In early 2007 a sex tape
featuring Kim and her then-boyfriend R&B singer Ray J was leaked online;
she sued the video’s distributor and later received an out-of-court settlement.
The attention helped the Kardashian family land a reality TV series, Keeping
Up with the Kardashians, which followed their daily lives, including Bruce
Jenner’s later transition into a woman.
The show premiered on the E!
channel in October 2007 and was a rating success. All the family members
attained varying levels of celebrity, with Kim—who was known for her good looks
and curvaceous figure—becoming a pop culture phenomenon. Although
some derided her popularity, alleging that she was simply famous for being
famous, her canny self-promotion—which also included a strong social media presence—helped
create a hugely profitable brand.
In addition to endorsement
deals, Kardashian was involved in numerous business ventures, including a
series of fitness DVDs, a credit card, various beauty products, and a game
app that allowed users to create a celebrity. In 2019 she launched the
shapewear company Skims.
Her immense popularity also
led to film roles—she made her big-screen debut in Disaster
Movie (2008)—and other TV appearances. She notably starred in the spin-off
series Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011–12). In 2020 Kim and
other members of the family signed a production deal with the streaming service
Hulu, and the following year Keeping Up with the Kardashians ended.
In 2022 the reality series The Kardashians began airing on Hulu.
