I never thought my guilty pleasure would be reality TV. I’m not going to watch “The Bachelor” or “Survivor” but it turns out I’m a “reality” victim when it comes to food, fashion and renovation. So, naturally I’m going to be drawn in by Kimora Lee Simmon’s Life In The Fab Lane.
Don’t we all want it all? Maybe not like Kimora, her taste is a little two gawdy for me, but that sinful side of us would like to live a life of fame and fortune in the spotlight, be young and beautiful, invited to all the best parties and events around the world with two wonderful children to love.
On Fab Lane, Kimora lets us into her ostentatious home and life and brazenly admits to liking everything big like all six feet of her: big hair, big clothes, big house… even, she admits, her “big mouth”, which is open wide to say what she wants and get it. Whether it’s waffles instead of a diet yogurt and fruit for breakfast to a full fur coat and dog for the Kimora Barbie, (who cares about Matel’s price structure) and the cover of Source Magazine, (only musicians are allowed on the cover), she gets it.
But Kimora is more than just a big mouthed consumer. She has clearly designed the Mattel Kimora with decidedly Asian eyes and thick, African lips so she can reflect the mixed chick international “the face of the 21st century” as Kimora herself was branded by Karl Lagerfield. When Mattel insists on calling the doll the Kimora Lee Simmons Doll, Kimora quickly insists “No, I want her to be the Kimora BARBIE, you keep wanting to take that away from me!... She’s NOT THE SIDE-KICK”. Kimora also stands up to the Chandelier (MadMen) ad company boys who are two hours late to her meeting with them telling them “don’t play with me”. Though their ad concept is unoriginal and unimaginative, ultimately Kimora agrees to it and it’s her presence that makes it work.
Kimora is not just a Posh Spice or Paris Hilton, she is a Black/ Asian woman who’s NOT fat or ugly and has it all and gets what she wants. She’s a force to be reckoned with. She could be mocked for her shocking excess like Paris or Posh, but she is a working woman and she makes a defiant political statement simply by being rich and successful Mogul while being black, Asian, thin and beautiful.
She can be criticized for being a Diva in the abusive way she treats some of her gay male employees, whom she says she has taken into her family, in spite of them being rejected by their own families. But she does mistreat them, being fickle, interrupting, not listening to the pitch coming from her in house Ad Executive, but she has given them high places in her prestigious company.
Kimora’s relationship with her daughters is the standout on the show. Watching her instruct them ask their opinions and hand the empire down to them is something a lot of young black girls need to see on TV. But Kimora does miss the boat when Russell questions the sexy clothes on the Kimora Barbie, that make her look a little like “ho” (a little stereotypical) sans long fur coat. She insists its fashion and he’s old fashioned, but what can you expect from a person raised in the fashion industry from age 13. But if you’re looking for gossip on her and Russell, all Kimora tells us is that he’s a genius, a great friend and her mentor but he’s a little weird.
Kimora does ham it up a bit but the show is fun and Fabulous. And let’s face it, with the economy the way it is, environment, poverty… taken for who and what Kimora is, this world of illusion makes for a great escape for those of us who can’t afford it.
Wow thanks for a diff opinion of the show. I watch it faithfully on tivo over and over again. . she is a great inspiration. Indeed it does take lots of mulah for getting away with some of the stuff she gets away with but hey she loves being a woman and gives some women inspiration and the added boost to be all we can be. Can't wait to buy the doll .. not for my 4 year old but for myself of course.
Posted by: L | August 19, 2007 at 02:05 PM
I didn't expect that to happen. Well, what else can we do.
Posted by: l-arginine | August 30, 2011 at 01:12 AM