When Baby Phat first hit the scene more than 20 years ago, its founder Kimora Lee Simmons set out to bless the runways (and our closets) with high-fashion streetwear. Now, the iconic brand is being reintroduced to a new generation with the launch of Baby Phat Beauty — a collab with her daughters Ming Lee (20) and Aoki Lee (18).
Filling the gap in the beauty industry where more Black representation is needed, Ming and Aoki hope to grow Baby Phat’s impact for their own generation.
“Baby Phat was one of the first brands to ever challenge the male-dominated streetwear culture, and by extension was one of the first fashion brands to champion body positivity, diversity, and the democratization of the runway,” says Ming. “Launching beauty alongside the fashion line seemed like a natural extension of everything the brand has stood for for so long.”
Inspired by the personal vibes of Ming, Aoki, and Kimora, the three Shimmer Dreams sets are:
Opulence, a nod to Ming’s love of all things glam
Ethereal, which reps Aoki’s laid-back, casual style
Divine, a throwback to Kimora’s OG Baby Phat era
Each three-piece kit includes all your glow-up essentials: lip gloss, hand lotion, and body spray. And these are just the beginning — ya’ girls will be dropping a holiday set real soon.
“[Ming and I] want to create products that not only make you feel [like] your best self, but [also] allow you to be whoever you want to be,” Aoki says. “It’s crucial to see ourselves reflected in media and all other facets of society, including the beauty world. Not just as influencers and models, but [also as] executives and owners.”
It’s not just about the outer beauty, either. These sisters are dedicated to helping other Black girls embrace every part of themselves as beautiful.
“Despite all the recent headlines, don’t let society tell you you are not worthy,” says Ming. Aoki adds, “Find community; surround yourself with other Black men and women. Consume media for us by us. Support Black businesses.”
And you can start with all the #BlackGirlMagic this line is serving. (Tbh, we high-key want ’em all!)
Photos courtesy of Baby Phat Beauty
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