The Definitive List: 7 Women Who Shaped Kanye West's Controversial Romantic And Creative Journey (Updated 2024)

Kanye West's romantic life has always been a lightning rod for public fascination, mirroring the intense scrutiny and dramatic shifts in his music and fashion career. As of late December 2024, the artist, now known as Ye, is currently married to Yeezy architect Bianca Censori, though their relationship has been subject to intense media speculation and recent breakup rumors, keeping his dating history a constant topic of conversation.

From early-career muses who inspired his soulful production to the high-profile, whirlwind romances that defined a new era of celebrity spectacle, his ex-girlfriends list is not just a timeline of partners—it's a chronological map of his creative evolution. Here is an in-depth look at the most significant women who have been part of Kanye West’s dating history.

The Complete Biography and Relationship Timeline of Ye's Most Notable Ex-Girlfriends

The women Ye has dated are powerful figures in their own right, spanning the worlds of fashion, modeling, and entertainment. Understanding their individual profiles provides crucial context to the relationships that often dominated pop culture headlines.

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• Sumeke Rainey: A long-term girlfriend from Ye's pre-fame days, their relationship ended around 2002. She is often cited as his first serious partner before his global rise.
• Brooke Crittendon: An MTV production assistant who dated Ye from 2004 to 2006. Their relationship overlapped with his rise to mainstream stardom following the release of The College Dropout.

Alexis Phifer (2002 – 2008)

• Biography: Alexis Phifer is an American celebrity stylist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Born on October 1, 1976, she was a key figure in the fashion world before her relationship with Ye.
• Relationship Timeline: Phifer and Ye were in an on-and-off relationship from 2002 and became engaged in August 2006. The engagement was called off in 2008, a period that coincided with the tragic death of Ye's mother, Donda West. Their six-year relationship is often remembered as a period of a "calmer and cooler Kanye."
• Significance: She represents his longest relationship before his marriage to Kim Kardashian and was a muse during his early-to-mid career, including the era of his album Graduation.

Amber Rose (2008 – 2010)

• Biography: Amber Rose (born Amber Levonchuck) is an American model, television personality, and actress. She gained international attention after starring in the music video for Young Jeezy's 2008 single "Put On," which featured Kanye West.
• Relationship Timeline: Ye and Rose began dating in 2008, following his split from Alexis Phifer, and their high-profile romance lasted for two years, ending in 2010. Their breakup was famously acrimonious and led to years of public feuds.
• Significance: Rose became one of Ye's most notable muses, defining his aesthetic for the late 2000s with her distinctive look and bold fashion choices. She was a major influence on his transition into the fashion world, even posing for his Louis Vuitton sneaker line.

Kim Kardashian (2012 – 2021)

• Biography: Kim Kardashian is a media personality, socialite, model, and businesswoman. She rose to fame on the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. She is a major figure in the beauty and fashion industries.
• Relationship Timeline: After a long friendship, the two began dating in 2012, were married in 2014, and had four children together (North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm). Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021, marking the end of the "Kimye" era.
• Significance: Their marriage was a cultural phenomenon, merging the worlds of hip-hop, high fashion, and reality television, and producing a multi-billion dollar empire. The divorce and subsequent co-parenting challenges have been a major focus of media attention in the years since.

The Whirlwind Romances: The Post-Kim Kardashian Era

Following his separation from Kim Kardashian, Ye embarked on a series of short, intense, and highly publicized relationships. These fleeting romances often seemed to function as "living mood boards," with each woman becoming a temporary muse for his ever-shifting aesthetic.

Irina Shayk (Spring/Summer 2021)

• Biography: Irina Shayk is a Russian fashion model who achieved international recognition as the first Russian model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She is a major figure in high fashion.
• Relationship Timeline: Rumors of their relationship began in mid-2021 after they were photographed together celebrating Ye's birthday in France. The two had known each other for years, having met at various fashion events, but the romance was brief, lasting only a few months.
• Significance: Their connection was rooted in the high-fashion world, with Shayk having previously worked with Ye on his music video for "Power" in 2010. The relationship was seen as a pivot back toward his roots in high-end design.

Julia Fox (January – February 2022)

• Biography: Julia Fox is an Italian-American actress and model, best known for her breakout role in the film Uncut Gems. She is also recognized for her distinctive, avant-garde street style, often featuring head-to-toe black latex and dramatic eyeliner.
• Relationship Timeline: The relationship, quickly dubbed "JuliYe," began after they met on New Year's Eve 2021. It was a spectacular, high-speed romance characterized by public dates, coordinated outfits, and Ye famously overhauling Fox's entire wardrobe. The whirlwind ended abruptly in February 2022.
• Significance: Fox became the ultimate representation of Ye's controversial performance art aesthetic. Their short-lived but intense romance was a media spectacle that followed immediately after the Kim Kardashian divorce proceedings.

The Current Chapter: Bianca Censori and Ongoing Speculation

The final, and current, entry on Ye's timeline is architect and Yeezy designer Bianca Censori. The two reportedly tied the knot in a private ceremony in December 2022.

Censori’s profile has grown rapidly, becoming known for her increasingly revealing and often controversial fashion choices, which have been a major source of global media coverage throughout 2023 and 2024.

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However, the narrative took a new turn in late 2024. Reports surfaced in October 2024, suggesting that the couple had hit a rough patch in their almost two-year marriage, with rumors of a possible divorce or separation beginning to circulate. Despite these reports, as of the end of the year, their marital status remains the subject of intense speculation, with no official confirmation of a split, though they have kept a relatively low public profile in recent months.

The Impact of Muses on Kanye West's Creative Output

The common thread connecting all these women is their role as muses in Ye's creative life. His relationships often coincide with major artistic shifts, treating his partners as "a living mood board" that reflects his inner turmoil and aesthetic focus at the time.

From the soulful, grounded inspiration of his early partners to the avant-garde, high-fashion energy of Amber Rose and Julia Fox, each woman has been linked to a specific era of his music, fashion, and public persona. The influence is evident in his lyrics, his Yeezy collections, and his overall public image, demonstrating that his personal life is inextricably linked to his artistic output.

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The women on this list—Sumeke Rainey, Brooke Crittendon, Alexis Phifer, Amber Rose, Kim Kardashian, Irina Shayk, and Julia Fox—represent more than just a dating history; they are key entities in the complex, ever-evolving narrative of one of the 21st century's most influential and controversial artists.