
Angella Simmons
United StatesFashion Designer•Reality TV Personality•Social Media Influencer
Birthday
August 19, 1987
Birth Sign
Leo
Birthplace
New York City, New York, USA
Age
39 years old
Height
5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
About
Angella Simmons is an American fashion designer, reality TV personality, and social media influencer. She is best known as the founder of Angella Simmons Swim, a luxury swimwear and resort wear line, and for her appearances on the WE tv reality series Growing Up Hip Hop. With over 1.2 million Instagram followers, she has built a personal brand centered on body positivity, entrepreneurship, and motherhood.
Simmons has carved her own path, focusing on a direct-to-consumer swimwear brand that reflects her polished, glamorous aesthetic. She is also a vocal advocate for mental health and self-care, often sharing vulnerable moments with her audience. What sets Angella apart is her grounded approach in a world of celebrity excess. Fans appreciate her authenticity and her willingness to discuss the challenges of co-parenting and building a business without relying on her family name. She continues to expand her brand into lifestyle and vintage fashion, proving she is more than just a reality TV star.
Early Life & Background
Born Angella Kamille Simmons on August 19, 1987, in New York City, New York, USA, Angella's upbringing was uniquely shaped by her family's prominent standing in the entertainment industries. As the eldest daughter of hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, and fashion icon Kimora Lee Simmons, the creative force behind Baby Phat, she spent her formative years shuttling between New York City and New Jersey. This environment meant she was immersed from an early age in the vibrant worlds of fashion and music, a setting that profoundly influenced her future aspirations.
Her early exposure to the fashion world began quite literally in childhood, as she appeared in Baby Phat ad campaigns, often posing alongside her mother and sister. Educated in private schools, Angella quickly developed a deep love for fashion, spending her time sketching designs and meticulously styling her own looks. After completing high school, she pursued higher education at the University of Southern California, where she enrolled to study communications and business. Her time in college was marked by proactive steps towards her career, including internships at various fashion magazines and work on styling projects, all of which served to build the foundational skills she would later leverage to launch her own label.
Despite growing up within powerful family businesses, Angella's defining decision came when she chose to forge an independent path. This marked her first true taste of independence, as she consciously decided not to join her family's established ventures. Instead, she was driven by a desire to create something entirely her own, carving out a distinct identity and building a business without relying on her family name. This ambition led her to conceptualize a direct-to-consumer swimwear brand, setting the stage for her entrepreneurial journey.
Career Growth
In 2015, Angella Simmons launched Angella Simmons Swim, a swimwear and resort wear line that quickly gained traction through social media and celebrity endorsements. The brand filled a niche for high-quality, figure-flattering swimsuits with a luxury feel. The following year, she joined the cast of Growing Up Hip Hop on WE tv, a reality show following children of hip-hop legends. Her role highlighted her business ambitions and personal life, making her a fan favorite for her level-headedness amid the drama.
She expanded her brand into a full lifestyle collection in 2017, adding ready-to-wear pieces and accessories. By 2020, she had become a prominent influencer, partnering with Fashion Nova and PrettyLittleThing. In 2022, she launched a curated vintage clothing resale platform, tapping into the growing sustainable fashion market. As of 2026, she runs her swimwear brand full-time and creates YouTube content about motherhood, fashion, and entrepreneurship.
Career Timeline
Public Image & Style
Angella Simmons projects a polished, aspirational image that blends high-end streetwear with luxury resort vibes. Her Instagram feed is a mix of glamorous selfies, behind-the-scenes business content, and candid moments with her daughter. On reality TV, she was portrayed as the grounded, mature one among the hip-hop kids, often mediating conflicts and focusing on her career. Fans appreciate her honesty about co-parenting and the pressures of living up to her family name. She has no official fandom name, but her supporters describe her as relatable and down-to-earth despite her privileged background.
Fame & Fandom
Angella Simmons commands a digital empire built on the raw honesty of her personal narrative and the explosive growth of her entrepreneurial ventures. Her audience, a self-organized community rallying around the hashtags #PastrySneakers and her social handles, treats her not just as a celebrity but as a relatable architect of modern success. They champion her brand Pastry, driving its valuation to $75 million through viral fashion moments and relentless support that rivals major sportswear giants. Fans actively mimic her courtside style, turning every public appearance into a trend-setting event while celebrating her candid disclosures about faith, co-parenting, and her decision to remain a virgin until age 28. These shared values create a tight-knit following that engages deeply with her journey from reality star to business mogul, often organizing around her philanthropy and spiritual advocacy rather than traditional fan clubs. The collective energy of this group transforms her personal milestones, like her pregnancy announcement in April 2026 or her music debut "Run To," into cultural touchstones that define her era of influence.
iFANN data for August 2026 indicates that Angella Simmons is currently NOT_EVALUATED by the fame engine, meaning no global ranking has been assigned at this time. The fanbase has no formal name documented in IFANN data.
