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

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

The Bling Empire alum 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.

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

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."

Related: 'Bling Empire' ’s Kelly Mi Li Opens Up About Spending 30 Days in Confinement with New Baby (Exclusive)

Kelly's fractured relationship with her mom Emily was featured on Bling Empire. The two have since grown closer with Mili's birth and the launch of their chili sauce Hot 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 in season 3 of Bling 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 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."

Related: Christine Chiu Says She Was Almost Cast as the First Asian on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Back in 2014 (Exclusive)

Unforgettable: The 22nd Annual Asian American Awards recognized the API community’s biggest and brightest talents in entertainment, arts and culture. The gala featured performances by Wonho, The Jets and 98 Degrees.

The night's honorees included Shōgun stars Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada, writer/executive producer Rachel Kondo, fashion designer Prabal Gurung, influencer Vivian Tu and many more.

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