For the past two decades the Kardashian-Jenners shaped pop culture and redefined fame. Let’s take a look at some of the times they broke the internet!
2007: The Viral S*x Tape
Before 2007, Kim Kardashian was known in certain circles as a socialite and friend of Paris Hilton, with a background in personal styling. But it was a scandalous “home video” that hit the internet in early 2007 that would catapult her into the global spotlight. Kim Kardashian’s rise from that infamous moment set the stage for the Kardashians to become the embodiment of overexposure, cultural relevance, and a strange, magnetic relatability.
2011: The 72-Day Marriage
Kim Kardashian‘s marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries in 2011 was as much a spectacle as it was a disaster in the making. From the extravagant televised wedding to the glaring lack of chemistry, it was evident that the marriage wasn’t built to last. What followed was the shocking announcement that they had separated after just 72 days—leaving the internet and tabloids to explode with memes and jokes.
2014: Kim Kardashian Showed Off Her Bare Derrière for Paper Magazine
In 2014, Kim Kardashian became popular with the phrase “break the internet” when she posed for Paper magazine. In the now-iconic shoot, she showcased her oiled-up derrière while playfully pouring champagne into a glass balanced precariously on her backside, creating a moment that quickly went viral and captured the world’s attention.
2015: Caitlyn Jenner’s Transition
In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, publicly came out as a transgender woman, making a powerful and groundbreaking statement for the LGBTQ+ community. Her transition, which was documented on the family’s reality show, marked a significant cultural moment, contributing to the growing visibility and acceptance of transgender individuals.
2016: The Paris Robbery
In a moment of tragedy, Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in her Paris hotel during Fashion Week in 2016. The experience left her traumatized, and the event brought to light both the dark side of fame and the vulnerability of living a life under constant public scrutiny. While the robbery shocked her fans, it also ignited a broader conversation about privacy, security, and the costs of living in the public eye.
2017: Kendall Jenner’s Controversial Pepsi Ad
One of the most talked-about moments in 2017 was Kendall Jenner’s Pepsi ad, which quickly became infamous for its trivialization of social justice movements. The commercial, which depicted Kendall Jenner handing a can of Pepsi to a police officer at a protest, was widely criticized for downplaying the struggles of marginalized groups, particularly in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement.
2018: Kylie Jenner’s Baby Reveal
By 2018, Kylie Jenner had firmly established herself as a force in the entertainment and business worlds. At just 20 years old, she had already accumulated hundreds of millions of followers on social media and was reshaping the way the world thought about celebrity and brand-building. Her pregnancy rumors had swirled for months, but it wasn’t until she announced the birth of her daughter, Stormi, in February 2018 that the world truly took notice. Her announcement became one of the most-liked Instagram posts of all time, cementing Kylie Jenner’s status as a new kind of mogul and influencer.
2019: Kylie Jenner’s Billion-Dollar Deal
Kylie Jenner’s business acumen was on full display in 2019, when she sold a 51% stake in her cosmetics company, Kylie Cosmetics, for $800 million. This deal was widely reported as the moment that made her a billionaire, sparking debates over the definition of “self-made” and what it really means to build a fortune in today’s celebrity-driven economy. Regardless of how one views her success, there’s no denying that Kylie Jenner is at the forefront of the influencer age, turning a beauty brand into a global empire. As she continues to build her legacy, it’s clear that the 2020s could very well be Kylie Jenner’s time to shine.
In sum, the Kardashian–Jenners have shaped not just the media landscape but also the way we view fame, business, and personal branding. Whether it’s a scandal, a marriage gone wrong, or a groundbreaking moment for the LGBTQ+ community, their every move is part of the cultural conversation, keeping them at the center of our collective attention for nearly two decades.
