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Kylie Jenner finds herself at a crossroads, according to TikTok users. Once hailed as the influencer queen and a central figure in the Kardashian family’s empire, Kylie’s prominence in the cultural zeitgeist has seemingly diminished. While she remains a topic of conversation, it’s been a while since she sparked trends and captivated audiences the way she did during her teenage years and peak celebrity status.
Kylie’s rise to internet stardom began in the mid-2010s with the emergence of platforms like Vine and Instagram, which she leveraged to build her brand. Central to her image, like her family members, was her appearance, particularly her lips. Initially claiming her plump lips were the result of makeup techniques, Kylie later admitted to using lip fillers, leading to the launch of her wildly successful Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit. This venture set the standard for celebrity beauty brands in the digital age.
However, recent discussions on TikTok suggest that Kylie Cosmetics may be facing financial challenges. The conversation gained traction after TikTok user Bee Better analyzed the alleged decline of Kylie Jenner’s empire. He pointed to data from the German statistics aggregator Statista, showing a significant drop in Kylie Cosmetics’ e-commerce net sales from 2017 to 2022, with predictions indicating further decline.
Adding to the speculation are controversies surrounding Kylie’s billionaire status. A 2019 Forbes article hailed her as the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, attributing much of her wealth to Kylie Cosmetics. However, subsequent revelations about the family’s alleged financial misrepresentations and Kylie’s cosmetic procedures cast doubt on her self-made status and the brand’s integrity.
Podcasters Nicky Reardon and Coco Mocoe further noted Kylie’s recent venture into new brands, including fragrances and a vodka line, amidst a barrage of sponsored content on her social media. This proliferation of endorsements, they argue, may signal desperation amid Kylie Cosmetics’ alleged decline.
While there’s no concrete evidence of Kylie Cosmetics facing bankruptcy, the TikTok community’s speculation underscores broader concerns about authenticity and celebrity influence in the digital age. Whether or not Kylie’s brand is truly in crisis, the discourse reflects a shifting landscape where success is increasingly scrutinized and fleeting.