Keeping Up with the Kardashians
The Phenomenon of Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Keeping Up With the Kardashians is a reality television series that has been on air since 2007. The show follows the lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family, including their daily activities, family drama, and business endeavors. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a pop culture phenomenon, Keeping Up With the Kardashians has become a cultural icon and a symbol of the power of reality television.
The Start of the Kardashians
Keeping Up With the Kardashians has its roots in the Kardashian family's early celebrity status. Patriarch Robert Kardashian gained fame as a successful lawyer in the O.J. Simpson case in the 1990s. His ex-wife Kris Jenner went on to marry Olympian Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn Jenner) and together they had two daughters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner.
In 2007, the Kardashian family had already become tabloid regulars, with Kim Kardashian in particular gaining a reputation for her infamous sex tape. It was around this time that Ryan Seacrest approached the Kardashians to create a reality TV show based on their lives. They agreed, and Keeping Up With the Kardashians was born.
The Popularity of the Show
Despite initial skepticism surrounding the show's potential success, Keeping Up With the Kardashians quickly became a hit. Audiences were drawn to the family's larger-than-life personalities, their glamorous lifestyles, and their penchant for drama.
The show introduced viewers to the various Kardashian and Jenner family members, including Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, and their mother Kris Jenner. Over time, the show has also featured significant others, including Scott Disick (Kourtney's ex-boyfriend and father of her children), Kanye West (Kim's husband), and Travis Scott (Kylie's ex-boyfriend and father of her daughter).
Keeping Up With the Kardashians has been praised for its portrayal of women's issues, mental health, and more. The series has won numerous awards and garnered a massive fanbase. Yet, it has also been criticized for its lack of authenticity and potentially harmful influence on its young audience members who may strive to emulate their favorite Kardashians' lifestyles.
The Kardashians' Business Ventures
One of the hallmarks of Keeping Up With the Kardashians is the family's extensive business empire. Each member of the family has leveraged their reality TV fame to build lucrative careers in various industries.
Kim Kardashian has launched multiple successful beauty and fashion ventures, including her KKW Beauty line and SKIMS shapewear brand. Kylie Jenner famously turned her love of makeup into a billion-dollar empire with her Kylie Cosmetics brand. Kourtney Kardashian has recently entered the wellness industry with her Poosh lifestyle website, while Khloé Kardashian has her Good American denim line.
Additionally, the Kardashian family has made significant strides in advocating for social causes and political issues such as gun control, climate change, and criminal justice reform. In many ways, the Kardashians have used their platform to amplify their voices and effect change in the world.
The Future of Keeping Up With the Kardashians
In September 2020, the Kardashians announced that Keeping Up With the Kardashians would come to an end after its 20th season. The show has been an integral part of pop culture for over a decade, and its end marks the end of an era.
Yet, the Kardashians show no signs of slowing down. Each family member has their own individual projects and business ventures, and fans will undoubtedly continue to follow their ever-changing lives and pursuits. Whether or not the Kardashians continue to hold their reign as the queens of reality TV, one thing is for sure: their impact on the genre and pop culture as a whole is indisputable.