Everything We Know About Kanye West's Ex-Fiancée, Alexis Phifer

In recent years, a highlight of Kanye "Ye" West's life was his marriage to Kim Kardashian. The pair started dating in 2012, according to Billboard, and quickly became one of Hollywood's "it" couples. A year later, the duo welcomed their first daughter, North West, and got engaged shortly after. The rapper and reality star said "I do" during a lavish Italian ceremony in 2014, surrounded by their family and friends (per ABC News).

The couple would welcome three more children during their marriage before separating after nearly a decade together. Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021, with sources telling TMZ that the couple was peacefully moving on and would work together to co-parent their four children. However, shortly after Kardashian started dating Pete Davidson, Ye launched a vicious social media campaign against the comedian, reportedly causing a greater rift between him and his ex-wife.

While Ye may have been feuding with Kardashian and Davidson amid his recent divorce, some might be surprised to learn that the rapper was previously engaged to someone else: a woman by the name of Alexis Phifer.

Long before Kanye "Ye" West married Kim Kardashian, he was engaged to celebrity stylist and fashion designer Alexis Phifer. A year after their engagement, the couple sat down with Harper's Bazaar and discussed their first time meeting. "Alexis was wearing Miss [Sixty jeans]," Ye recounted in 2007. "I had on this throwback jersey, and the first thing I said to her, because I could tell she was stylish, was, 'I don't normally dress like this!'" Unfortunately, the couple broke up in 2008, according to PopSugar.

In spite of the split from the famous record producer-turned-rapper, Phifer has created a fashion empire of her own. She is the creator and owner of the all-inclusive clothing brand, A-Threads. Her online retail store sells accessories, clothing, and plush fur scarves. Phifer also runs a personal Instagram account, which currently boasts over 30,000 followers. She regularly posts photos of her designs, travel adventures, and other fashion inspo.

Following her split from Kanye "Ye" West, Alexis Phifer seemingly stepped away from a life in the limelight. The designer spoke to People shortly after the couple's separation and sent kind regards to her ex-fiancé. "It's always sad when things like this end, and we remain friends," Phifer said in 2008. "I wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavors. He's one of the most talented people I've ever met." Sources close to the couple at the time told the outlet that Ye and Phifer were spending less and less time together as the rapper's music career was flourishing more than ever.

Phifer further opened up about her highly publicized relationship in 2011 and explained that she preferred a life of "anonymity." The designer is a mom now and appreciates being able to step outside without camerapeople lurking. "I really think that's a cool thing as opposed to doing red carpets or something like that ... I'm not really trying to sell myself," she told Vibe.