I’m not actually looking forward to the End-of-Decade listicles coming up in the next four weeks. I don’t want to really examine where we are at the end of this decade because it feels like everything is on fire and everything is just THE WORST. New York Magazine’s current cover story is a series of interviews with various people about how they’re assessing the 2010s. Kim Kardashian was one of the people selected. Would we say that the 2010s were important for the Kardashians, and for Kim in particular? Sure, I guess. She went from catfaced reality star to… Kanye West’s wife, mother of four and still a reality star. In the interview, Kim chatted about politics, sex symbols and more. You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
How she feels about being a sex symbol: “It can be complicated. I definitely see the things that I brought on myself, the biggest being the robbery. Just being flashy and oversharing my every move on social media. But I enjoy my life. Someone said to me the other day, ‘What is it like being you?’ It’s awesome.”
On why she’s been dressing a little less sexy lately: “I have kind of had this awakening myself. I realized I could not even scroll through Instagram in front of my kids without full nudity coming up on my feed pretty much all the time. And I definitely contributed to that. I mean, one of my most iconic covers was the Paper magazine one, when I was all oiled up and ripping my dress off. I also did think, like, Okay, I’m here in the White House and then the next day I was posting, like, a crazy bikini selfie. And I was thinking, I hope they don’t see this. I have to go back there next week.”
On why she doesn’t feel pressure to keep up anymore: “I think I’m evolving to where I don’t feel the need to want to keep up. Not that I did it to feel like I had to keep up, but I guess I just don’t care as much anymore to want to take tons of photos in a thong bikini. I actually just want to lay out. I don’t care to take the time out of my day on vacation like I used to, where I’d pull up to the house and I’d see, This is a setup, this is an Instagram pic. Now this is a different setup. Oh, this place has so many different setups. This is going to be amazing. And now I’m just like, ‘Let’s actually live in real time and enjoy it. If we happen to get a photo, great.’”
On how her relationship with Kanye has evolved: “The one consistent thing is our relationship has never stopped being fun. And it’s okay to not understand each other. It’s okay to not have the same exact feelings all the time. It’s just about figuring out how do we grow from that? or what’s the lesson from that? and giving each other space and time to figure that out.”
Being a mother of four African-American kids: “It definitely has a lot to do with [my political activism]. I want my children to have a fair life. And I do believe that race does play a huge role in the criminal-justice system, if you look at all the numbers. Statistically, one in three black men will be locked up in their lifetime. So that does weigh heavy on my heart. I had many conversations with my dad growing up about being an attorney and what’s fair and what’s not, and maybe I was really sheltered, but I didn’t know all of this was going on. I never had a close connection to someone who had been in prison — to understand how they treat you there and what really goes on. I don’t know if that’s being naïve, if that’s how I grew up. I don’t know.
Going to the White House: “When I have visited the White House, if I feel like something isn’t fair, I’ll say something, maybe privately. And if I can plant a seed, great. Everyone was so worried about me, about my reputation, going to the White House, and it was like, A life or my reputation? I don’t care who it is. I’m just glad someone is listening and making a change. I hope to have an amazing relationship with the next president. I hope to still have a voice for people on the inside, who do not care at all who signs their commutation paper.”
On why getting robbed inspired her decision to go to law school: “I truly think once I got robbed it took something out of me in the best way. All the things that really mattered to me then deeply — how many bags I had, what car I drove … I still like all that stuff, but it doesn’t matter. It could go away. For so long, people have tried to partner me with things. But this was the first thing where I thought, You know what? I want to go to law school. I want to help people. Let me work for the next ten years and build up my brands, and then one day, in ten years, just give up being Kim K. and become a lawyer. And now I’ve come to a realization about what I care about. No publicist would have ever told me to get into prison reform. It was always like, Get into Operation This and Children That.”
