Condé Nast (through Vogue Taiwan), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Why we think Kim Kardashian is a Type 3
Focus on public perception. Kardashian takes great care to present a meticulously refined image, which is used to keep her in the limelight, get adoration from fans, and create buzz for her business ventures. She spends considerable time and energy controlling the public’s narrative of her, including being proactive about addressing rumors. As an example, after giving birth, she faced a lot of public criticism about her body. The tabloids and social media commenters scrutinized her weight gain during pregnancy and the time it took her to lose the weight after giving birth. In response, she decided to launch a campaign featuring real women who have used her line of SKIMS shapewear. This move was an effort to shift the focus back to her businesses and portray her brand as empowering women of all shapes and sizes.
Competitiveness. There are many instances in Keeping Up with the Kardashians where she shows a competitive streak, especially when compared to her siblings. In Season 2, she competed against her sister, Khloé, in a pole dancing competition. In Season 4, she participated in a charity boxing match. In Season 10, she took tennis lessons with her sister, Khloé, and got competitive, especially when they faced off against Kris Jenner and her then boyfriend. In Season 11, she held a dance-off with Kourtney. In Season 17, she raced against her sisters on the beach and teamed up with Khloé for a workout challenge against Kourtney.
Media-savvy. Kardashian is adept at handling the media and is a master at social media. She has turned her life into a sort of "reality TV 2.0," where her life becomes a constantly streaming reality show on her social media. Her posts range from her family, to her beauty routines, to her businesses.
Business-minded and highly identified with her projects. Over the years, Kardashian has evolved from being a reality TV star to a businesswoman with several ventures under her belt. This transition is apparent in her demeanor, as she often speaks confidently about her businesses and projects. Her numerous commercial endeavors, from mobile games to beauty products, demonstrate her intense drive to capitalize on her brand and image.
Productivity and work ethic. Kardashian is a self-proclaimed workaholic. She’s always working on something, whether it be filming for her show, running her businesses, or studying law.
Setting and pursuing goals. Whether it’s breaking the internet (i.e. when her butt “announced” it would “break the Internet” when it appeared on the cover of Paper magazine) or launching a new product, Kim has shown that she sets clear goals and works towards them. Kim has also openly shared about her fitness goals, including goals to bounce back to her pre-pregnancy fitness levels and achieve specific physical strength targets.
Kim Kardashian quotes that show she is a Type 3
“I play into the perception of me, but it's not really me.”
"I'm an entrepreneur. 'Ambitious' is my middle name."
“I'm the true definition of a workaholic.”
“I love meeting new people and telling them about my stories and my projects that I am working on.”
“My mom and I had the same vision, and we want the same things. We would always make a goal list every year.”
"I love when people underestimate me and then become pleasantly surprised."
"I've always been a businesswoman."
“If I look at the message I'm portraying, I think it definitely is be who you are, but be your best you” (this quote is also indicative of her 4 Wing).
"If I don't feel confident about my body, I'm not going to sit at home and feel sorry for myself and not do something about it. It's all about taking action and not being lazy."
"I love the challenge of having to prove people wrong.”
"You make mistakes, but I don't have any regrets. I'm the kind of person who takes responsibility for it and deals with it."