Kendall Jenner Celebrates A Decade of Modeling And Opens Up About Her Struggle With Imposter Syndrome
Kendall Jenner, a name synonymous with fame and influence, has emerged as one of the most prominent public figures in the realms of fashion, entertainment, and business. She celebrated her ascent with a stunning photoshoot in Vogue, along with a candid interview about the ups and downs of being in the spotlight.
Obviously, most of the Kardashian family rose to fame largely because of the success of their reality television show, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." For nearly 15 years, Jenner shared her life with viewers worldwide, offering glimpses into the glamorous, ridiculous, and sometimes relatable world of the Kardashian-Jenner family.
At the young age of 14, Jenner embarked on her modeling career, quickly garnering global attention with her striking looks and innate poise. Her breakthrough came in 2014 and 2015 when she graced the runways of prestigious fashion weeks in New York, Milan, and Paris, and she's been unstoppable ever since.
Beyond the catwalk, Jenner's modeling portfolio boasts an impressive array of campaigns, editorials, and cover shoots for esteemed publications including international editions of Vogue. She also holds the prestigious title of being a brand ambassador for Estée Lauder, solidifying her status as a powerhouse in the fashion world.
Jenner's meteoric rise in the modeling industry is coupled with her remarkable financial success. In 2017, she claimed the coveted title of the world's highest-paid model and has held it for over six yearsl, dethroning long-reigning champion Gisele Bündchen. Her entrepreneurial skills extend beyond the runway, too, with ventures ranging from her tequila brand, 818 Tequila, to collaborations with renowned beauty and skincare brands.
To celebrate a decade of growing success, Jenner, now 28, opened up about life post-supermodel stardom to Vogue, sharing her happiness as well as revealing her struggles with shyness and panic attacks. She shared how modeling became a transformative journey, helping her find confidence in herself.
"10 years since i started my journey in this industry and i’m feeling all the emotions, but mostly, gratitude," she shared in a recent Instagram post. "i came into it young, nervous, excited, eager and also, unsure of how it would all turn out. i’ve seen the world and met so many incredible humans/creatives. modeling has changed my life. i am so grateful for the people who have believed in me along the way. proud of myself for working hard, staying true to me and taking care of my wellbeing. thank you Vogue and Anna for being constant supporters. i’m living my dream. if i could go back and start all over i would do it again and just give my 17 year old self a hug and tell her it’s all gunna work out! i’d be so lucky to experience another 10+ years. the journey isn’t over.
Despite her global success, Jenner also confessed to grappling with imposter syndrome daily, as well as fluctuating feelings, which she described as a normal part of life. She candidly discussed her ongoing therapy sessions, where she works on feeling worthy of her achievements and navigating the pressures of fame.
“I’m a negative thinker,” Jenner told Vogue. “That’s my problem. I’m always worrying about something that may never happen. I don’t see why I shouldn’t be honest about it. In my career right now I feel really stable, really hopeful. But I’ve had a tough two months. I haven’t been myself, and my friends see it. I’m more sad than usual. I’m way more anxious than usual. So I’m not going to sit here and act like everything’s perfect. That’s life—I’m always going to be in and out of those feelings. In past interviews, when someone’s asked me about my mental state, it’s always been, ‘I’m great right now, but this is what I’ve dealt with.’ Well, right now I’m actually in it.”
“I do have that impostor syndrome of, like, Wait, this is all happening to me? What did I do to deserve it?” she added. “I think I’m one of the luckiest girls in the world, and I appreciate everyone who has decided to follow me. But I also sit there and I’m like, I feel so regular.”
From her unique beginnings as a member of one of the first reality television families to her status as a global icon, Jenner represents a new era of models and influencers, and she's excited to see what comes next.
I think they didn’t believe in me when I came into the industry. That’s been a constant narrative in the hater world online, and at times that’s been really hard,” she told Vogue. “But I always say, I like being a pleasant surprise. I like that motivation in a way—like, Oh, you thought? You thought! Fashion is always shifting. There are always new vibes and energies. When I came into it, you didn’t really see quote-unquote famous girls. Cara Delevingne was probably the biggest one who was known outside of modeling. She opened that door for me, and from there it blew up into a whole new thing. Now there’s another vibe coming through. You’re seeing a lot of social media creators at the shows. It’s great. It’s always just shifting and changing, and you take it day by day. I suss out the vibe. Does it align with me? If it still does, great. You don’t know what’s around the corner.”
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