Interesting Facts and Legends
Angella Simmons is a trained equestrian who competed in horse shows during her childhood and possesses a keen eye for interior design, having renovated multiple homes with dramatic transformations shared online. A practicing Christian, she frequently cites her faith as the guiding force behind her life decisions and actively avoids drama despite her status as a reality TV personality. An enthusiast of vintage automobiles, she owns a restored 1967 Mustang. Fans often retell the story of her breakup with rapper Yo Gotti, where she publicly detailed that he was simply not ready, reclaiming her narrative through therapy and growth.
A defining moment involves her viral disclosure in June 2026 regarding her decision to remain a virgin until age 28, which sparked widespread cultural conversation about her values. Her entrepreneurial legend centers on transforming Pastry Sneakers into a $75 million brand that competes directly with major giants like Jordan Brand, cementing her reputation as a serious businesswoman beyond the camera lens. In late March 2026, she expanded her creative reach by participating in a segment titled Funky Friday and dropping a single titled Run To under the Ruff Ryders label. Later that spring, fans celebrated her pregnancy announcement in April 2026, marking a new chapter as she prepares to welcome her first child. A widely circulated story highlights her appearance at Yankee Stadium, where her unique style drew attention from photographers and fans alike, further solidifying her status as a courtside fashion icon.
Notable Quotes
“I want to build something that's mine, not just be known as someone's daughter.”
“Motherhood has completely changed my perspective on everything. It's the hardest and most rewarding job I've ever had.”
“I've learned that you can't pour from an empty cup. You have to take care of yourself first to be there for everyone else.”
Family & Personal Life
Angella is the eldest daughter of Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons. She has a younger sister, Aoki Lee Simmons, and several half-siblings on her father's side, including Ming Lee Simmons. She is extremely close to her mother and sister, often posting family photos and vacation pictures. Angella has one daughter, Aiko, born in 2020, with her former fiancé Kevin Liles Jr. She co-parents Aiko with him and lives in Los Angeles. The family also has a pet French bulldog named Coco.
Notable Connections
Angella is closely associated with her mother Kimora Lee Simmons and sister Aoki Lee Simmons, who appear in her social media and have collaborated on projects. She also maintains friendships with fellow Growing Up Hip Hop cast members like Egypt Criss and Romeo Miller. Her business collaborations include partnerships with Fashion Nova and PrettyLittleThing.
Relationships & Dating History
Angella's dating life has been public, largely due to Growing Up Hip Hop. She dated rapper Cory 'Coco' Hardrict from 2013 to 2014, a short-lived relationship that ended amicably. From 2015 to 2016, she was with rapper Michael 'Mickey' Factz, a relationship featured on the show that ended after trust issues. She then dated businessman Tyler 'Ty' Young from 2017 to 2018, also documented on TV. A private relationship with musician Jonathan 'Jody' Breeze lasted from 2018 to 2019. In 2019, she began dating Kevin 'Kev' Liles Jr., an entrepreneur and son of music executive Kevin Liles. They became engaged and welcomed a daughter, Aiko, in 2020, but called off the engagement in 2021. She dated fitness entrepreneur Marcus Johnson from 2022 to 2023. As of 2026, Angella is single and focused on co-parenting Aiko and growing her business.
- DatedCory 'Coco' Hardrict2013 - 2014Short-lived relationship that ended amicably due to busy schedules.
- DatedMichael 'Mickey' Factz2015 - 2016Relationship featured on Growing Up Hip Hop; ended after trust issues.
- DatedTyler 'Ty' Young2017 - 2018Brief relationship that played out on Growing Up Hip Hop; ended due to incompatibility.
- DatedJonathan 'Jody' Breeze2018 - 2019Private relationship that was not heavily featured on TV.
- EngagedKevin Liles Jr.2019 - 2021Serious relationship; engaged and had daughter Aiko (born 2020); called off engagement in 2021.
- DatedMarcus Johnson2022 - 2023Low-key relationship that ended amicably.
Salary, Net Worth In 2026
$2.5 Million
iFANN Editorial Team estimate
Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Angella Simmons's net worth stands at $2.5 Million. This figure reflects her trajectory since 2015, driven primarily by her self-made swimwear line and strategic influencer work. Her brand, Angella Simmons Swim, generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales and wholesale partnerships with boutiques. Earnings from reality TV appearances range between $50,000 and $100,000 per season, though she has stepped back from regular cast duties. Endorsement deals with major retailers like Fashion Nova and PrettyLittleThing, alongside beauty and lifestyle collaborations, contribute an additional $200,000 to $300,000 annually. She maintains ownership of a Los Angeles residence valued at approximately $1 million and holds small stakes in various tech and fashion startups. This financial standing places her well above her parents' initial wealth levels while remaining distinct from the ultra-high-net-worth tier of established hip-hop moguls.
Awards & Accolades
Known For
Angella Simmons Swim
2015 · Founder and Designer
Growing Up Hip Hop
2016 · Cast Member
Keywords
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Angella Kamille Simmons
- Occupation
- Fashion Designer, Reality TV Personality, Social Media Influencer
- Height
- 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
- Children
- 1 daughter (Aiko)
Personal Details
- Full Name
- Angella Kamille Simmons
- Height
- 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
- Children
- 1
- Education
- University of Southern California (Communications and Business)
Filmography
1
Total
0
Film
1
TV
Frequently Asked Questions
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