Kim Kardashian: Almost Famous (2007 Cover Story & Gallery)

Socialite Kim Kardashian has never been in a movie, but it hasn't stopped her from being the hottest woman in Hollywood.

This feature originally appeared in Complex's February/March 2007 issue, marking Kim Kardashian's first-ever magazine shoot and cover. Can it be that it was all so simple then?

Word to Grand Puba, Kim Kardashian is a real gold winner, just like Bruce Jenner—and not just because the Olympic legend happens to be her stepfather. Despite what people may assume of Paris Hilton's childhood B.F.F., Princess Kim (as she likes to call herself) is no trust-fund hussy. Sure, she’s the daughter of late music mogul/O.J. Simpson lawyer Robert Kardashian, but she’s also incorporated like Irv and Jeffrey. Kim owns a high-end L.A. boutique, Dash, reorganizes closets professionally (she's doing Linday's next week!), styles celebs, and slangs closet accessories on infomercials. Beautiful and ambitious, the divorced 26-year-old (music producer Damon Thomas…sucker) caught Complex’s eye as the way hotter friend of (insert A-list Hollywood chick here) in tabloid photos. Here, for the first time, the new "it" girl bares all.

So why exactly are you doing this photo shoot?
All my friends have photo shoots and have fun doing it, so why not?

Which friends?
From Jillian Barberie, who’s one of our best family friends, to Paris, to Nicole—all the girls. This is what they do. And growing up with them forever, it’s just fun.

What’s the biggest misconception about your socialite crew?
That we’re all trust-fund kids and we have it so easy. If anything, I find it the complete opposite. I know people think we drive around in these nice cars and we do whatever we want and our parents will pay our credit cards, but that’s not the case. Sure, my parents were generous; I got a nice car at 16, but at 18 I was cut off. I’ve worked really hard. I opened the store myself. Even Paris and Nicole—they’re completely independent, too.

The argument would be: you have a huge safety net and mega financial backing to start from.
Well, I’m never gonna be on the streets, so there is that comfort there. I get how people would feel like that’s not fair, but that’s my last resort.

What do you do for fun?
Lately, I go to parties and hang out. But I love to go skydiving, I love skiing. I’m a really outdoorsy sports person. I love to go on trips. I remember, I used to tell one of my really good friends, Brandy—the singer Brandy—you know she has every purse and shoe and every outfit. I’d be like, “Let’s not buy a $5,000 bag for once and let’s go on vacation.”

Do you see funny things at the parties?
The other night Paris went to Area,and next to us was Britney’s table and I was walking around and I saw Justin and I was like, “Ah! We have to wait and see if there’s a dance-off!” I wanted to go home, but I’m not gonna lie, I stayed a little bit longer. There wasn’t a dance-off.

Did you and The Game ever actually date?
Game and I have been friends for years. He came to Paris’s album release party and we all took a picture together—me, Paris, and him—and yet he and I are “dating.” It’s crazy that if you take a picture with someone, automatically people think you’ve slept with them.

What about Nick Cannon?
Hmm. I’m gonna have to get back to you on that one. Me and Paris and the girls are trying to stay single for one year. In March, that’ll be up. I’m a relationship kind of girl, but I think that everyone needs a year in their life to be single. I was in a long relationship before I was married, then I was married for four years, and then I was in a relationship with Ray J, Brandy’s brother. I’ve never been single, and this is my year. It’s hard when you meet really cool, talented, amazing, fun people like Nick.

What does staying single mean?
Just not having to answer to anyone but yourself. Trying to do you.

Does that mean you have to put limits on physical intimacy too?
I have to be in a relationship in order to be intimate. I’m not the one-night-stand kind of girl. Despite the rumors.

That’s a good way to be. Let me continue down the list. What was up with you and Nick Lachey?
We went out on a few dates, and it didn’t really progress. He’s a great guy, but we never took it to that level. I was just in Australia with Paris and I was looking at a newspaper and there was a big picture of me and Paris on the cover. It said that I have a sex scandal going on and that I’ve dated a few U.S. rappers. I’m like, If you call Ray J and Nick Cannon rappers, then.... I was married for four years, had a three-year relationship with Ray, and have been with one person after that. It really bothers me that people perceive me this one way.

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