Kim Kardashian stands up for North West’s unique style amidst public scrutiny

If there is one Kardashian kid who constantly keeps tongues wagging on the internet, it is North West.

From coloured hair, fake face tattoos, finger piercings to eyebrow-raising outfits that regularly spark online debate, the 12-year-old’s fashion choices have become a recurring topic online. 

Reality star and mother to West, Kim Kardashian, has addressed the backlash and the assumptions people make about her parenting.

Speaking to her sister Khloé Kardashian during a podcast interview, Kim was asked whether the scrutiny around North’s self-expression bothers her.

“I do think that’s fair. I’m just not a judgmental person like that, so I try not to pay attention to it, but I think that no one knows unless they’re in my shoes, what I’m dealing with and how we have to manage certain things from the outside world or even close in our life that we have to go through together,” she said.

West has gone viral more than once for her very bold looks, most recently for her new addition of the finger piercings. 

While some fans see it as confidence and creativity, others have questioned whether she is being allowed to grow up too fast, criticising her mother for allowing a pre-teen to have that much freedom.

Kim also addressed the idea that she is trying to be her daughter’s “bestie” instead of a parent by letting her freely express herself.

“I think like the one misconception that people might have is like, ‘Oh, she’s trying to be her bestie and lets her get away with a lot,’” she said. “Like, no, Northie actually has a lot of rules. The one area is I do let her express herself, and I do let her do that.”

According to the SKIMS founder, her daughter’s love for bold fashion is nothing new and did not suddenly start because of TikTok or public attention.

“She’s been, it’s funny, like people are like, ‘Oh, this blue hair, all of this, all of a sudden,’ or like her fake piercings,” Kim said. “I have pictures of her when she was in first grade, pre-K, where she’d come with like a fake septum ring, and she has her green braids, and she has pink braids.”

Kim added that her daughter has always leaned into colourful braids and expressive looks.

“She really is who she is and always has been that girl,” she said. “Unapologetically. And so like, I nurture her.”

The conversation comes as West continues to grow up in the spotlight, with every outfit choice becoming a hot topic on the internet and tabloid headlines. 

But Kim maintains that her focus remains on letting her daughter explore her identity, while she still sets the rules.