It is kind of wild to think about, but Kim Kardashian just had what some insiders are calling the "worst year" of her life. You’d think being the face of a $5 billion brand like SKIMS would make you feel invincible. But honestly? 2025 was a brutal reality check for the woman who usually has it all figured out. Between a crushing failure in her legal career and some serious health scares, the question of what did Kim Kardashian do lately isn't just about a new shapewear drop—it's about a complete personal and professional reckoning.
The Bar Exam Blow and the Reality of "All's Fair"
For years, we’ve watched Kim apprentice under lawyers and post photos of her massive law books. She even passed the "baby bar" after a few tries. But 2025 brought the hammer down. Despite graduating from her law program, Kim reportedly failed the actual California Bar Exam. This wasn't just a minor setback; it was a massive blow to her ego.
Imagine spending four years telling the world you’re going to be a lawyer, only to hit a wall right at the finish line.
She hasn't given up, but the defeat stung. Especially since she’s currently starring in the Ryan Murphy legal drama All's Fair. There is a weird irony in playing a high-powered divorce lawyer named Allura Grant on TV while struggling to get your license in real life. People are starting to wonder if she’s leaning more into the "actress" side of her life now that the "lawyer" side is on such shaky ground.
That Brain Aneurysm Revelation
The drama isn't just in the courtroom or the boardroom. In late 2025, Kim revealed a diagnosis that stopped everyone in their tracks: a brain aneurysm.
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She shared this on The Kardashians, blaming a lot of it on the extreme stress she’s been under. Doctors have weighed in, saying while stress doesn't directly cause an aneurysm, it sure doesn't help the risk factors.
This health scare, combined with a painful back injury she suffered in December, has left her feeling "defeated." It’s rare to see Kim this vulnerable. Usually, she’s the one holding the family together, but lately, she’s been the one breaking down in tears on camera.
SKIMS vs. The World: $5 Billion and a New Beauty Era
If you’re looking at her bank account, you might ask, "Wait, what did Kim Kardashian do to lose?" The answer is: nothing. On the business front, she’s still a titan.
- SKIMS was recently valued at $5 billion.
- She secured a massive $225 million investment led by Goldman Sachs.
- She’s launching Skims Beauty in 2026, which is basically her taking back control of her beauty empire after buying back her old brand (SKKN/KKW Beauty) from Coty.
She’s even taking SKIMS to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, outfitting Team USA for the fourth time. But even here, there’s friction. Her recent launch of a "Faux Hair Micro String Thong"—yes, a thong with fake pubic hair—caused a total meltdown on social media. Some people called it revolutionary; others called it the tackiest thing they’d ever seen.
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The Co-Parenting Nightmare with Kanye
You can’t talk about Kim’s 2025 and early 2026 without mentioning Kanye West. It’s been rough.
She recently went on the Call Her Daddy podcast and admitted she’s basically a full-time single mom. At the time of that interview, she hadn't even heard from Kanye in months. There’s a constant battle over the narrative that she’s "keeping the kids away," which she vehemently denies.
North is 12 now and becoming a mini-celebrity herself on TikTok, often defying her dad’s wishes about being on social media. Managing a pre-teen in the spotlight while your ex-husband is... well, being Kanye... is clearly taking its toll.
What’s Next for Kim in 2026?
So, where does she go from here?
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She’s starting 2026 single and apparently wants to stay that way. After the mess of the last couple of years, she told friends she has "no interest in men right now." She’s burying herself in work—specifically the relaunch of her beauty line and filming the second season of All's Fair.
If you want to keep up with the real-time shifts in her strategy, here are the three things to watch:
- The Bar Exam Retake: Watch for whether she dares to take the California Bar again in 2026 or if she pivots entirely to her acting career.
- Skims Beauty Launch: This will be the ultimate test of her "Midas Touch." If she can successfully relaunch her makeup and fragrance lines under the SKIMS umbrella, she’ll be more powerful than ever.
- The Menendez Brothers Case: Kim has been incredibly vocal about wanting to help Erik and Lyle Menendez get out of prison. She’s already said she’ll go to any administration or any White House to make it happen.
Kim Kardashian is clearly in a transition phase. She’s moving away from being just a "reality star" and trying to solidify her legacy as a serious business mogul and social justice advocate. It’s messy, it’s public, and it’s definitely not over.