“I’m here in the White House and then the next day I was posting, like, a crazy bikini selfie. And I was thinking, I hope they don’t see this…” Is she really that naive? The reason WHY she’s allowed in the Trump White House is because she posts those bikini selfies. If Trump didn’t see her as a famous piece of ass, she wouldn’t get through the door. As for phasing out all of the Insta-lyfe crap… I mean, it’s called “growing up” too. Yes, I’ve always believed the robbery changed her in a big way. But I also think she’s 39 years old now. A little long in the tooth to still be clinging to bikini selfies for relevance. Also: she no longer feels the need to “keep up”? Change the name of the show to Maintaining with the Kardashians.
Cover courtesy of Ruven Afanador / New York Magazine.
I actually like all to most of the interviews coming from Kim K lately. I dont think shes naive as to why shes allowed there (the white house) clearly it’s her status and what she represents, but I think that it’s a “the ends justify the means” – I think shes a lot more relaxed than she used to be and is more about establishing her future and not just grasping at every idea. It’s like shes getting to a new maturity, because we never stop maturing.
I’m going to get roasted for this but I have a lot of respect for her, I think she has made good moves on prison reform and is finding her feet in causes she cares about and not ones her publicist or society is telling her that she needs to care about. When she says she doesnt feel like she needs to Keep Up, I think that’s what she means.
Here here! From someone who never thought they’d agree with such sentiments.
I have always thought she is much more intelligent than people think.
She has been around for a decade, and clearly she understands internet, how many celebrities and not have tried to do what she does and failed?
I will never get behind Kim due to her continuous culturl appropriation of black women and black culture. The Jordyn Woods scandal and the continuous fetishization of black men are only some of the examples that come to mind. The trademarking of African American designs, etc.
YES. 🙌🙌🙌
This x 10000000 The whole family is this way
Totally agree. I think Kim is pretty smart and has done a lot for important causes she cares about. I find nothing unlikable about that. I admire how she has evolved her image and uses her fame for good.
i agree with you. i think it’s way too easy to hate on Kim but she’s really NOT famous for doing nothing. she’s in charge of several businesses, is part of one of the longest running reality TV shows, raising 4 kids and trying her hardest to be supportive of a husband with known mental illness issues. she’s a marketing and social media whiz AND she’s throwing herself into the ring of causes that are truly important and legitimately helping people (which isn’t an easy ring to throw yourself into when you’re constantly the butt of everyone’s jokes and thought of as being dumb and famous for nothing). she’s not perfect and she has DEFINITELY made mistakes but i feel like she hasn’t done anything to warrant the hate that people throw at her all the time. she comes from a privileged background and that privilege shows. but she has admitted when she messes up and i respect that. honestly, she does more than most people who are sitting behind their computers throwing insults at her for selfies she posts.
Why would you get roasted? You’re right. Kim is living her best life and choosing to do something positive. She didn’t have to. She could’ve went the way of Hilton and remained totally useless. I mean, she still needs to check her husband…
I just don’t think she’s done a single thing to advance women. Perhaps she’s contributed to holding us back. I know she doesn’t owe that to us but…Ugh. She just doesn’t get it.
Clearly neither does NY mag who are mocking her with this cover. The list of names of important people who’ve actually done things superimposed on Kim’s surgically enhanced curves? I take it back, they’re mocking us.
they are mocking us, and correctly so. we deserve all of this
That cover is ridiculous. Her fake curves look even more fake & so-obviously-photoshopped. It’s like her (fake) face was superimposed onto a silhouette that’s, you guessed it, fake.
im not sure how picking apart her body is “advancing” women either.
Jodi,
We’re analyzing the artistic choices made on this cover.
you’re picking apart her “surgically enhanced body” and framing it as discussing the artistic choices of the magazine so you don’t have to acknowledge that you’re shaming another woman for how she looks and the choices she’s made about her body, while complaining that she doesn’t do enough for women.
the hypocrisy!
Arizona:
That’s certainly one way to look at it, but NY Mag is making a pretty clear statement here.
The OP put forth the idea that Kim isn’t really an advocate for women, and I commented that the magazine cover here is basically saying the same thing.
What would be more appropriate wording for assessing this particular layout and its intended meaning?
She lies like she breathes. She’s not “in law school” but she thinks if she says it enough people will believe it. She wants all of the glory and none of the work. The entire K Klan is built on fakery.
She is disgustingly dishonest. She should be a republican.
