Inside Sports Illustrated Swimsuit star Yumi Nu’s impressive family: heiress to Benihana fortune

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover star Yumi Nu made history as the first-ever plus-size Asian model to feature on the front of the magazine, launching herself to fashion fame. But while the curvy starlet might be a new-to-the-scene star as far as many are concerned, wealth and celebrity are actually a major part of her family heritage. 

The name ‘Yumi Nu’ might be new to the celebrity scene – but her family name, Aoki, is well-known not only in the music industry courtesy of the model’s famed DJ uncle Steve Aoki, but also in the food hall of fame thanks to her grandfather, Benihana founder Rocky Aoki.

Now, 25-year-old Yumi is helping her famous family conquer yet another arena – while also following in her DJ uncle’s musical footsteps as a singer and recording artist. 

But behind her family’s successes lurks a darker backstory involving a furious fight over the wealth of Benihana founder Aoki.  

The millionaire restaurateur is the father of Yumi’s mother, Kana Grace Nootenboom; he had six kids in total, including Kana, well-known music producer Steve, and actress Devon Aoki. 

Her family has been embroiled in a nasty feud over the restaurateur’s $50 million fortune for more than two decades now.

The fight dates all the way back to the ’90s, when Rocky announced that he was going to leave his new wife in charge of his money when he passed away.

After spending years not feeling comfortable in her own skin, Yumi Nu is proudly flaunting her curves on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit for its 2022 issue

As Yumi takes over the modeling industry, FEMAIL has decided to take a look back at her impressive journey – including how she learned to be confident and how she handled the pressure of growing up in a family of famous faces

It turns out, the model and singer is the granddaughter of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki and the niece of famed DJ Steve Aoki, whom she said she has ‘a very special connection to.’ She is pictured (left) with Steve and her sister, Natalie

Her family has been embroiled in a nasty feud over the restaurateur’s $50 million fortune for more than two decades now. Rocky (center) is pictured in Benihana in 1999

He spent 10 years fighting with four of his six children over the decision – even suing them at one point – and when he died in 2008, he ultimately left his fortune to the two kids who didn’t get involved in the drama – Steve and his sister Devon.

However, they can’t access the money until they turn 45 years old, so their step mother remains in control of it – leading to more problems in the family.

But Yumi hasn’t let that stop her from focusing her efforts on finding fashion fame. 

The model, who is also a singer and is gearing up for the release of her second EP, now boasts campaigns for several major brands and magazines, including Victoria’s Secret, H&M, and Vogue – however her rise to the upper echelons of the infamously-body-shaming fashion industry has been anything but easy. 

The model, who is of Japanese and Dutch descent, was plagued with body insecurities throughout her childhood – admitting to not going in the water during vacations with her family because she was ’embarrassed’ to put on a bathing suit.

She also struggled with her nationality, explaining that she was one of the only Asians in her school and that she was often called names like ‘Godzilla’ and ‘wing-wing’ by her peers. 

But Yumi didn’t let that stop her. She was determined to achieve her dreams and become a role model to other young girls like her – since she said she didn’t see people with her ‘race’ or ‘body type’ in the media when she was a kid.

As Yumi takes over the modeling industry, FEMAIL took a look back at her impressive journey – including how she learned to be confident and how she handled the pressure of growing up in a family of famous faces.

A look back at Yumi’s childhood: How living in the shadows of her famous relatives inspired her to enter the spotlight 

Yumi (pictured as a kid) was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on September 23, 1996. Her mom, Kana Grace Nootenboom, is the daughter of Hiroaki ‘Rocky’ Aoki, the founder of the highly acclaimed restaurant chain Benihana

The family moved from New Jersey to Maryland when Yumi was seven, and they moved again to Newport Beach, California, when she was 14. Yumi is pictured during her childhood

Yumi was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on September 23, 1996. Her mom, Kana, is the daughter of Hiroaki ‘Rocky’ Aoki, the founder of the highly acclaimed restaurant chain Benihana.

The first Benihana was opened in New York City in 1964, and is most known for being one of the first hibachi restaurants in America.

