Vanessa Simmons brought a rare openness to her latest sit-down with Her Rich Life host Lisa Easton, reflecting on the years she spent navigating fame, family expectations and adulthood in the public eye. The former Run’s House star spoke with calm assurance as she described the work it took to define herself beyond the Simmons legacy, crediting motherhood and entrepreneurship for giving her a clearer sense of purpose.
When Easton raised the question many fans still ask — whether Pastry, the sneaker brand Vanessa launched with her sister Angela Simmons, might ever return — Vanessa chose her words carefully. “We’ve discussed it… I don’t want to say yes, I don’t want to say no,” she said, noting that there “may be room for more collaborations” with Angela but stopping short of confirming a relaunch. Her diplomatic answer kept hope alive while signaling that any decision remains unfinished.
Easton then asked what it was like to build a business with family. Vanessa acknowledged the challenges. “Working with family can definitely be tricky,” she admitted, though she emphasized how meaningful the experience was. She recalled how Pastry began during Rev Run’s Run Athletics era. She and Angela pitched the idea for a women’s line after their father insisted they approach it professionally. “She put her fashion sense, I put my marketing sense,” Vanessa said, explaining how they developed the Pastry concept around playful dessert-inspired themes. Their father’s business partners backed the idea, and the line became a breakout success.
The conversation turned personal when Easton asked about Vanessa’s long-term relationship with Mike Wayans. Vanessa revealed they met through mutual friends just days before she moved to Los Angeles. Their connection grew naturally, but she noted that the Wayans family values privacy, which shapes how she protects her relationship. “There are certain things I like to keep secret and sacred,” she said, adding that public curiosity often feels less like concern and more like “being nosey.”
Throughout the interview, Vanessa balanced honesty with restraint, offering a portrait of someone intent on growing on her own terms while safeguarding the parts of her life that remain off-limits.
