Growing up in the media is not an easy thing to do. With people watching your every move it gets hard to live your life the way you want without the fear of thousands, or sometimes millions, of people criticizing you. There are few who can do it and Angela Simmons was one of the ones who proved a person can. Angela is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist that has managed to handle the notoriety of her family and become an independent, successful woman of her own.

With Angela’s dad being Rev Run, one third of the popular 80s rap group Run DMC, it was probably difficult growing up in the public eye.  In 2005 Run’s House aired on MTV and audiences got to see Rev Run’s family dynamic. Angela was only 17 when the show first aired and audiences got to see how she was at a young age.  Also on the show people got to see the beginnings of different ventures Angela wanted to do and people got to see how some of those ventures actually flourished.

(Instagram: @AngelaSimmons)

Angela has come a long way since being head of Pastries, the sneaker line she managed with her sister Vanessa.  Although Pastries was very successful, which grossed millions of dollars, she wanted to pursue other things.  Since then Angela has created her own fashion line called Angela I Am (available at AngelaIam.com), owns a faux fur line called Foofi and Bella (FoofiandBella.com), and has been involved with various charitable organizations like Art In Motion.  She also is executive producer along with Romeo Miller of “Growing Up Hip Hop,” a new reality show about people that have grown up in famous music industry families and are trying to make their own names for themselves.
Angela Simmons wins because she continues to have successful business ventures all while maintaining a positive image.  Growing up in the media affects people differently but Angela has not let it affect her negatively.  At a young age she is someone that many, no matter the age, can admire and look up to.