Honestly, if you thought the Kardashian discourse had peaked with the Marilyn Monroe dress or the 800-thousand-dollar Christmas parties, you haven't been paying attention to Kim Kardashian and North West lately. It is a lot. Usually, the drama is about Kim, but these days, her 12-year-old daughter is the one driving the conversation. People are losing their minds over North’s latest look. Specifically, the finger piercings.
Yeah, you heard that right. Finger piercings.
On January 13, 2026, North West posted photos to her Instagram Stories showing off what looked like two new dermal piercings on her fingers, right next to the one she already had on her middle finger. She was rocking a blue wig, a Balenciaga T-shirt, and a massive diamond skull chain (a Christmas gift from Kim, by the way). The internet instantly went into a tailspin. Some parents are calling it "rebellious," while others are basically saying Kim has completely checked out as a mom.
What’s Really Going On with the Piercings?
So, are they real? That’s the big question.
Back in late 2025, North posted a TikTok with the caption “Fake piercings and fake tatts 4 life.” It seemed like she was just playing dress-up with face jewelry and temporary ink. But the finger bling? That feels different. When a TikTok user commented that seeing a 12-year-old with a finger piercing was “breaking their heart,” the joint Kim Kardashian and North West account actually replied with a simple: “it’s okay 🫶.”
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North isn't just ignoring the hate; she’s actively trolling it. She recently posted a video mouthing the words to an audio that said, “Why are you crying? How old are you? Just pull it together.” She knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s twelve, but she has the media savvy of someone who grew up with cameras in the delivery room—which, well, she did.
The Elementary School Dropout Era
While everyone is arguing about her jewelry, North is quietly (or not so quietly) building a music career. It’s not just a hobby anymore. Last year, she announced her debut album, Elementary School Dropout. If that title sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a direct nod to Kanye’s The College Dropout.
Some people find it hilarious. Others? They’re worried it’s sending a bad message to kids about, you know, actually staying in school. But North is leaning into the "rebel" brand. Just this week, she teased a new track called “Piercing on My Hand (Ye Version)” where she raps about skipping school and having "no friends, just filter."
"Went to school for two days, then I got banned / Skipping school, yeah, I do it on the daily."
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Is she actually skipping school? Probably not. It’s more likely she’s just playing into the persona. Kim even mentioned on a recent podcast that North is "really mature" and doesn't care if people dislike her blue hair or her outfits. She’s basically a mini-Kanye with Kim’s work ethic.
Kim's Parenting Under Fire
Kim is 45 now, and she’s finding out that parenting a pre-teen in 2026 is a nightmare, even without a billion dollars. During an October episode of Call Her Daddy, Kim got surprisingly real. She admitted that she makes mistakes—like letting North wear certain things in public that they later realized weren't great.
"I'm like, okay, we're never wearing that again," Kim said. "Unfortunately, we made that mistake in front of the whole world."
She’s asking for "a little bit of grace," which is a tough ask when you’ve built a brand on being perfect. The tension between Kim and Kanye regarding how to raise North is still there, too. Kanye has been vocal about North being on TikTok, but Kim clearly sees it as a creative outlet for her. It's a mess, frankly. You’ve got one parent who wants total control and another who wants to let the kids be "artists."
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The Rome Incident
Remember the Rome trip in August 2025? That was probably the turning point for most people. North was spotted wearing a black corset-style bodice and platform boots. The "avant-garde gothic" look was a hit with fashion editors, but a total miss with the general public. People were "side-eyeing" Kim for letting a child wear a corset, regardless of how "fashion-forward" it was supposed to be.
Why This Matters for the Future
North West isn't just a "celebrity kid" anymore. She is a brand. Between her Skims campaigns, her performance as Simba in The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl, and her upcoming album, she’s arguably more culturally relevant right now than some of her aunts.
She’s also part of a new "super-rich" friend group that includes kids like Leah Ruby and Everleigh (the granddaughter of the Cheesecake Factory founder). They spend their time making TikToks in mansions, and they don't seem to care what the "normies" think.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the North West Era:
- Don't take the "Dropout" title literally: It’s an aesthetic choice and a tribute to her father’s legacy, not a literal guide for 12-year-olds.
- Watch the "joint" accounts: Most of the content we see is filtered through the Kim Kardashian and North West joint TikTok, meaning Kim still has the final "delete" button.
- Expect a fashion line soon: Given North's interest in styling—Kim even called her "Stylist of the Year" recently—a clothing collab is almost certainly in the works for late 2026.
At the end of the day, North is doing exactly what she was born to do: provoke a reaction. Whether you love the finger piercings or hate the rap lyrics, you're still talking about her. And in the Kardashian world, that means she’s already won.
To stay updated on North’s music release, keep an eye on official Yeezy or Skims social channels, as they often cross-promote her projects.