Yumi’s mother was a model herself, and often brought her to shoots with her when she was an infant. She earned her bachelor’s degree from New York University in 1989, and she now works as a marriage family therapist in Nevada

Yumi’s mother was a model herself, and often brought her to shoots with her when she was an infant. According to Psychology Today, Kana earned her bachelor’s degree from New York University in 1989, and she now works as a marriage family therapist in Nevada.

As for her dad, Bruce Nu, he lives a relatively private life, but it’s been reported that he is a former musician who now works in IT. 

The family moved from New Jersey to Maryland when Yumi was seven, and they moved again to Newport Beach, California, when she was 14.

Throughout her childhood, Yumi said she was one of the only Asian people at her school, and that she was often bullied by her peers for her nationality.

‘I was the only Asian kid in an all-white school. Names like “Godzilla” and “wing-wing” were always thrown at me,’ she revealed to L’Officiel. 

‘All the guys that I liked were white, and they went after white girls, so I thought I wasn’t beautiful because beauty, at that age, is measured by who likes you. 

‘Then, I went to high school in Newport Beach, and it was more of a melting pot, but I still felt like the beauty ideal didn’t reflect me.’ 

Yumi admitted that she ‘suppressed any connection’ she had to her ‘Japanese side’ while growing up, because she felt like it ‘separated her from belonging with everyone else.’

As for her dad, Bruce Nu (pictured with Yumi when she was a child), he lives a relatively private life, but it’s been reported that he is a former musician who now works in IT

Throughout her childhood, Yumi (pictured left as a child with her dad and younger sister) said she was one of the only Asian people at her school, and that she was often bullied by her peers for her nationality

Yumi admitted that she ‘suppressed any connection’ she had to her ‘Japanese side’ while growing up, because she felt like it ‘separated her from belonging with everyone else.’ She is pictured as a kid with her uncle Steve

‘Growing up half Japanese half white, I suppressed any connection to my Japanese side until three to four years ago, because for the longest time it was what separated me from belonging with everyone else,’ she wrote on Instagram in 2021.

‘I grew up in predominantly white areas and spent my earliest years in Maryland where I was one of two Asians in my school. 

‘My child brain labeled my Asian-ness as being what separated me from the pack and from then attached a negative connotation to it. 

‘After a skinhead looked at my sister and I and spit on our car, my parents had enough and finally moved us. It’s still hard for me to not associate certain areas without thinking racism.

‘I healed the areas of my life that made me believe my Asian-ness was an ugly thing – I’ve grown so raw and sensitive to it. It’s so beautiful to be Asian and I’m learning more and more about it.’

She also previously spoke out about struggling to bridge the gap between Asian and American culture.

‘I can only speak from being half Asian, but there’s a lot of shame in flaunting your body. Having any curve is like, crazy,’ she told Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. 

‘I’ve always had a big butt growing up, and growing up, you don’t feel comfortable in like, clothes that make you feel sexy … there’s this shame around feeling sexy.

‘And so with Asian-American culture, it can kind of be confusing, because we have this voice in our head saying to like, cover up and not be “too much,” and then American culture is like, the opposite spectrum. It’s like a tug of war in between cultures.’ 

While chatting with People recently, she opened up about not seeing anyone like herself on magazine covers as a kid, which made it hard for her to feel accepted.

‘I think my 13 year old self had already been tainted by societal beliefs of what you need to look like to be on a cover,’ she admitted.

‘If she would’ve saw it before she saw anything else, I think she would have lived a different life with a different head space. That’s why this is important now and has always been needed.’

She also told Vogue: ‘I didn’t see myself [in the media] when I was a kid. Not just my race, but my body type as well. There just wasn’t anyone on television or magazines who looked like me.

‘It felt like Asian representation was last on the list. Asian plus-size representation was unheard of back then [especially] in fashion. 

‘To represent a group of people who have never felt seen has been so healing for me and hopefully also for them.’

Her younger sister, Natalie Nootenboom, is also a model, and she credits Yumi with helping pave the way for her.

