Two years after we launched her into the celebrity stratosphere, Kim comes back to Earth to rescue us.

Creative Direction by Marc Ecko; Story by Peter Rubin; Photography by Matt Doyle; Styling by Monica Rose and Angela Fink

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SMOKE STACK: BRIAN LAWRENCE/GETTY IMAGES; OIL RIG: LOWELL GEORGIA/CORBIS; MATTHIAS KURKA/CORBIS; (HAIR) FRANKIE PAYNE FOR BUMBLE AND BUMBLE AT OPUSBEAUTY.COM; (MAKEUP) MARIO DEDIVANOVIC AT THEARTISTLOFT.COM USING M.A.C. PRODUCTS; JEWELRY BY CC SKYE BODYSUIT AND SKIRT BYAMERICAN APPAREL SHOES BY L.A.M.B. TOP BY DOLCE AND GABBANA; BY AMERICAN APPAREL; SHOT AT SIREN STUDIOS, HOLLYWOOD, CA; WILD FIRE, TREE STUMPS: AP PHOTO

That’s ’cause I just made it up. We’re brilliant over here.

Kim Kardashian: I like that. He’s the male version of me. We’re twins!

[Laughs.]

Kim Kardashian: I have so much respect for him and he always takes risks, and from what I’ve seen in Paris, his sense of fashion is very…he’s very high-fashion, and you know I love clothes and fashion, so I can really appreciate it.

Diplomatic! The last time we spoke, you said something to me, and I’ll read you the quote: You said, “I’m not the sex kitten that they’ve made me out to be, but I’ll give it to them when I have to. I know that’s what they want.” How does that differ for you when your audience is women and your audience is men?

Kim Kardashian: It doesn’t really; I’m a lot more shy than what people think, and when I was doing Dancing With the Stars, that really became apparent. That was the first time I wasn’t with my sisters; I film my reality show at home with my family. It really couldn’t be a more comfortable environment. And so when I was thrown into this world of performing and just being me—you see it on the show and my sisters say it every day—I’m so boring! I’m just not outspoken like they are. And I was really glad that everyone kinda got to see the real me, but even in Dancing With the Stars people expected this really outspoken, sexy…

Ah, c’mon, you’re the vixen, right?

Kim Kardashian: It was almost a struggle for me; these dancers have the most amazing bodies and they’re wearing next to nothing, and I’m over here trying to cover up more. And they’re like, “Wait, wait, wait, what? We thought you were supposed to be so comfortable with yourself,” and this and that. The thing is, I’m not that comfortable. Every girl has their insecurities, and with the outfits that they put you in, it became this struggle between people’s perception of me and the reality. I think I’m halfway in the middle. I mean, who doesn’t like to be sexy? But I’m not the most outspoken person. I’m a little bit more uncomfortable than perceived.

How has that image of you changed since you did your first cover with us?

Kim Kardashian: Because that was really, as far as big magazine covers— That was my first cover. I mean, you guys were my first, and I’m so proud of it and I thought it was so sexy.

Uh, yeah it was.

Kim Kardashian: I loved it. I do think that I’ve grown, though, and I base it all on my show. People can make up any story to go along with a picture, but when you see someone’s real life, it just opens up a whole different perception of me—and it’s totally who I am. Home // GIRLS // COVER GIRLS // KIM KARDASHIAN