Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, and Vittorio Assaf, 65, CONFIRM romance with a steamy kiss during PDA-filled getaway to St. Barts amid backlash over their 44-year age gap

Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, enjoyed frolicking in the sand with her rumored boyfriend Vittorio Assaf, 65 during a recent vacation in the Caribbean. 

The BCBG model, who is the daughter of music mogul Russell Simmons, 66, and designer Kimora Lee Simmons, 48, showcased her lithe form in a multi-colored string bikini in shades of orange, green and red, with a matching bandeau top.

She appeared makeup-free and wore her long dark hair in natural curls around her shoulders. 

The cover model accessorized with a thin gold chain around her neck. 

Meanwhile, the restaurateur, who is 44 years her senior, sported a pair of blue and white swim trunks.  

Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, shared a kiss with her boyfriend Vittorio Assaf, 65 while on vacation in the Caribbean April 2

He accessorized with long chunky white gold chain. His salt and pepper hair was combed back from his face. 

It's unclear how long the two have been dating. 

A source close to the model told People, 'Aoki and Vittorio are spending time together and enjoying each others' company.' 

The Serafina restaurant chain co-founder seemed to enjoy using his phone to snap pictures of his lady love, documenting their romantic trip on the island of St. Barts, which is reportedly a favorite destination for the Simmons family.

The celebrity hideaway is a favorite of luminaries such as Paul McCartney and Paris Hilton who recently enjoyed trips there. 

The tiny French-speaking island is located east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The tiny island boasts only nine square miles of area, but it's home to 22 white-sand beaches and the pair enjoyed taking a dip in the sapphire blue and turquoise waters.

The couple seemed to be trying to keep their relationship quiet.

It's unclear how long the two have been dating. A source close to the model told People , 'Aoki and Vittorio are spending time together and enjoying each others' company'

The BCBG model showcased her lithe form in a multi-colored string bikini in shakes of orange, green and red, with a matching bandeau top. The restaurateur sported a pair of blue and white swim trunks

The Serafina restaurant chain co-founder seemed to enjoy using his phone to snap pictures of his lady love, documenting their romantic trip on the island of St. Barts

The runway beauty seemed to enjoy splashing in the warm waters as the waves rolled toward the shore. The St. Barts visitors guide reports April to June is the best time to visit and December to March is the peak of tourist season

The pair enjoyed a swim in the turquoise waters 

The couple seemed to be trying to keep their relationship quiet, but as word got out, Aoki seemed to address it in Instagram Stories writing,'Errr well now I know why folks were calling me'

Neither has shared photos of the other on social media, although recent posts confirm they were both in St. Barts

The pair seemed quite enraptured with each other and seemed to have a difficult time keeping their lips to themselves

Neither has shared photos of the other on social media, although recent posts confirm they were both in St. Barts. 

The pair seemed quite enraptured with each other and seemed to have a difficult time keeping their lips to themselves. 

But as word of the romance got out, Aoki seemed to address it in Instagram Stories writing,'Errr well now I know why folks were calling me.' 

The St. Barts visitors guide reports April to June is the best time to visit and December to March is the peak of tourist season. 

The area features beautiful coral reefs and hiking for those looking for adventure. 

The island also has lots of high end shopping, including stores for Cartier and Louis Vuitton.

The runway beauty seemed to enjoy splashing in the warm waters as the waves rolled toward the shore. 

Aoki is the daughter of music mogul Russell Simmons, 66, and designer Kimora Lee Simmons, 48

She has had a rocky relationship with her father and called him out for his alleged abusive behavior in June 2023 on social media. The posts have since been deleted

Aoki has been modeling since she was a child, wearing looks from her family's Baby Phat line as well as Just Fab

Aoki has had a rocky relationship with her famous father and called him out for his alleged abusive behavior in June 2023 on social media.

The posts have since been deleted. 

In an interview with Teen Vogue in September of that year, the model said she had no regrets. 

'Part of it was already out there. There were reasons I thought it was reasonable to publish, because it was playing out in, like, a silent bubble.' 

During that tempestuous time, Russell Simmons sued Kimora for fraud, alleging she took millions of dollars worth of energy-drink company Celsius stock to cover  husband Tim Leissner's legal fees in a money laundering case. 

She made her runway debut in 2021 for Pyer Moss Paris Couture

Since then, the in-demand muse has been a cover model for several publications, including Rollercoaster, Flaunt and Teen Vogue

In November, a court ordered the entrepreneur to pay Kimora some $100,000 to cover her legal fees after a hearing over the allegations.  

In December, the US government issued a memorandum declaring the Def-Jam Records co-founder had no standing to sue. 

In February, a former executive at Def Jam Recordings filed a lawsuit, alleging sexual harassment and battery while she was at the company in the 1990s.

The woman, known as Jane Doe in court papers, claimed she was raped by Simmons and that her 'career in the music industry was disrupted and derailed by a devastating experience at the hands of Mr. Simmons.' 

The suit was filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act.

Vittorio was married for 20 years to model Charlotte Bonstrom, 41

The former couple share two children, Vittorio Jr., 21, and Valentina, 17

The pair aren't the only ones to enjoy the white sand beaches of St. Barts 

Paul McCartney and Paris Hilton recently enjoyed trips to the island

Aoki has been modeling since she was a child, wearing looks from her family's Baby Phat line as well as Just Fab. With beauty and brains to spare, she began attending Harvard University at age 16 and  graduated in 2023, at age 20 with a degree in Classics and Government. 

The brown-eyed beauty made her runway debut in 2021 for Pyer Moss Paris Couture. Since then, the in-demand muse has been a cover model for several publications, including Rollercoaster, Flaunt and Teen Vogue.

Vittorio was married for 20 years to model Charlotte Bonstrom, 52. The marriage ended when the Swedish-American beauty left him for another man, her twin sister's ex-husband Thierry Gillier.

The former couple share two children, Vittorio Jr., 21,  and Valentina, 17.