‘She definitely coached me on how to model, how to carry myself, and what to look out for. She always taught me to be confident. How you make an entrance, the impression you leave on people,’ Natalie told Billboard in 2017 of her sister. 

Her younger sister, Natalie Nootenboom (pictured together), is also a model, and she credits Yumi with helping pave the way for her. She gushed: ‘She coached me on how to model and how to carry myself. She always taught me to be confident’

 Yumi is the niece of musician Steve and famous actress Devon Aoki, who she said ‘has always been an influence’ on her. She is pictured with Steve

‘Growing up, I didn’t understand the weight of my family. [Steve] and Devon are massive Asian influences in the music and fashion industries, and I’m so grateful for how the two of them paved the way,’ Yumi (pictured with Steve and her sister) said

Ahead of releasing her debut EP in 2019, Yumi opened up about how much Steve impacted her music, adding that she ‘admires his opinions so much’ since she knows he ‘has her best interests at heart’

Yumi is the niece of famous actress Devon and musician Steve, who she said ‘has always been an influence’ on her.

Devon is most known for starring in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Sin City, DOA: Dead or Alive, and Mutant Chronicles. Steve, on the other hand, was named the highest grossing EDM artist in North America by Pollstar in 2012.

‘Growing up, I didn’t understand the weight of my family. [Steve] and Devon are both massive Asian influences in the music and fashion industries, and I’m so grateful for how the two of them paved the way,’ she told Into the Gloss.

After graduating high school, she originally started to pursue a business major in college, but decided to stop her education so she could instead focus on her music and modeling career. 

‘I was so miserable because I was a business major but I’m a creative person, and I really wanted to do music but I didn’t know how,’ she explained to L’Officiel. 

‘I was just so unhappy because everyone in my family lives this crazy life of doing a million things at once, and really being stapled down.

‘It started with my grandfather [Rocky]; everyone is just very go-go-go. So, for me to be in business school, and having this vision for myself, was very hard. 

‘The minute I left that path and stepped into music, it was very freeing because it was like stepping into a lane that I felt was designed by me and always waiting for me.’

Her uncle is one of Yumi’s biggest supporters, and he couldn’t stop gushing over her and her sister while chatting with Teen Vogue earlier this month.

‘These girls have a lot of ambition and a lot of drive, and I noticed that when they were very young,’ he said.

‘I’m just so proud of them. What these girls do is push themselves far beyond the limitations that are in front of them and conquer their previous selves.’

Her family has been embroiled in a nasty feud over the restaurateur’s fortune for years. It started when Rocky announced he was going to leave his new wife, Keiko Aoki (pictured together in 2006), in charge of his money after he passed away

He spent 10 years fighting with four of his six children over the decision – even suing them at one point – and when he passed away in 2008, he left his fortune to the two kids who didn’t get involved in the drama – Steve and Devon (pictured)

And getting her uncle’s seal of approval is so important to Yumi. Ahead of releasing her debut EP in 2019, she opened up about how much he impacted her music, adding that she ‘admires his opinions so much’ since she knows he ‘has her best interests at heart.’ 

‘I know that he’s my ultimate stamp of approval so I don’t bring something to him unless I know the song is so good,’ she told Into The Gloss.

‘These tracks specifically that I’m putting out over the next few months, I’ve had a very special connection to and feeling about, and when I showed them to him, he said they were my best songs and he was really excited for me. 

‘He knows the industry, and hearing it from him is the best feeling. He’s someone I’m very close to, and I admire his opinion so much. He has my best interest at heart.’

Yumi’s family became embroiled in a feud back in 1998 over Rocky’s massive fortune. It was reported by New York Magazine that four of his six kids – not including Devon and Steve – didn’t get along with his new wife, Keiko Aoki, and were unhappy when the restaurant mogul rewrote his will, ‘giving Keiko control over how to disburse 75 per cent of his estate to his children after his death.’

His decision furthered the disagreement, and led to Rocky suing his four children, accusing them of trying to take control of his company. 

