Kelly Mi Li Shares Motherhood Update, Admits Feeling 'Guilt' Being Away from Daughter (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelly Mi Li attends Unforgettable: The 22nd Annual Asian American Awards on Dec. 14, 2024.Photo:Amy Sussman/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty

Kelly Mi Liis sharing some very relatable feelings about being a newer mom.

TheBling Empirealum caught up with PEOPLE at Unforgettable: The 22nd Annual Asian American Awards at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, Dec. 14, where she shared an update on her adorable daughter Mili, 20 months.

Kellywelcomed Mili in April 2023with her partner William Ma after the Netflix reality show chronicling affluent Asians in Southern California wrapped.

Kelly Mi Li attends Unforgettable: The 22nd Annual Asian American Awards on Dec. 14, 2024.Amy Sussman/Getty

When asked on the red carpet what surprised her most about being a mom, Kelly responded, “How much guilt I have for being here right now!”

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“I’m kidding, but seriously, the mom guilt is so real,” she continued. “[Mili] probably doesn’t even care that I’m gone, to be honest. She’s probably having the best time with the grandmas, but I just feel guilty.”

Kelly’s fractured relationship with her mom Emily was featured onBling Empire. The two have since grown closer with Mili’s birth and the launch of their chili sauceHot Jiang.

Kelly shared one piece of parenting advice from Emily that really meant a lot.

“My mom’s a traditional tiger mom and nothing was ever good enough,” Kelly admitted. “For people that watched this inseason 3 ofBling Empire, my mom really made up. I think one of the best [pieces of] advice that’s really meaningful to me was when she was like, ‘Don’t be as hard on her as she was on me.’ So that was really heartwarming.”

Kelly Mi Li and her daughter Mili.Kelly Mi Li/Instagram

Kelly Mi Li/Instagram

Kelly also shared some Mili milestones, including her growing vocabulary.

“Well, she’s learning new words now, but her favorite word is still no. So everything is ‘no, no, no, no.’ Do you want this? ‘No.’ Do you like this? ‘No.’ Like, such an attitude. I love it!” she said jokingly.

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As for plans to give Mili a brother or sister, Kelly says she’s “not sure.”

“Because I’m a single child, I always feel like I want to give her siblings,” she admitted. “I want her to experience what I didn’t experience. So maybe in the future.”

The night’s honorees includedShōgunstars Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada, writer/executive producer Rachel Kondo, fashion designer Prabal Gurung, influencer Vivian Tu andmany more.

source: people.com