Hollywood is filled with glitter and glam, and stars like Kylie Jenner are making bank! Beyond her role in "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," she's carved out her fabulous niche.
Kylie's not just riding her family's fame wave. She's a business mogul, and fashion icon, and rocks high-end brand endorsements. Want the scoop on her glamorous life? Stay tuned!
Baby Steps to Stardom: Kylie's Early Years
Born on August 10, 1997, in the land of silicone and dreams, Los Angeles, California, Kylie Jenner popped out as the youngest sprog of the Olympic champ Caitlyn Jenner (back when she was strutting around as Bruce Jenner) and the Kardashian matriarch, Kris Jenner. This chick's a Euro-mix cocktail, with a splash of Dutch, English, Irish, and Scottish, and a wee bit of Welsh from Daddy dearest’s side.
This American hottie turned business mogul is best known for flaunting her assets on the E! reality TV circus, Keeping Up with the Kardashians from 2007 to 2021. Then she jumped ship to Hulu for another Kardashian rodeo in 2022. Besides gracing our screens with drama, she's also the big boss of Kylie Cosmetics.
At the age of 14, little Jenner teamed up with sis Kendall for a clothing line collab with PacSun, called Kendall & Kylie. A few years down the line, she's launching her lip kits, turning everyone’s lips bigger and sexier. By 2016, she rebranded to Kylie Cosmetics (probably because we all know who's the real star).
Kylie has been stirring the pop culture pot since the 2010s. Time magazine was so smitten, they named the Jenner babes as the most influential teens - twice! Maybe it was their killer looks or the fact they could make the internet break with a single post. 2017 saw her flexing on Forbes’ Celebrity 100, being the youngest on there.
Forbes gave her the crown of the youngest self-made billionaire in 2019. And by 2020, Forbes was calling her out, hinting she might've fudged her tax docs to seem like she had more zeroes in the bank. Naughty, naughty Kylie!
Conquering the Cosmetics World
Now let's explore Kylie Jenner's journey and key moments that have contributed to her rise to stardom. Beginning with her role in "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and leading up to her flourishing cosmetics business!
Kardashian Chaos
In 2007, the world got the "privilege" to peek into the extravagant lives of the Kardashian clan, with Jenner and her family serving us heaps of drama and ahem "reality" on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
The show was such a hit that E! spawned spin-offs like they were going out of fashion. Some of these included Kourtney and Kim Take Anything-But-A-Break and Khloé & Lamar’s Rollercoaster Romance.
Jenner also popped up in other roles, from hosting for 'Glee: The 3D Concert Movie' (yep, that was a thing) to interviewing the starved-looking cast of The Hunger Games. And in 2012, Jenner teamed up with Kendall and momager Kris for an episode of America’s Next Top Model — because what’s reality TV without a Kardashian cameo?
Jenner’s Jamboree
Cut to 2014, the Jenner sisters are taking over Toronto, co-hosting the Much Music Video Awards, with Kylie even trying her hand at acting. But her claim to fame that year? Being eye candy in music videos, from PartyNextDoor’s "Recognize" to being hypnotized by Jaden Smith's artsy vibes in "Blue Ocean".
Kylie also tried their hands at writing. They “co-authored” (wink wink) a sci-fi novel, Rebels: City of Indra. Critics, however, weren't buying what they were selling. Literally. The novel didn't set the sales charts on fire. And while it did get a sequel, let’s just say the literary world wasn’t left quaking.
Cashin’ on Cosmetics
Fast forward to 2015 and the Jenner sisters faced some boos at the Billboard Music Awards. But hey, no press is bad press, right? Kylie then had the world’s biggest lip secret. Were they? Weren’t they? Enhanced, I mean. Her lips became the talk of the town. Then came the questionable "Kylie Jenner Challenge" which, for the record, she didn't endorse. But Miss Jenner, not one to let an opportunity slide, launched her Kylie Lip Kit.