Before his death, he changed the will again and left most of his $50 million fortune to his two other kids – Steve and Devon – but they aren’t allowed to access the money until they each turn 45 years old.

However, when he passed away in 2008, things got worse. Steve and Devon got into their own legal battle with Keiko, who has control of the funds until they turn 45, claiming that she is wasting the money on ‘reckless’ things.

They filed an order with a Manhattan judge in 2020, asking him to remove Keiko as the head of the trust fund after she allegedly threw away ‘many millions’ of dollars on ‘cheesy gimmicks for a Benihana restaurant in Hawaii’ and spent nearly $7 million on ‘legal battles which cost the family control of the Hawaii eatery,’ New York Post reported.

‘Ultimately, Keiko’s tenure as trustee has been marked by undivided loyalty and fealty to one thing: herself,’ the siblings said in court papers. 

Inside Yumi’s impressive career: How she went from an insecure schoolgirl to confident swimsuit model 

Yumi (pictured in SI Swim in 2022) was plagued with body insecurities throughout her childhood – admitting to not going in the water during vacations with her family because she was ’embarrassed’ to put on a bathing suit 

She made history when she became the first-ever Asian plus-size model to be featured in SI Swim as a rookie last year. She is pictured during the shoot 

She also did shoots for Vogue, Vogue Japan, Victoria’s Secret, H&M, and Teen Vogue, and walked alongside Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid at Jacquemus’ La Montagne show

When she was seven, Yumi fell in love with the idea of making music, and by the time she was 12, the star began writing songs in her bedroom. 

‘When I was seven, I decided I wanted to be a singer,’ she told Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. ‘That didn’t surprise anyone, since I come from a show-business family: My mom, aunt and grandma were models themselves, and my uncle is DJ Steve Aoki.’

Her mother signed her up for singing lessons, and she then made her put on a performance for her uncle alongside her sister, in which they sang Beyoncé songs for the acclaimed music producer.

Most recently, she graced the front of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit for their 2022 issue. She was photographed by James Macari for the shoot, which took place in Montenegro. She is pictured behind-the-scenes of the photoshoot

Yumi recalled: ‘I’m not sure what she expected – for him to immediately hire us as his opening act, or something?’ 

Eventually, he did sign her to his record label, Dim Mak Records, but it wasn’t until years later. In 2017, she dropped her first single, which she described as ‘very pop and EDM.’ She released first first EP in 2019, but then decided to take a break from making music. 

‘At the time was my thing, but afterward, I took a step back,’ she explained to Vogue. ‘I took what was supposed to be a year-long break, which turned into two years, and then the pandemic happened. Once I started to evolve and change, I realized that pop wasn’t my sound anymore.’

While pursuing a music career the star also began to model. She first started appearing in commercials in 2010, but as a plus-size model, it was hard for her to break into the industry.

‘When I started, I just felt lucky that anyone was open to working with me because the market was so small, even for commercial work,’ she said to Vogue.

‘Over time, there have been some changes, and having a platform allows us to push for more. Even now, when you look at where plus size bodies are welcomed and celebrated, it’s typically on the commercial side of the industry. 

‘It’s only in the last few years that designers have made a habit of including plus-size women in their shows and offering larger sizes within their collections.’

She also told Into The Gloss, ‘The plus industry wasn’t fully formed at the time. And also, I was a size 10, and the plus sample size is closer to size 14, which is what I am now. 

‘The shoot was absolutely ethereal. We were in the mountains of Montenegro, and I was walking around barefoot with long hair extensions that fell to my lower back,’ she said of the shoot. ‘I felt like a sexy forest creature’

Controversial Canadian psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson, 59, came under fire after he posted a snap of Yumi’s cover to Twitter and said she was ‘not beautiful’

Yumi issued her own response to the former University of Toronto professor, posting a TikTok video that showed her laughing at his tweet, while mouthing along to a Nicki Minaj song urging him to ‘give it up’ 

‘I probably booked one job each year I was in high school. It was hard because everyone was telling me to gain weight, but that’s not what you really want to do when you’re in high school. 

