“It’s like a miracle that I still have confidence” —Kylie Jenner and Why Beauty is a Bad Investment
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We saw this TikTok from @nataliethehero (check our her content) and felt inspired to deep-dive into Kylie Jenner and her relationship with beauty standards.
The last few weeks, my timeline has been flooded with commentary about a clip of Kylie Jenner from the newest season of The Kardashians reality show. While Kylie laments the cruelty of online scrutiny, we explore the broader societal and cultural issues surrounding beauty standards, blackfishing, and cultural appropriation. This piece critically examines how Kylie, despite her immense wealth and influence, has remained apolitical and disconnected from social justice issues, highlighting the dangers of prioritizing aesthetics over meaningful change. Discover why beauty, as an investment, often yields empty returns and what it means for our collective future.
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The last few weeks, my timeline has been flooded with commentary about a clip of Kylie Jenner from the newest season of The Kardashians reality show. In it, she tearfully condemns the internet for being so cruel toward her and her looks. “I hear nasty things about myself all the time," Kylie vents to her sister Kendall Jenner during an obviously-staged heart-to-heart. Kylie’s comments are most likely referencing discussion surrounding her appearance earlier this year at Jean Paul Gaultier’s fashion show in Paris.
While it’s normal for fashion weeks and shows to draw attention and commentary online, many people chose to focus solely on Kylie’s face instead of fashion:
Kylie Jenner went to Paris Fashion Week and people think she looks ‘old’ https://t.co/qVtaVZDnXY pic.twitter.com/yudoWArqJ1
— Kaiser@Celebitchy (@KaiseratCB) January 25, 2024
@allcelebs7 KJ's face is so disfigured 😭 #kyliejenner #kellyrutherford #cosmeticsurgery #1997 #1968 #girls #millionstar #kj #kr #fyp ♬ original sound - 🎶🎧
This situation instantly reminded me of a 2020 video by cultural commentator Kimberly Nicole Foster, who runs the Black feminist platform "For Harriet." In it, Foster discussed the Antoine Fuqua cheating scandal, where instead of condemning Fuqua's infidelity, many blamed his wife, Lela Rochon, for becoming "undesirable" due to weight gain. Foster's critique highlighted how society's ever-shifting beauty standards devalue women over time, urging them to invest in pursuits beyond physical appearance. This perspective prompted me to apply Foster's idea to the Kylie Jenner situation, examining how Jenner’s focus on beauty both traps her and falls short in its ability to leverage platform for anything meaningful.
The irony in Kylie's lament persists in the fact that her looks have been a central topic of discussion among her own family members on their show. Her sisters have openly picked apart her appearance, often placing her under an intense microscope. This family dynamic has undoubtedly contributed to her insecurities (not just the public), yet it is also the foundation of their brand's success. The constant public and familial scrutiny of her looks caused her to change them, creating a paradox where Kylie's appearance is both her greatest asset and her most significant vulnerability.
Two things can be true at the same time: we can have empathy for someone who is struggling with societal beauty standards but also want to hold them accountable for becoming exorbitantly wealthy by capitalizing on them. Naomi Wolf’s seminal work, The Beauty Myth, explores how societal standards of beauty are a form of social control, perpetuating a cycle where women are compelled to conform to unrealistic ideals. I presume Wolf, like myself, would view Kylie Jenner as both a victim and a perpetrator of this cycle. She profits immensely from a beauty industry that thrives on women's insecurities while simultaneously being ensnared by the very standards she helps propagate.
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Kylie, There’s People That Are Dying!
For this reason, it’s challenging for the average person to muster substantial sympathy for her. The rich and famous are living their best lives (Kylie is very proud of her private jet) amid one of the most prolific cost of living crises in modern history. I therefore find Kendall and Kylie's references to "dehumanization" in the clip to be particularly striking when they are the queens of flex culture and showcasing their wealth with reckless abandon. These regular acts of dehumanization seem to go over their heads—flaunting private jets, hoarding expensive items, and overall showcasing lifestyles that are unattainable for, and comes at the detriment of, most. It’s dehumanizing to continuously refuse to use their platforms to advocate for change and create a safer, better world holding their influence and power. I think it’s extremely telling that the realm of dehumanization Kylie likes to preoccupy herself with is purely self-inflicted and the fundamental basis for their entire family’s cultural legitimacy.
Wha't’s more, Kylie has never made any long-term social justice commitments in her life, regardless of being very public-facing and having a clear desire to maintain fame and popularity. This reality is especially striking given that she is one of the most famous women in the world, with an enormous platform capable of effecting significant change. As someone with immense wealth and influence, Kylie has the potential to make a positive impact on societal issues, particularly those affecting marginalized communities. Yet, she remains largely committed to the façade of apoliticism— though having no politics is a politic— and her vast reach stays untapped for any meaningful advocacy.