Her comment reeks with ignorance of privilege. The assumption that the next President would make time for a wanna-be lawyer, no matter who is in office? She seems so unaware that there are so many more important traits than being famous and rich that should be considered when making policy decisions.
If she TRULY cared about her causes, she wouldn’t be asking to go to the White House. She’s be advocating for experts in criminal justice to be heard and given attention for their understanding of complex problems. She brings nothing to the table, and seem oblivious to this. She as much a narcissist as Trump.
This is the thing that jumped out at me the most. She is NOT in law school! I was disappointed that the author of the New York article and the author of this post did not jump on that.
I hope our next President institutes sweeping reforms EVERYWHERE, including prisons, so people don’t have to rely on reality stars and celebrity access to get a fair sentence.
I think she’s well-spoken and intelligent and kind of becoming the person that everyone has been screaming at her to be (politically active, less provocative) and she still gets slammed for it, called naive and belittled for her past actions. People don’t want her to change, they want a target for their own vitriol.
Also, she got into the White House with the Obama’s, too.
Her whole life is built on lies.
Watch her show and you will think differently. She sounds great in interviews because she’s running a script that was well written
Thank you.
Hopefully she WONT have any sort of relationship with the next president because itll be someone who values the expert opinions (and facts) from people who have been working in the space for their whole lives as public servants, researchers, activists, etc. Not a reality star. Please donate your money to important causes and highlight them to your followers without making you the center of it.
+100000000
Amen!
YESSSSS Agreed as well !!!!!
Totally agree. It bothers me how she is given all the credit for the release of prisoners and 100% takes it while there are others who have been fighting for it for years.
She has really grown on me. I love that she will try to work with any president to achieve things. Sure, she could hate on Trump, but what will she accomplish by doing that?
I also like that she acknowledges that she doesn’t have to agree with everything Kenya says and just loves him. I know it is hard when your loved one’s politics don’t match your own, but you can still love each other. Especially when you share 4 kids.
Politics shouldn’t ruin or run your life.
Oh gross…
What an awful set of personality traits. Her head is full of her own farts and he’s a textbook case of narcissistic personality disorder.
If you do the crime, then you do the time. That’s it.
I assume the crime you’re referencing is marketing oneself as a sex doll and doing time is being treated like one.
Unfortunately, that’s not really how it actually works out in the US system. There are millions of examples. Millions.
Her father was an attorney (speaking of judicial INjustice!) so I think she’s probably pretty conversant with the basics. I really think she can stick this. I hope so!
Her dad was a businessman for most of Kim’s life. He only got his Law license back for the OJ trial. Also, she didn’t live with her dad after the divorce, she lived with her mom until she got married at 19. What exposure did she have to the legal system? You can’t automatically be “good at reading the Law” because your dad was once a Lawyer.
Yes, but “the time” is drastically different for people of differing races, wealth, connections, etc, and it shouldn’t be that way.
Iconic cover? Nothing about her says Icon. That label will live in her head & nowhere else. She is still a vapid delusional celebutard. While I appreciate the idea of her want to better herself. Going to college & then law school is the proper way to go about it. The idea that she will “read for the law” which takes far longer & is much harder is somewhat laughable. Mostly as she doesn’t strike me a smart. I think she is a good business woman but that is a different kind of intelligence.
I do appreciate she doesn’t want her kids seeing her naked all the time. Baby steps
That cover doesn’t say “icon” to me. It says: “Bad Little Edie This is the best costume for the day” cosplay. Where are the sparklers?
Saying “one of my most iconic covers” was a needle scratch moment for me. She’s a legend in her own mind, simple as that. But if growing up and having 4 kids means we have less Kardashian West nudity thrown at us, it’s a tiny step up.
I hope we get a president that wants nothing to do with you.
I mean ok, some celebrities can have a cause but lets not start this reality star bandwagon!
A reality tv president is too much!!
How can you assume that just cos you are famous (for vapid reason) that you can influence political sytems!?
Thats not the basis of who should be heard.
All of this.
Vulgar opportunist.