‘I had this never-ending battle of not being good enough, not feeling beautiful in any area of my life. And that’s really hard when you’re pubescent and hormonal and just want to be loved. So I took a break from it all and quit modeling.’

She admitted that it wasn’t until 2016 that she truly learned to be comfortable in her own skin and accept her body.

‘[In 2016] I was like, “I’m so tired of not liking myself or waiting to be thinner, waiting to look a certain way to be happy with myself,” so I just started embracing all sides of myself,’ she told Teen Vogue previously. 

The epiphany came after she went to Hawaii with her family and felt embarrassed to put on a bathing suit.

‘I was there for three weeks, just looking at the gorgeous water, and I had this moment where I decided I didn’t want to look back and hate myself because I didn’t go in the ocean,’ she recalled to L’Officiel.

‘I was so embarrassed. I never lived life fully. I never wore what I wanted to wear. I never actually felt free because I thought, “I’ll just wear bathing suits when I’m a certain size.” Or, “I’ll go in the water without insecurities when I’m a certain weight.” There were all these thresholds that I could never reach.’

Since then, Yumi has come so far. She made history when she became the first-ever Asian plus-size model to be featured in SI Swim as a rookie last year.

‘It’s hard to even process or say out loud because I still can’t believe it,’ she gushed to People of the accomplishment. ‘It truly shattered the ceiling of what I knew to be possible for myself. I’m eternally grateful.’

She then went on to appear on the cover of Vogue and Vogue Japan, which the 25-year-old said was a ‘longtime dream’ of hers. 

‘I’m second-generation Japanese American, and Japanese culture values being skinny, dainty and small. So for me to be on the cover of Vogue Japan meant being seen and being honored by a culture that often makes people with bigger bodies like mine feel invisible,’ Yumi told SI Swim.

As for the first person she told about the news when the outlet asked her to be on the cover, she explained it was her boyfriend, Dimitri Dinas

She said he told her his ‘teenage self was freaking out at the fact that he’s now dating a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model’

See also  King invites Harry and Meghan to the Coronation despite row over Frogmore eviction

Yumi and Dimitri, who works for the music label Muk Posh, started dating in July 2020, but keep their romance mostly out of the spotlight. Although they post some photos together on social media, they hardly ever speak out about their relationship

‘Of course, it’s not just Japan where there’s a premium on being thin. Even here in the U.S., where a lot of the fashion industry has become more inclusive toward people with bodies like mine in the last few years, some people – for example, designers at certain high-fashion houses and dumb, angry guys on the internet, among others – just haven’t quite figured out yet that people who look like me belong everywhere everyone else does. But to them I say, “We’ll wait. We’re here, and we’re not going away.”‘ 

She also did shoots for Victoria’s Secret, H&M, and Teen Vogue, and walked alongside Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid at Jacquemus’ La Montagne show. Most recently, she graced the front of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit for their 2022 issue.

‘Collaboration with SI Swim is a no brainer for me – they aren’t afraid to push the boundaries of what used to be normal for the media,’ she told People.

‘I think we both have the same intention. We want people to feel good in their skin. We want to be on the frontline of change in the industry.’

Yumi was one of four people to appear on the cover, including Kim Kardashian, Ciara, and Elon Musk’s 74-year-old mother, Maye. She was photographed by James Macari for the shoot, which took place in Montenegro.

Yumi left little to imagination in the cover shoot, showing off her body in a revealing, cut-out Michael Costello x REVOLVE bathing suit – which she said made her feel ‘so sexy.’

Yumi is also a musician. She was signed to her uncle’s record label, Dim Mak Records, in 2017. She released first first EP in 2019

Yumi is also planning on releasing her own plus-sized clothing line, called Blueki. Her second EP, entitled Hajime, is set to come out this month, and fans can expect a much more rock-sounding album than her last songs

‘I want people to feel relief when they listen to my music, songs that can take away some of life’s heaviness,’ she told Vogue. ‘In comparison to my last project, my new music is definitely more mature’

She said she wrote about things that are ‘vulnerable and important to her personally’ like ‘insecurities, anxiety, her relationship with her body, race, and setbacks she has had to overcome’

‘I felt so good! I’m always a huge fan of a black cut out swim piece. This Michael Costello x Revolve style was so form-fitting and made me feel so sexy,’ she told People.

