If you recognize the name “Smith” and think of iconic rapper LL Cool J, you’re on the right track. But this story isn’t about the rapper himself. It’s about his daughter, Italia Anita Maria Smith, who’s been building a very different kind of career—and life—largely away from the cameras.
Family Ties and Upbringing
Italia Smith was born on January 3, 1991. She grew up as the eldest daughter of LL Cool J (whose real name is James Todd Smith) and his wife, Simone. Growing up, she wasn’t the kid you saw at movie premieres or red carpets every week.
Her parents seemed to steer her and her siblings toward a pretty grounded upbringing. LL Cool J has talked about this in interviews—saying the goal was to give his kids “structure” and not “spoil them.” It’s a point of pride for him.
High School and Finding Her Own Path
Italia attended Manhasset Senior High School in Long Island. By most accounts, she enjoyed a typical suburban school experience. There weren’t headlines about her, and she kept things under the radar.
After finishing high school, Italia chose Northeastern University in Boston for college. She threw herself into business studies, picking up a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her focus? Entrepreneurship and marketing, not music or acting.
Getting Into Business: Working Behind the Scenes
During her time in college, Italia started to get her feet wet in the entertainment industry—but not on stage. She went behind the scenes, landing gigs in marketing and social media at CBS. That’s a big media company, but her job was to help manage campaigns, not attract attention.
She’s described those early years as busy but rewarding. It gave her a sense of what goes on in big organizations—and taught her the tactical side of marketing, from planning to execution. It also showed her the importance of professionalism, regardless of a famous last name.
Switching Gears: Breaking Into Real Estate
After college, Italia wanted something fresh. She pivoted to real estate, and it stuck. She joined up with Keller Williams Realty and later, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, both major players known for their upscale clientele.
Working at these firms, she didn’t quietly slip onto anonymous deals. Instead, Italia often worked with high-profile clients—sometimes other celebrities, sometimes athletes. These aren’t easy clients to please, but having grown up around famous faces, she knew how to handle the extra attention and confidentiality.
To sharpen her expertise, she went back for specialized training. She got her Commercial Real Estate certificate from Cornell University. It’s a respected credential in the business and helped her move into larger, sometimes more complicated transactions.
Marriage, Kids, and Family Life
Italia’s work is only part of the story. Her personal life got a new chapter in college, too. At Northeastern, she met her future husband, Lamar Cardinez. The two connected early in their freshman year, and things just clicked.
They got married and now have a growing family together. Their first son, King Cardinez, was born in March 2018, followed by a daughter, Faith, in September 2020. The family recently expanded again. In July 2023, Italia announced she was expecting a third child. Later in December 2024, she posted about her baby shower, mentioning how her mom and friends celebrated with her.
The way she shares these moments is pretty real. Her posts usually talk about chaos, love, and the everyday ups and downs of raising kids. She describes motherhood as “incredible, challenging, messy, and amazing—sometimes all in the same hour.”
Staying Close—Even as Life Gets Busier
Even as Italia’s family grows, those family ties to her parents and siblings seem tight. LL Cool J has said that he considers Lamar, his son-in-law, to be his “gained son,” not just a guy who married into the family. The Smiths are known for showing up for each other, whether it’s celebrating a new grandchild or supporting a work milestone.
It helps that the Smith family isn’t obsessed with fame. Italia’s siblings have walked their own paths too, with varying degrees of public exposure. But holidays, birthdays, and big milestones usually bring the group together, even if the photos only pop up on private social feeds.
LL Cool J’s Parenting Motto: No Spoiling, Focus on Excellence
There’s been a lot of curiosity about how LL Cool J and Simone approach parenting—since raising kids in a household touched by entertainment and money is tough. He’s direct about it: he believes in working for what you want, not just expecting it.
He talks openly about not letting the kids coast, especially when they’ve had unique opportunities. The focus is on encouraging each child to be excellent—meaning, do your best at whatever you care about, without being obsessed with comparisons.
Italia, by most accounts, has followed that philosophy. She didn’t ride celebrity connections into a TV job or socialite scene. Instead, she set out on her own, learned tough businesses like real estate, and put in the work to stand on her own, even if it meant operating quietly.
Sharing Life as a Mom—But on Her Own Terms
Italia posts family updates online, but she’s careful about her privacy. She’s not delivering daily vlogs or living as an influencer. Instead, you’ll find candid photos of messy kitchens, birthday parties, or baby showers with a note of gratitude.
She’s open about the parts of parenting that aren’t glamorous. There are long nights, tired mornings, and mistakes you only laugh about later. She sees motherhood as a group effort—leaning on her husband, parents, and sisters, instead of pretending to do it all solo.
These snapshots aren’t just for the highlight reel. She often points out how “it takes a village,” and friends, grandparents, or siblings play their part in making life work when everyone’s schedule gets wild.
The Business of Real Estate and Life Away from the Spotlight
A lot of people assume the children of celebrities land TV deals or start fashion brands. Italia picked real estate, which can be intense and demanding. She deals with celebrity clients, but she also works with regular families looking for their next home or investment.
Her training from Cornell and on-the-ground experience in big-name brokerages gave her the skills to manage high-pressure deals. She brings a quiet confidence to her work, but there’s no public bragging or hunger for constant exposure.
If you’re interested in business updates or stories about professionals thriving quietly in the background, you might also check out Big Business Bite. The site covers those kinds of stories from every angle.
Balancing Work, Family, and Self
Italia’s routine is more familiar than you’d think. Her mornings might start with school drop-offs or daycare, followed by client meetings or house showings. Afternoons can be a mix of business calls, emails, and organizing family logistics. Sometimes, deals happen at odd hours. That’s just part of real estate.
She often talks about the support she gets from her husband and extended family, especially when work and parenting overlap or conflict. The idea is that everyone pitches in—so nobody has to be perfect all the time.
What’s Next for Italia?
Looking at Italia Smith’s story as of late 2024, she’s in that classic stretch of adulthood: juggling a career she cares about with a growing family at home. She keeps her private life out of the tabloids, shares the real, sometimes messy moments on her own terms, and keeps moving forward.
There’s no book coming out or reality show to tune into—not at the moment, anyway. Instead, her story is about building a life that’s successful and satisfying without fanfare. She’s making things work in her own way, and that seems to suit her just fine.
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