Aoki Lee Simmons is used to a bit of cognitive dissonance.
Take today, for example.
Her lineup of thigh-barring mini skirts might feel out of place here, but Simmons never does.
Shes spent her life convincing people she deserves to be in disparate spaces.
Why would today be any different?
In doing so, shell have big shoes to fill.
Her mogul-yogi dad co-founded Def Jam, shepherding the careers of artists like Run-DMC and Public Enemy.
I love the brand, says Simmons, who stars in its latest campaign, too.
I was like, Oh, my God, Im going to ruin their shoot.
That was the one time [each] year I got to wear lip gloss and get heat curls.
It was my little fun glam moment, she says.
People say, I never pictured youd start modeling.
Can I do a cartwheel?
So, is Kimora supportive of her daughter following in her Manolo-made footsteps?
Did you walk by the med school?
Shes very into a grad-school moment.
She has always made it crystal clear to her daughters that academics were the priority.
(Simmons older sister, Ming, is a New York University student with a blazing-hot influencer career.)
Today, she posts TikToks from Harvard libraries study caves during all-night cram sessions.
My mom was in charge, she says of her childhood.
My mom is the person who gives the instructions; my dad is like a cool uncle.
[When I ask] What are you doing?
So I think shes lightening up.
Below, she talks with Bustle about mental and physical health, family dynamics, and hernot-so-secret secret boyfriend.
Congrats on openingKim Shuis showlast month and on the new Tommy campaign.
Does your mom give you modeling tips?
She came to watch me at New York Fashion Week for the first time.
But I got down and she was like, Those stairs were intense.
Im really proud of you.
I wouldve been scared.
I was like, Ah!
Youve talked on TikTok about how you used to feel insecure.
When you were younger, you didnt even like to show your face on camera.
Did modeling help you feel more confident?
You went to boarding school in Switzerland around that time?
Yes, it was high school, but I was 12.
I did learn to ski there.
I dont like skiing actually, but Im glad I know how.
At the time, Prince William had taken Kate skiing.
And she said, And if you cant ski, youre screwed.
I was like, Thats valid.
Let me get on these slopes.
What made your family decide you should study abroad at that age?
No one decided that.
I applied [for] me and Ming.
This was all my idea.
And then I was like, Hey, we have an interview for a boarding school.
She was like, What?
She ended up loving it.
It gives you an international community.
But at the time, Ming was like, You didwhat?
And I was like, Just write your little essay.
Boarding school must have made you really independent.
I had a little budget.
Can I do half?
They were like, This is the recommended minimum.
If you want your kid to have fun, go up.
But she was like, Im going to go down.
So I had to budget out all my stuff: food, shampoo.
It was very useful.
I think thats why I wasready for college at 16.
Lets talk about your style.
My style is a combination.
Im very influenced by 90s model style.
I got the idea to wear Adidas Gazelles from pictures of young Kate Moss.
Sheused to wear themall the time to her shows.
Theres a little bit of 60s, a littleOnce Upon a Time in Hollywoodvibes.
I have lots of little plaid mini skirts, trouser-cut jeans, preppy things.
And give me your pearl earrings.
You interned for NYC Mayor Eric Adams administration.
Do you think youll eventually go into government or politics?
Im thinking Im going to take the LSAT, because I can keep the score for five years.
So when I go to castings and dont cut it, maybe I can just apply to law school.
Youre inspiringly open on TikTok about some of your health challenges, like ADHD andHashimotos.
Oh, thank you.
I struggle to lie.
Im really just there to talk to people my age.
It feels like a very communicative platform, the way I use it.
I actually made a great friend on TikTok.
We started doing Pilates together in Boston.
We hear a lot about the downside of social media and itsnegative impacton young womens mental health.
Oh, lets back up.
Its a problem, for sure.
The instant gratification really messes with ourdelayed reward system.
So how do you manage that?
I set a time limit on how much Im allowed to be on social media every day.
It shuts down automatically.
And the boyfriend: Hes abiotech venture capitalist.
We met at a law school party, through a mutual friend.
Your mom must be thrilled.
She likes him a lot, yeah.
When you hard launched your relationship, you got some backlash.
I got upset when people started digging up pictures of his family.
It was a level of sleuthing I didnt even know existed.
Also, one of his parents passed away, and [people] were posting it.
He wasnt even tagged!
How do you go from not tagged to deceased family members?
Does that make you want to be more private online?
I think Ill probably be more private.
Im not a big poster anyway, in terms of relationships.
Youre studying all night, flying on red-eyes.
How do you take care of your health?
Does Hashimotos make you more vulnerable to illness?
Im always trying to fight inflammation.
For some people, when they dont sleep, they get very snatched and Bella Hadid.
When I dont sleep, I look like a potato.
When I get sick, itll get very puffy very fast, and it hurts around the lymph nodes.
My skin is OK if I drink a lot of water.
Is it true you ice your face?
I do like dumping my face in a bucket of ice water.
Its not very fashion.
And I was like, Im just young, and I have baby cheeks, and Im Korean!
Why are you like this?
But now Im not trying to fight my face.
I want to look my personal best, just not inflamed.
And I still end up looking like a very happy cherub baby.
But Im going to age well!
I will age with grace.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