‘The shoot was absolutely ethereal. We were in the mountains of Montenegro, and I was walking around barefoot with long hair extensions that fell to my lower back.

‘I felt like a sexy forest creature. I always have a playlist I like to prepare for these shoots so I’m sure there was some Meg The Stallion playing.

‘I’ve been wanting to shoot with James Macari for the longest time so it was such a dream come true. He has such a calming energy that makes it so easy to be on set.

‘The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit team has become like family to me so to have them surrounding me with kind words and energy all day really helped me bring the next level confidence I needed.’

Controversial Canadian psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson, 59, came under fire after he posted a snap of Yumi’s cover to Twitter and said she was ‘not beautiful.’

‘Sorry. Not Beautiful. And no amount of authoritarian tolerance is going to change that,’ he wrote on social media.

His tweet was met with a slew of criticism and anger – prompting Peterson, who is famous for his stances against political correctness and ‘woke’ ideologies, to announce that he was quitting Twitter so as to avoid any further ‘vicious insults.’ 

In the past year, Yumi’s confidence has continued to grow. She said, ‘I’ve become a lot more comfortable in my skin. I’ve really started to trust myself more and second guess myself less. It feels really good’

She currently resides in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, California. And aside from showing off her stunning figure in magazines, Yumi still spends much of her time working on her music

Yumi issued her own response to the former University of Toronto professor, posting a TikTok video that showed her laughing at his tweet, while mouthing along to a Nicki Minaj song urging him to ‘give it up.’ 

‘Like, give it up. It’s me, I win, you lose!’ she lip-synced. 

As for the first person she told about the news when the outlet asked her to be on the cover, she explained it was her boyfriend, Dimitri Dinas, who told her his ‘teenage self was freaking out at the fact that he’s now dating a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model.’

‘When I’m not posing on a beach in Montenegro, you can find me writing songs on my laptop in my state-of-the-art home studio (AKA the spare room of my place in New York City, which I’ve recently outfitted with some speakers),’ she joked to SI Swim

Yumi and Dimitri, who works for the music label Muk Posh, started dating in July 2020, but keep their romance mostly out of the spotlight. Although they post some photos together on social media, they hardly ever speak out about their relationship.

Yumi is also planning on releasing her own plus-sized clothing line, called Blueki.  Her second EP, entitled Hajime, is set to come out this month, and fans can expect a much more rock-sounding album than her last songs.

‘I love the simplicity of an electric guitar and bass holding everything together,’ she told Vogue. ‘I want people to feel relief when they listen to my music, songs that can take away some of life’s heaviness.

‘In comparison to my last project, my new music is definitely more mature. In my writing, I’m talking about things that are vulnerable and important to me personally: insecurities, anxiety, my relationship with my body, race, and setbacks I’ve had to overcome. 

‘Before, I was singing about guys who’d hurt me. As I’ve grown and become a woman, I’ve had to go deeper, which makes sense. The older you get, the more your priorities change.’ 

In the past year, Yumi’s confidence has continued to grow. She said, ‘I’ve become a lot more comfortable in my skin. I’ve really started to trust myself more and second guess myself less. It feels really good, and it actually makes me look forward to getting older.’ 

She currently resides in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, California. And aside from showing off her stunning figure in magazines, Yumi still spends much of her time working on her music, and has dreams of opening a plus-size store in Tokyo one day.

‘I’m 25 now, but in a way you could still say I want to be a singer when I grow up. When I’m not posing on a beach in Montenegro, taking breaks to scurry out of frame into the inviting embrace of a big, warm parka, you can find me writing songs on my laptop in my state-of-the-art home studio (AKA the spare room of my place in New York City, which I’ve recently outfitted with some speakers),’ she joked to SI Swim.