Honestly, it's hard to keep up. Just when you think Kim Kardashian has peaked—whether it’s selling shapewear or starring in American Horror Story—she pivots. Right now, the latest news in Kim Kardashian circles is a wild mix of birthday parties, business mergers, and a pretty gut-wrenching legal update. She just spent the week celebrating her daughter Chicago West’s 8th birthday, but behind the scenes of those glossy Instagram tributes, there's a lot of real-world stress.
She failed the California Bar Exam. Again.
It sounds harsh, but she’s being surprisingly open about it. Most people in her position would hide the results, but Kim posted to her stories that she was "so close" to passing the July 2025 exam. She’s not quitting, though. She’s already gearing up for the February 2026 sit-down. It’s that weird "hustler" energy she has; she literally plays a high-powered divorce lawyer, Rexy, in Ryan Murphy’s new legal drama All’s Fair, yet in real life, she’s still hitting the books like a first-year apprentice.
The Bar Exam Setback: Is She Actually Going to Be a Lawyer?
The California Bar is notoriously brutal. We’re talking about a 54% pass rate for first-timers, and for repeat takers? It’s even lower, sometimes dipping into the teens. Kim isn't going the traditional law school route. She’s doing the "Law Office Study Program," which basically means she apprentices under actual lawyers. It's the old-school way—think Abraham Lincoln.
People love to snark on this. "She's just bored," or "She's buying a degree." But she’s been at this since 2018. She failed the "baby bar" (the First-Year Law Students' Examination) three times before finally passing in 2021. Now, having graduated from her law program in May 2025, she’s at the final hurdle.
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The latest news in Kim Kardashian’s legal journey is that she’s doubling down for February 2026. She admitted she’s had to balance filming All’s Fair with her studies, and frankly, the filming won. It’s a lot to ask of anyone to memorize hearsay exceptions while hitting marks on a TV set.
Acting as Therapy? Or Just a New Career?
It’s kind of ironic. While she’s struggling to get her license, she’s earning rave reviews for playing a version of Laura Wasser on Hulu. Ryan Murphy basically tailored this role for her after her stint in American Horror Story: Delicate.
Some fans think the acting is a distraction. Others think it’s a brilliant move. If she never passes the bar, she’s already built the "lawyer" brand. It’s a safety net made of TV deals.
Skims is Swallowing the Rest of Her Business Empire
If you’ve been following the business side, things are getting consolidated. Fast. For a long time, Kim had a bunch of different ventures: KKW Beauty, KKW Fragrance, then SKKN by Kim. It was messy.
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By early 2026, the plan is to have everything under the Skims umbrella. Skims recently bought out Coty’s 20% stake in her skincare brand. Basically, Skims isn't just about leggings and bras anymore; it's becoming a full-blown lifestyle house.
- Skims Beauty: Expect lip liners and "old favorites" from the original KKW line to return.
- Fragrance: She’s bringing back the scents that people actually liked before the rebrand.
- Expansion: Permanent stores are popping up everywhere from Georgetown to New York.
The brand is currently valued at around $4 billion. That’s not "influencer money"; that’s "legacy corporation" money.
The Reality of Parenting 12-Year-Olds and 8-Year-Olds
Then there’s the family stuff. Chicago just turned 8 on January 15. The photos were sweet, but the latest news in Kim Kardashian’s personal life often leaks through the cracks of her reality show. She recently joked about how chaotic her house is, saying she "really tried" to get a holiday photo with all four kids (North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm), but it ended in a mess of pouting and kids walking out of the frame.
North West is 12 now. She’s already making her own waves, recently making her "Instagram debut" with a solo page. It’s a weird time for the family. Kim is trying to be a "cool mom" while also being the disciplinarian, and as any parent of a pre-teen knows, that’s a losing battle.
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There's also some weird drama with the royals. Reports surfaced this week about a potential "rift" between the Kardashians and Meghan Markle. Apparently, Kris Jenner deleted some photos of Meghan and Harry from her social media after a party back in late 2025. It’s probably nothing, but in this world, a "delete" is a declaration of war.
What This Means for You
If you’re looking at Kim as a blueprint, there are a couple of actual takeaways here.
- Own Your Failures: She didn't hide the bar exam results. In a world of filtered perfection, being "so close" but failing is actually her most relatable trait right now.
- Consolidate Your Brand: If you’re running multiple side hustles, look at what Kim did. She realized having five different brand names was confusing and expensive. She’s putting it all under her most successful banner.
- The Pivot is Permanent: Don't get stuck in one lane. She went from reality star to business mogul to actress to (hopefully) lawyer.
What to Watch for Next
Keep an eye on the latest news in Kim Kardashian updates toward the end of February 2026. That’s when she’ll be sitting for the bar again. If she passes, it changes her entire narrative. If she fails, expect her to dive even deeper into her acting career with Ryan Murphy.
You should also watch for the "Skims Beauty" drop. If you missed the original KKW contour sticks, those are rumored to be the first things coming back under the new label.
Next Steps for You:
Check your favorite Skims products—many of the "limited" drops are becoming permanent as the brand prepares for its 2026 expansion. If you’re following her legal journey for inspiration, remember that the California State Bar website publishes pass lists in the spring; that’s where the "real" news will break, regardless of what she posts on Instagram.