In 2016, the empire was renamed Kylie Cosmetics, and the girl went BIG — 500,000 kits big. From there, it was collabs with sis Kim, a solo reality show, and hey, even a surprise appearance at a high school prom! By 2017, she was on Forbes Celebrity 100, proving that where there's a Jenner, there's a way to rake in the cash. And well, 2018? It was all about expanding the empire with mobile apps and more cosmetics. Because why stop at being a millionaire when you can be a billionaire, right?
Queen Kylie's Conquests and Cock-Ups
In 2019, Kylie introduced her fragrance and skincare lines and sold a majority of Kylie Cosmetics to Coty for $600 million. The next year, she expanded her brand trademarks, released new makeup, addressed unpaid Bangladeshi worker allegations, and became Forbes' top-earning celebrity.
By 2021, as "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" concluded, Kylie introduced Kylie Swim and Kylie Baby. She became the first woman with 300 million Instagram followers. In 2022, she returned to the screen with "The Kardashians", renewed for another two seasons.
The Love Roller Coaster
Tyga attended Kylie's 17th birthday in August 2014, broke up with Blac Chyna, then dated Kylie in 2015, with her featuring in his music videos. They split in 2017. Kylie then dated Travis Scott, first seen together at Coachella 2017. They had Stormi in 2018 and briefly split in 2019, then reunited in 2020. By 2021, they were rumored to be expecting again, but are single in 2024.
Kylie became best friends with Jordyn Woods in 2012, thanks to Jaden Smith. Jordyn appeared on Kylie's TV show and collaborated with Kylie Cosmetics. However, their friendship ended in 2019 when Jordyn was caught with Khloe Kardashian's then-boyfriend, Tristan Thompson. Kylie cut ties with Jordyn, and they haven't reconciled.
Kylie's Endless List of Legal Battles
Kylie and her sister Kendall faced backlash for their "Rock vs. Rap" collection. They superimposed their images onto vintage tees featuring legends like Biggie and Tupac. This didn't sit well with many, including Sharon Osbourne and Biggie's mother. A cease-and-desist letter later, the tees vanished from stores.
The Forbes controversy is another blip in Kylie's history. She was featured on Forbes' cover, showcasing her nearly $900 million net worth, hinting at her becoming the "youngest self-made billionaire." The "self-made" claim stirred controversy, given her privileged upbringing. Forbes later accused her of exaggerating her wealth, though she still made the Forbes list in 2020.
Cultural appropriation claims have also haunted Kylie. Accusations range from wearing cornrows to allegedly copying streetwear brand designs. She also faced criticism for purportedly neglecting to pay her LA factory workers.
Kylie's legal battles include disputes over her brand. Makeup artist Vlada Haggarty accused her of copying lip art. She also tussled with singer Kylie Minogue over trademarking the name "Kylie." Other lawsuits involve claims about her neon lip logo and a dispute with Seed Beauty over trade secrets.
In essence, Kylie's life is a blend of drama, legal challenges, and controversies. But it sure keeps things interesting.
The Big Bucks of Branding & Charity Chicks
Kylie Jenner has partnered with numerous brands, adding her golden touch for lucrative results. She and Kendall earned $100,000 from their nail polish line with Nicole by OPI, which included shades like "Wear Something Spar-kylie" and "Rainbow in the S-kylie." They also collaborated with PacSun, launched a jewelry line with Pascal Mouawad’s Glamhouse, and introduced a shoe and handbag line with Steve Madden's Madden Girl.
Kylie then ventured into the beauty industry with her hair extension line, Kylie Hair Kouture, and a 20-piece nail polish collection with Sinful Colors. She became the face of PUMA and launched a sunglasses line, Quay x Kylie. By 2018, she was earning $1.2 million per sponsored Instagram post.
Beyond her business ventures, Kylie is also known for her philanthropy. She's supported the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, participated in charity bowling events, and collaborated with Chris Brown for charity. She's an advocate for the LGBTQ community, cancer patients, and children with cancer. Her lip kit "Smile" funds surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates.
During the Australian wildfires, she donated $1 million to relief efforts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she, along with Kris Jenner and Coty, distributed over 6,000 pounds of hand sanitizers to Southern California hospitals.
