The Kardashians are Marmite. You either love them or hate them. The haters (of which there are plenty!) main criticism is that they are talentless opportunists that have achieved global fame and notoriety for doing nothing. Fair point.
However there has always been one of the Kardashian/Jenner clan members that has stood out in our eyes. Our willowy, glamorous cover star Kendall. Unlike the others she has forged a successful career on her own merit. According to Forbes, at 25, she is the highest earning female supermodel.
She has collaborated with top fashion and beauty brands including Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Estee Lauder and Victoria´s Secret.
It´s with no shame Kendall admits to using the reality show as a platform to launch her modelling career – which has sparked a difference from her famous sisters Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Kylie who have all launched clothing lines but have never stepped foot on the catwalk itself.
Kendall has made a big jump into the modelling industry thanks to her striking good looks and killer figure and compared to her siblings, she is considered a positive role model to all her young fans. A little bit more chic, sexy and classy than the likes of Kim and Khloe – who regularly get public berating’s for over-the-top antics and barely there dresses!
KEEPING UP
Kendall first appeared on the reality show ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ in 2007. Her childhood from the age of 12 has been televised to the world and fans have watched her blossom from a sometimes sulky teen into the beautiful woman she is today. Kendall, unlike her sisters, has always been a quieter sole and less of a reality star diva. She is a career driven go-getter which is what sets her apart from the rest. The show highlights her close relationship with her baby sister Kylie, her 8 half siblings including the 3 Kardashian sisters and her parents Kris and newly gender transitioned dad Caitlyn Jenner, try that for a crazy family! With the show ending last year after its 20th Season, Kendall’s career shows no signs of slowing.
DESTINED FOR THE CATWALK
Kendall began modelling at the early age of 14 after being signed up by Wilhelmina Models who scouted her potential. Her first modelling job was in 2009 for the fashion chain Forever 21 and in 2011 she walked for Sherri Hill during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week after which her career soared from strength to strength. The end of 2012 saw Kendall on the covers of various teen targeted magazines including GenLux and by the end of the year she teamed up with world famous Victoria’s Secret photographer Russell James. The partnership between the two hit Harper’s Bazaar and the model featured her writing in ‘James Nomad Two Worlds: Australia’, the quality of her editorial work saw the transition from commercial to high fashion which led to her signing with The Society Management in 2014. Jenner has also walked for prestigious fashion weeks in New York for Marc Jacobs and Paris for Givenchy and Chanel. Her acceptance by high fashion labels proved to models and designers that she was cut out for the best modelling jobs in the world; Kendall is tall, dark haired and beautiful and the catwalk has indeed become her life.
She has also walked on catwalks for Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger and Fendi just to name a few. She has been on the covers of GQ, Elle and Vogue and was the face of the Balmain campaign alongside model and best friends Gigi and Bella Hadid (all this before hitting 20 we have to add). Kendall is indeed living her dream; she was interviewed at 13-years-old stating she would love to be a Victoria’s Secret Angel a dream that she kicked off her bucket in 2015.
POPULARITY
The model has a large and strong following, with 204 million Instagram followers. She has been placed as the No.1 most followed model on Facebook, Instagram and the 2nd most followed model on Twitter not far behind modelling tycoon Tyra Banks. Kendall, like many other normal girls her age, uses her social media platforms to share photos of herself, family and friends but she uses them to plug her many endorsements and commercial projects. The unique factor is that she uses her social media to influence her fashion credibility in a way that speaks to millions. Kendall has used the Kardashian affiliation that first shot her into the limelight and made a lasting name for herself but she always had the gift since an early age. “I would literally sit at home and have my friends take pictures of me on my little Canon camera that my mum gave me for Christmas, obviously the show was being in front of a camera, it’s just something I have always been around.” Kendall stated about her busy lifestyle balancing the show and modelling: “It’s definitely two different worlds. I feel like Hannah Montana, but it is fun.”
ENDORSEMENTS
Ms Jenner has featured alongside her sister in their ‘Kendall + Kylie’ collaboration with Topshop which was a global success. The biggest highlight of her career came in the form of being the brand face for the world´s largest cosmetic company, Estee Lauder, netting her a cool $4m. She has also fronted ads for Modern Muse le Rouge, Shimmer Body Lotion and Pure Colour collection and the company created a limited-edition Kendall Jenner shade brand of Pure Colour Envy Matte Sculpting Lipstick in 2015. Kendall also has her own official website with lifestyle blogs and paid subscription mobile app extensions. Plus, the Jenner sisters paired with Glu Mobile and developed a spin off from their half-sister’s mobile app ‘Kim Kardashian: Hollywood’ called ‘Kendall and Kylie.’
Despite modelling still being her full-time job, she knows it’s not a forever career and has been involved in the launch of several new companies. The first Moon is an oral health care brand that offer teeth whitening pens and she has also has her own brand of Tequila called 818.
RELATIONSHIPS
It goes without saying that Kendall has attracted a lot of male attention from the who´s who of A-List hotties. She famously dated One Direction´s Harry Styles for a year and has rumoured to have hooked up with Nick Jonas, Lewis Hamilton and the Biebs! She is currently dating NBA Basketball Player Devin Booker, who is also 25. The couple have been together for just over a year having first met in June 2020 and going public on Valentine’s day.
Unlike her sisters the model is quiet about her love life and she has never flaunted a relationship before but these two seem very much in love. Her mum Kris is seriously hoping that Kendall, who is the last of her family to settle down and have kids, has met her match here. Kendall is an Auntie to 18 nieces and nephews and has recently expressed a desire to have kids. Let’s hope this love story has a happy ending.
