It’s not easy for the children of any celebrity to come out of their parents’ shadow. But Simone — the daughter of the legendary jazz musician Nina Simone — makes it look effortless. A talented singer in her own right who performed on Broadway in “Rent” and “Aida,” the 46-year-old beauty is nonplussed by the comparisons some critics have made between the songs on her debut album “Simone on Simone” and her mother’s classic recordings.
“I take it as a compliment,” says Simone, who was born Lisa Celeste Stroud. “I’m my own woman, but my mother was, and is, a huge part of who I am. She has influenced the way I parent my children and the way I live my life. And like a lot of people out there, I’m a huge fan of her music.”
An avid traveler, Simone was stationed in South Korea during her stint in the military and says she enjoys exploring the world. But one of her favorite recent trips was to Arizona, where she and her youngest child rode horses and enjoyed being one with nature.
WHY ARIZONA: “The rock formations in Arizona just defy gravity. I learned about labyrinths there. It was a wonderful time to just be, and enjoy the beauty that God made for all of us. My daughter and I stayed at the Triangle T Guest Ranch (azretreatcenter ) in Dragoon, which is located 60 miles east of Tucson, and had an absolutely amazing time. We’re looking forward to going back soon, next time with my husband.”
A PEACEFUL VACATION: “When we left to go back home, I walked away from the ranch promising myself that this is how I want to feel as often as I can. It’s wonderful knowing there is somewhere in the world where you can find peace. My daughter, who is 9, had a great time too. She got scratches from climbing, but she loved it and fell in love with Snickers, the horse she rode while she was there.”
LOW MAINTENANCE: “I walked around in hiking boots, shorts and a T-shirt the whole time I was there. I like to wear my hair down and not fuss with any makeup. I’m an outdoors girl. I love to go horseback riding. I spent a lot of time around them as a child and being around them again reminded me of my childhood.”
HEALTHY LIVING: “For someone like me who loves to sit in the sun, I have a feeling I’ll have a few wrinkles coming soon! But I generally do try to live a healthy lifestyle. I’m careful about what I put in my body. I eat organic. I used to teach aerobics and lifted weights in my 20s. I’m hoping that all my years of healthy living will offset the sun exposure I get when I go on vacations.”
ANOTHER TRIP SHE ENJOYED: “My husband and I took a trip to Africa. That was amazing to see the people and the beautiful country. One of the things that I remember is how all the bugs loved me. My husband and I obviously slept in the same bed. But I got all the mosquito bites, and not one of them bit him. Not one!”
Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times best-selling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column at jae@jaehakim.com or visit her website at .
