Vanessa Jean Simmons (born August 5, 1983) is an American television personality and actress. Her family is featured in the MTV reality show Run's House. She was recently the host and judge of Project Runway: Threads.

Vanessa Simmons
Born (1983-08-05) August 5, 1983 (age 41)
Laie, Hawaii, United States
Occupation(s)Television personality, Actress
Years active2005-present

Early life

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Simmons is the oldest daughter of Joseph Simmons and Valerie Vaughn. She is the older sister to Angela Simmons, Joseph "Jojo" Simmons Jr, Daniel "Diggy" Simmons III, Russell "Russy" Simmons II, Victoria Anne Simmons and Miley Justine Simmons. She is the niece of Danny Simmons and Russell Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Records.[citation needed]

Career

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Simmons found popularity between 2005 and 2009 with her family's MTV reality show Run's House. She and her sister, Angela Simmons, are designers for the shoe brand Pastry.[1] Simmons appeared briefly on the soap opera television show Guiding Light and held a role in the film Speed Dating. In 2008 she secretly entered the Miss California USA pageant.[2] She is in Boogie Town and the ensemble film Dysfunctional Friends. She also starred in the 2014 web series, Mixed.[3] Simmons became the host and judge of Project Runway: Threads in 2014.[4]

Personal life

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She attended St John's University.[citation needed]

Simmons and her boyfriend of several years, Michael Wayans have a daughter born in 2014.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Boogie Town Cicely
2010 Speed-Dating Elizabeth
2011 Worst. Prom. Ever. Hanna TV movie
Talking with the Taxman About Poetry Tricia
2012 Dysfunctional Friends Hanna
From This Day Forward Corinne TV movie
2013 Hollywood Chaos Alexis Burns
What Would You Do For Love Piper TV movie
2014 A Holiday Change Doreen
2016 Better Off Single Bargoer
2018 Juug Gone Wrong Traci
2019 Same Difference Skye
South Central Love Vanessa
A Holiday Change Crystal Carter
2020 Happiness Queen
Still Here TV Crew
Live Ebony Little Short
2021 Never and Again Sonya
Hip Hop Family Christmas Trish TV movie
2022 Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding Trish TV movie
Christmas with My Ex Shawna
2023 Deadly Entanglement Tammy TV movie
The Caregiver Stephanie Douglas

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2005-09 Run's House Herself Main Cast
2007 Guiding Light Lola Regular Cast
2009 Daddy's Girls Herself Main Cast
2010 Running Russell Simmons Herself Episode: "You Only Live Once"
2011 Anderson Live Herself Episode: "Are Parents Playing Favorites?"
GimmeMo' Herself Episode: "Self-Esteem"
2012 Cupcake Wars Herself Episode: "Cupcake Couture"
2013 Exhale Herself Episode: "Beauty & Style"
2014 David Tutera's CELEBrations Herself Episode: "Vanessa Simmons' 31st Birthday Blowout"
Project Runway Herself/Host Episode: "Finale, Part 2"
Project Runway: Threads Herself/Host Main Host
2017 Hip Hop Squares Herself Recurring Guest
2017-19 Growing Up Hip Hop Herself Main Cast: Season 3-5
2018-21 Monogamy Caroline Main Cast: Season
2019 Love & Listings Herself Episode: "Cocktails are for Closers"
Games People Play Jackie Herman Recurring Cast: Season 1

References

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  1. ^ "Love Pastry". Love Pastry.
  2. ^ "Vanessa Simmons Secretly Enters Miss California Pageant". MTV Remote Control Blog. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
  3. ^ "Vanessa Simmons Stars in New Comedy Web Series Titled 'Mixed!'". Black America Web. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Vanessa Simmons Talks 'Project Runway,' Fashion Faux Pas And Prioritizing Motherhood". Vibe. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Vanessa Simmons, Boyfriend Mike Wayans Welcome Daughter Ava Marie Jean". US Magazine.
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