Aoki Lee Simmons quitting modeling after battling comparisons to her catwalk vet mother Kimora

Aoki Lee Simmons has announced she will likely be quitting modeling after enduring criticism about her appearance and constant comparisons to her supermodel mom Kimora Lee Simmons

In a recent video, the 22-year-old expressed her frustration, revealing that she’s frequently told she’s ‘not pretty enough’ to succeed in modeling and is often measured against her mother.

‘I think I’m probably wrapping up modeling soon,’ Aoki shared, per TMZ on Sunday.

‘I’m tired of being told over and over again, “No, you’re not pretty enough,”‘ she said. ‘It just feels like one big comparison all the time. I get that. My mom is always going to be a way better model than me, but it’s annoying to hear that sometimes.’

Aoki went on to describe the modeling world as ‘a hard industry.’ While she plans to ‘finish strong’ as her mother always advised, she’s already looking beyond the runway, aiming for a career in government.

‘I don’t need a coach, I’m a good model. It’s just a hard industry,’ she said. ‘I think I’m going to switch back to working in government, because that’s what my degree is in.’

Aoki’s mom Kimora launched her modeling career at the age of 14, quickly gaining recognition as one of the first Black models to achieve significant success on the runway, walking for top designers like Chanel and Valentino.

In 1998, she married music mogul Russell Simmons, and together they welcomed their first daughter, Ming, before Kimora gave birth to their second daughter, Aoki, in 2003.

Following their divorce in 2009, Kimora transitioned into entrepreneurship, co-founding the Baby Phat brand while maintaining a close co-parenting relationship with Russell.

Aoki had previously talked exclusively to DailyMail.com about her modeling gig with BCBG New York.

‘My goal is to learn and grow as I navigate my own path through this business, and have a lot of fun doing it,’ she said at the time.

When asked how mom has inspired her, she answered: ‘Let me count the ways! Honestly, there are so many things that I look up to her for, but if I had to pick one it might be her ability of self-reliance.

‘She has a confidence that even if she doesn’t know the answer to something right now, she knows how to figure it out. That’s inspiring.’

As far as plans to design one day she said: ‘Never say never, but perhaps just not yet.’

Aoki’s modeling exit comes after she split from her boyfriend 65-year-old restaurateur Vittorio Assaf earlier this year.

At the time, Kimora expressed her embarrassment regarding Aoki’s brief romance with Vittorio, emphasizing that the relationship was not serious.

She suggested that Aoki may have been ‘set up’ due to the significant age difference.

‘She’s a young, pretty girl and we don’t think that the toads that we kiss are gonna be broadcasted,’ she explained to TMZ

‘I personally feel like she was set up, which is why I try to [warn] my girls. There’s definitely an age dynamic there and I just feel like she was set up a little bit,’ she added

Russell also weighed in, stating he wouldn’t criticize Aoki’s decisions, while Kimora emphasized her role as a loving mother: ‘All I can do is offer my advice and unconditional love.’

He added, ‘I’m not gonna kick and scream about her choices.’

Photos of Aoki and Vittorio surfaced online on April 6, but reports soon followed that the relationship had ended, with a source confirming, ‘It’s 100 percent done.’

Additionally, claims that Aoki was materialistic were dismissed by sources close to her, who described her as someone who doesn’t care for luxury items and characterized her as ‘more of a geek.’

Meanwhile, insiders noted that Assaf, known for his charm, has a history of dating younger women, suggesting that his preferences have remained unchanged as he ages.