, and her husband Russell recently sold his Phat Fashions clothing company for $140 million— and she is an international figure whose every move is written about. She burns style like jet fuel. "Everything you do should come from the heart, it should be sincere. You shouldn’t pop your breasts out and flaunt them. But if they do accidentally pop out, live it, love it." She's conscious of every detail, every aspect. In front of a newspaper reporter, she once protested with mock horror, "You can’t show me in flipflops. I am a stiletto girl!" The reporter noted that her flip-flops were, however, encrusted with Swarovski crystals. ("A tower of pure outrageousness and ghetto fabulousness," he called her.)

And that makes sense. Kimora created the Simmons Jewellery Company, which in turn created a Kimora-cut diamond, and inspired by her love for jewelry, the faceted bottle of Goddess is modeled after a rare Asscher cut diamond she owns. A removable faux diamond ring adorns the neck of the bottle.

“Designing a fragrance for Baby Phat was the next logical step in creating a complete lifestyle brand,” says Kimora Lee Simmons. “I offer women a twist on today’s fashions by mixing over the top glamour with a touch of urban chic. I hope to inspire all women to find their inner goddess – to feel beautiful, confident, expressive and glamorous in their own skin.” Goddess has one burning purpose: to allow all women to experience the sexy, chic, first-class lifestyle of this modern day goddess of glam.

The dominant feature of your character?

My humor.

The quality you most appreciate in other people?

Honesty

Where do you most like to live?

Paris.

Your best physical feature?

My legs.

Your favorite song?

Anything by R. Kelly

The first fragrance you wore?

Chanel No. 5

The most American fragrance, in your view?

Baby Phat Goddess

Your favorite color?

Pink

Your favorite flower?

Tulips

What are you reading?

I’m working on my own book!

Your favorite serious movie?

I loved Crash!

Your favorite cultmovie?

Mahogany

Your favorite drink?

Pomegranate Juice.

What you hate most of all?

I loathe disorganization.