Kimora Lee Simmons Defends Daughter Aoki's Journey After Backlash

Proud mama Kimora Lee Simmons, 47, is speaking out on her daughter's Aoki Lee Simmon's journey and the criticism she's been receiving. In a recent interview with People, the mom of five said the criticism Aoki, 20, has been getting about attending college and modeling at the same time is "absolutely absurd."

"I love it that she's trying to follow in my footsteps. But also I think it's a pain because if I had had some of what they have, maybe I wouldn't have been a model. But I think it's just looking at different sides of a coin," Kimora said. "Whereas she says, 'Mom, you should be proud.' It's like aspirational, this is what people want to do also. And I just feel like sometimes you don't want your kids to face hardships. I think that's what any mom would say, right? If I've done it and I know it's tough and I know it's a little janky. Why would you want to do it? But we love an educated clumsy queen. She is an educated, clumsy queen."

Regardless of what Aoki chooses to do in life, she's got her mom's support and motivation to follow her dreams. "We wish Aoki the best and she knows that," she said. "So whether it's in front of the camera or behind the scenes, it doesn't take away anymore. And I think she's probably seen that with her mom. It doesn't make you any more or less of a business person or any more or less of a student or a student of the world or any more or less than a model. It's important to explore all your passions."

Aoki has dealt with her share of criticism about going to Harvard and modeling at the same time. Earlier this month, she posted a TikTok video addressing a comment that was made on one of her videos, "You're so articulate and obviously educated...how come u chose modeling?" Aoki wanted to make sure that people understood that you can be both beautiful and smart. "Well, one, models aren't uneducated and not articulate, but two, I think what you're really getting at is, 'Why am I going into a field that doesn't necessarily require a degree or require a whole lot of book smarts when I have a lot of education?'" Aoki said in the video. "Well, one, because I love it, and I think we should normalize liking something. You don't have to do what you're immediately good at."

The model made her runway debut last year and has posed for her family's Baby Phat line and Just Fab. She plans to continue pursuing her modeling career while getting an Ivy League education at Harvard. And while she's at it, she wants to try to change the mindset of thinking you can't have both beauty and brains and that you can't follow your creative passions. "I really want us to move towards a future where young women aren't being asked this question. Like not being asked, 'Why did you follow your more creative passion even though you're smart?'" she said in the video. "I would like to change the idea that you can't be smart and pretty, or you can't be smart and enjoy your looks or enjoy a creative, beauty and fashion-based career. One that requires plenty of smarts and two, you can be two kinds of people in one person." She continued to motivate her followers by telling them that nothing is a waste of your talent and you should "do whatever you want to do."