First. she’s NOT in Law School. Does she not know this ? She’s simply studying to pass the Bar…someone please tell her ! Secondly, if she’s so “over it” why does she keep getting fillers and injections and lipo, etc.? Go natural then Kim since you don’t care about that “image” anymore. What reputation was she worried would get destroyed by going to the White House lol? Her husband had already declared himself a MAGA lover before she ever met with Trump. Also, isn’t she the same woman that declared “nude selfies for life !”. She actually said that ! She switches back and fourth so much no one can keep up.
Came here to say this. She’s not in law school. To say that she is is insulting to hard working law students and professors.
Well, then, bitch had better come out big and support the Democratic nominee when the time comes. She should do a publicity blitz and her dumbass following might go for it. Same with Kylie. Sometimes you have to get your hands in the mud to get the prize. Whatever It Takes 2020.
Kim and Kanye remind me so much of Kellyanne Conway and George Conway–a married couple play-acting completely opposite political viewpoints as a big show to hide the truth, which is that the only thing they value is money.
Perfectly said, I feel the same way
Perfectly said, I feel the same way
I just want to reiterate what others have said that she is NOT (NOT, NOT NOT) in law school!!!!!!!! She is reading the law. There is a huge difference. In law school we are taught via the Socratic method which, while teaching us to think critically, is not fun. That said, critical thinking is the most important thing taught in law school. (And who can forget the fact that your entire grade is based on one exam—no pressure there!)
Furthermore, I thought that she had said awhile ago that she was mere months from taking the Baby Bar. Did she not take it or did she fail? The CA Bar is pretty tough. When I took it there was a 28% pass rate versus when I took the IL Bar which had a 90% pass rate. I assume that the Baby Bar is just as tough.
Did she go to college? I can’t find anything about that online. I’m sure there are law schools that would accept a paying customer who didn’t go to college, but unless she is truly an autodidact, it seems like it would be very challenging to take law classes without the preparation of at least some college.
I imagine her private high school offered some pretty high level courses but did she take them/was she successful in them? Funny how that’s not the kind of thing her online bios ever discuss.
I, too, hope that Kim K. continues to work on prison reform, and takes that cause and individual cases as high as she can, all the way to the White House!! We need lots and lots of people working on that front and ppl who have money, power, and fame working on it is all the better. If even a small percentage of her bajillion followers and fans learn about the crisis of our prison system through Kim K., wonderful, I’m glad. Hopefully they will vote for representatives who will pay attention to this issues. Hopefully they will work on it themselves. Some of them may become attorneys (who go to law school) and advocates and activists who dedicate their careers to this issue. I think Kim K. getting involved in a highly visible way is fantastic.
Is she gonna apologize to Chloe Moretz since this is the very thing she pointed out to her and Kim and Khloe attacked her for it?? Inquiring minds want to know.
My hope is the next President won’t be a multimillionaire reality
TV star, who cares more about ratings than climate change.
I hope the 2010’s are the worst. I hate to think that it’s all still downhill from here.
What about all the women who get treated badly without having committed any crimes. Listening to you guys one will think it is Kim causing men to be bad. Do men need help from women to be bad? This is so unfair to label all the problems in the world on Kim. The men contribute nothing yet it is Kim who has to be blamed for everything. They insult us pit us against each other, manipulate, steal, rape, murder,oppress. But oh no better to blame Kim. So unfair coming from women.
I don’t see anybody blaming Kim for anything?
Me neither??? However, I will say that KKW gained access to the White House riding on the coattails of the people who did the majority of the work on prison reform.
I didn’t read anything in these comments stating that, “it is Kim who has to be blamed for everything.”
She is trying to avoid saying she loves Trump. But she loves Trump. She wants an amazing relationship with the next president TOO.
Nah, she doesn’t owe Chloe Grace an apology just because she’s choosing to be less revealing voluntarily now. Chloe was in the wrong there in more ways than one and should have kept her little Purity Princess lips closed.
Based on her photo with her new perfume, I seriously doubt she is rethinking appearance for appearance’s sake, and the culture of consumption. Hey, if she does apply to law school and sits for the bar, I will rethink my opinion of her. Until then, girl get real.