Hey, Alexa, Define Self Made
Image Courtesy: Strike FSU
In 2016, Kylie Jenner launched her own cosmetics line. She started off with three liquid lips that instantly sold out. Now 2019, she has over 400 products on her site. Kylie cosmetics has consistently released new collections and sells out every time. Her Instagram post are flooded by request from fans asking for new products like and restocks, and she always comes through. Kylie Jenner divided the world in 2018 when she was featured on the Forbes cover for Americas billionaire women, and now in 2019 she has done it again by being proclaimed as the youngest self-made billionaire.
Kylies claim to fame are her lips, so she created the Lip Kit. Before Kylie created her own brand, she used lipsticks to make her lips look bigger but did not want it to be noticeable. With the stars massive following, a lot of her fan base wanted to look like she did. What better way to get the look than using the same products she does! It is no surprise that she has an influence on people, but especially with the younger demographic, so once the public found out what she was wearing the products were always sold out. Kylie saw the effect that she had and used that for her own benefit.
Image Courtesy: Kylie Cosmetics
After showing that the line would be a seller, Jenner put more money into the brand, which allowed her to cater to different skin types and shades and wants. While the sales have dropped since she first launched, she has come up with tactics to maintain some traffic. On the Kylie Cosmetics Website, she has created bundles all centered around an iconic look that she as worn to an event. She has thought out different ways to market her products so that she continues to sell. The brand was recently picked up by ULTA making it more accessible to a wider market. This past weekend she has released an exclusive shade with ULTA called ULTA beauty.
After the youngest sisters’ success with cosmetics, the rest of the family has created collaborations with Kylie Cosmetics including Momager Kris Jenner, Sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe, and now ex best friend Jordyn Woods.
The question is, is Kylie Jenner self-made? Many have shared their opinion either going with no she was handed the money, but another view is that she did inherit the money, but she used that to make more. Dictionary.com tweeted “Self-made means having succeeded in life unaided. Used in a sentence: Forbes says that Kylie Jenner is a self-made woman.” Journalist and frequent Kar-Jenner commentator Piers Morgan said, “It’s not self-made, it’s because her sister made a sex tape.” Many came to the defense of Jenner including Liam Payne stating “at least @KylieJenner has her own business she built herself why not congratulate someone for once instead of knocking people.” Another saying “Kylie Jenner is officially a billionaire. That’s so dope!” Whether we agree or not if the title is well deserved or if Kylie Cosmetics is a sham brand, the mogul is only becoming more successful.
Strike Out,
Writer: Audrey Estupinan
Editor: Savannah Tindall
Graphic Designer: Sophie Li
Tallahassee