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In the current zeitgeist, what’s the public supposed to do with a figure who is both immensely wealthy and famous but contributes little to the betterment of the world?
In a world grappling with right-wing shifts that threaten to erode fundamental rights, the absence of influential voices like Kylie’s in social justice conversations is profoundly disheartening. Celebrities hold a unique position of power, able to sway public opinion and bring attention to critical issues. Kylie’s silence on pressing matters, combined with her focus on personal gain, raises important questions about the role of celebrities in contemporary society. In the current zeitgeist, what’s the public supposed to do with a figure who is both immensely wealthy and famous but contributes little to the betterment of the world?
The public, struggling with economic disparity, political upheaval and a pandemic, looks to figures of influence for guidance and inspiration. Kylie’s reluctance to use her platform for advocacy feels like a betrayal to those who believe that with great power comes great responsibility. In times of social and political turmoil, the role of celebrities for many extends beyond entertainment; they become symbols of what is possible and what is acceptable. Kylie’s apolitical stance risks normalizing a form of disengaged privilege that is out of touch with the struggles of everyday people.
Her fame and wealth are largely derived from her persona and brand, both of which are meticulously contrived to maintain her allure. She leverages her appearance and lifestyle to build an empire, yet this empire exists in a vacuum preoccupied with disconnecting from any broader social and political context. Unintentionally, this preoccupation doesn’t serve its intended purpose, but alternatively posits her as vapid and rapacious.
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Kylie Jenner Lips
Whether we like it or not, Kylie Jenner’s position as a cultural icon brings with it a level of influence that few possess. The fact that she chooses to remain silent on critical issues reflects a broader trend in celebrity culture where personal brand maintenance takes precedence over meaningful activism. In a world desperately in need of voices advocating for justice and equality, Kylie’s silence is deafening. Her wealth and fame, when used solely for self-promotion, contribute to a narrative that values personal gain over the common good. As society continues to grapple with significant challenges, people are becoming less excepting of the cultural malaise defined by the pursuit of wealth decoupled from social responsibility.
What’s more, Kylie’s primary wealth-creating ventures are all related to aesthetics, often promoting unrealistic standards. Her lip kits, for example, capitalized on her enhanced lips, encouraging young women to strive for a look that is not naturally attainable. The desirability of her aesthetics is essential for maintaining her brand, and without it, Kylie has little to offer. She is not renowned for any particular talent or intellectual contribution; her allure is almost exclusively tied to her appearance and, to a lesser extent, leisurely lifestyle. This reality is underscored by her mother, Kris Jenner, who manages her career and has undoubtedly shaped Kylie into an influencer/celebrity whose primary currency is her face and body.
In this sense, Kylie has created a trap for herself. She’s marketed fit teas, waist trainers, lip kits, and an array of other products that promise to help her followers emulate her medically-made appearance. However, she has rarely, if ever, acknowledges the criticisms or dangers of this behavior. Though, why would she? Her family's wealth and fame have always taken precedence over any ethical considerations. The Kardashian-Jenner machine thrives on perpetuating beauty myths, to use Naomi Wolf’s words, serving to keep women (including herself) in a perpetual state of inadequacy because it makes them money and gives them influence. I believe Kim Kardashian’s now infamous statement about how she and her sisters “get up and [they] do the work” of maintaining it all is undoubtedly true. So, why does Kylie want us to overlook this fact when responding to her feelings about the system she happily perpetuates for personal gain?
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So, What Do We Do With Kylie Jenner’s Tears?
I think Kylie's plight underscores a broader societal issue: the pervasive influence of social media and celebrity culture on our perceptions of beauty and worth. The constant exposure to idealized images has a profound impact on self-esteem and body image, creating a cycle of comparison and dissatisfaction. Kylie’s tears are a symptom of a much larger problem—a cultural obsession with perfection that leaves no room for aesthetic authenticity. However, Kylie only ever seems critical of this obsession when she’s on the receiving end of its negative consequences.
Ultimately, while we can empathize with Kylie Jenner's struggles, we must also hold her accountable for her role in perpetuating harmful beauty standards. Her wealth and influence come with a responsibility to advocate for positive change, something she has largely neglected in favor of personal gain. The conversation about beauty, worth, and dehumanization must shift from superficial critiques to a deeper examination of the systems that uphold these ideals. Only then can we begin to dismantle the structures that perpetuate inequality and promote a more inclusive and compassionate society.
Teyah Nichole
Nichole is an American (she/her), animal-loving, coffee-obsessed, small-talk hating, ENFJ-T , vegetarian based in London. She founded W&S almost two years ago before starting her PhD, with a desire to learn in community with like-minded women. [Get in touch]
