At first glance, Kim Lim, the daughter of Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, appears to be living a flawless, diamond-encrusted life. With private jets, designer handbags and a global beauty empire under her name, she is the epitome of modern luxury. But behind his luxurious lifestyle lies a story of personal pain and resilience that few would expect.
The daughter of a billionaire who built his own empire
Born in 1991, Kim Lim is the only daughter of business tycoon Peter Lim, whose net worth is estimated, according to Forbes, at $2 billion. While she will inherit her father’s enormous fortune, Kim has also forged her own success as an entrepreneur in Singapore’s booming beauty and wellness industry.
His first undertaking, Papilla Hair careopened in 2019, offering advanced hair and scalp treatments. Since then, Kim has expanded his portfolio with Illumia therapy, Illumia MedicaAND Illumiaskin – all under his company KLHealth.
Today, her beauty empire extends beyond Singapore, with branches in Thailand and the UK, cementing her reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s most influential young entrepreneurs.
A luxury Instagram feed
With over 620,000 followers on Instagram, Kim Lim often shares glimpses into her whimsical world. Her feed is a symphony of high fashion, exclusive spa interiors and sunny escapes on yachts and private jets.
Among its vast collection of luxury bags, the Hermès Birkin Himalaya stands out, a bag considered the “Holy Grail” of fashion collectors. According to Christie’s, the name of the bag symbolizes the delicate color gradient from smoky gray to pearly white, reminiscent of the snow-capped Himalayas.
At Sotheby’s, a 10-inch Himalayan Birkin sells for around $61,700, although its exclusivity makes it priceless among collectors.
In addition to Hermès, Kim’s collection includes pieces from Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton. Whether she’s relaxing at luxury resorts or strolling the deck of her private yacht in designer bikinis, each post exudes confidence, elegance and star power.
Behind the glamour: a painful childhood
Despite her glittering gift, Kim Lim has been open about the difficulties of her early years. In a candid YouTube podcast with influencer Xiaxue, she revealed that she was the victim of domestic abuse by a family member at the age of six.
“My father was not in Singapore at the time,” he recalled. “He couldn’t intervene, so when I was 13 he sent me to a boarding school in England to stop the abuse.”
Kim later sought therapy to heal from the trauma, describing it as one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
She also admitted that she suffered from body image issues and an eating disorder during her youth, stemming from constant teasing about her weight in primary school. It wasn’t until she became a mother that she began to accept her body again.
Love and loss in the public eye
Kim Lim’s romantic life has attracted almost as much attention as her career. In 2017, she married Kho Bin Khai, with whom she shares a son named Kyden. Although the couple divorced after three years, they remain on friendly terms.
In 2021, he announced his engagement to IT entrepreneur Leslie Leow, whose proposal included a lavish dowry of 15 gold bars worth $2 million. Their fairytale wedding took place in February 2022, but the union ended just two months later.
“It was an extremely painful breakup” Kim admitted in an interview with 8Days.
Today, Kim Lim continues to redefine what it means to be an heiress, combining wealth with ambition and honesty about her struggles. She remains active in philanthropy, supporting local women’s health causes and child welfare programs across Singapore.
While many know her for her opulent lifestyle, her true story of survival, healing, and empowerment proves that even those born into privilege must fight their own battles.
Sources: 8Days, Forbes
