Once hidden behind a childhood spent on television and the fame of her family, Kendall Jenner has emerged to become one of the world’s most celebrated models. Having hit the red carpet for everyone from Marc Jacobs to Miuccia Prada, including literally walking on water for Fendi’s 90th anniversary show earlier this year, this September Kendall appears as the cover star for Vogue described as “the breakout model of her generation”. And all this before she has even reached the legal drinking age in her native California. To celebrate Vogue’s September cover girl and the recent launch of the new Kendall & Kylie collection at AllSole, we take a look at her rise from an acne-ridden teenager to America’s first teenage fashion superstar.
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Humble Beginnings
Long before she transformed into the ubiquitous face we all know and recognise today, a 14-year-old Kendall began her modelling career modestly wearing a blue and yellow check shirt in a shoot for Kmart.
Image property of Kmart
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Her First Fashion Gig
One year after her Kmart shoot, Kendall modelled several outfits in an America diner-themed shoot for LA-based retailer Forever21. Yet it wouldn’t be long after this shoot that Kendall would be snapped up by some of the fashion world’s biggest names and begin her trajectory to the top of the fashion industry.
Image property of Forever21
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First Impressions
At 17 Kendall signed for New York modelling agency The Society Management, and she made her first waves in the industry one year later at New York Fashion Week modelling the Marc Jacobs AW14 collection. Despite walking alongside established names such as Hanne Gaby Odiele and Ruby Jean Wilson, Kendall stole the show in a semi-sheer top that boldly announced her arrival to the fashion industry.
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A Givenchy Girl
Kendall gave only select appearances for the rest of the AW14 season, one of which was a memorable first outing for Givenchy. Her performance clearly impressed its designer, with Kendall becoming one of Riccardo Tisci’s key muses and a permanent fixture at Givenchy for the coming seasons.
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Breaking The Internet, Part I
Having amassed over 65 million followers on Instagram, Kendall is the undisputed queen of breaking the internet (although half-sister Kim comes a close second). Kendall’s first big internet moment was this picture posted in 2015, which famously become known as “the most liked photograph on Instagram”. Wearing a Zuhair Murad dress and her hair in a halo crown of hearts, this is the photograph that inspired a thousand memes and even articles analysing the its artistry (I think it’s safe to say that by this point our obsession with Kendall was firmly set).
Image property of Instagram
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A Dazed Icon
In 2014, Kendall was named at the top of Dazed Magazine’s inaugural Dazed 100. Created as “a guide to the creatives redefining the future of style and youth culture”, the magazine took the opportunity to announce the arrive of a new “Kendall Jenner-ation”.
Image property of Dazed Digital
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The Split Dress (Breaking The Internet, Part II)
Invited to host Canada’s 25th annual MuchMusic Annual Video Awards, Kendall caused a sensation by wearing a daring Fausto Puglisi split dress. “Why do one split when you can do TWO!?” And with that, Kendall broke the internet once more.
Image property of The Daily Mail
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Kendall and Couture
From Riccardo Tisci to Karl Lagerfeld, Kendall has befriended many figures of fashion royalty over the past few years. For one of her first outings in Haute Couture, Kendall walked for Lagerfeld’s AW15 collection at Chanel with a performance that demonstrated maturity and elegance beyond her years.
Image property of Vogue
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The New Generation Arrives
Known for her playful approach to fame, Kendall–along with friends Gigi and Bella Hadid–casually took snaps on the red carpet with her pals at the Met Awards in 2015. The trio of supermodels have now emerged as the hottest talent in a new generation of models, one that looks set to dominate the fashion industry for the coming years.
Image property of Vogue
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Blonde for Balmain
For Balmain’s AW16 collection, Kendall famously switched hair colour with close friend Gigi Hadid. The internet went wild for Kendall’s new blonde cut, while Kendall simply went back to life as America’s hottest supermodel.
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Coachella 2016
A regular ambassador for the #FreeTheNipple movement, Kendall nailed the quintessential Coachella festival look in 2016 with a black lace top that caused controversy online.
Image property of Instagram
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Stealing the Limelight at Cannes
From her first outing for Marc Jacobs, Kendall has set herself apart from her peers for her bold, daring approach to fashion that never fails to make a statement. This was no less true of her recent trip to Cannes Film Festival where a sheer dress from Roberto Cavalli grabbed attention.
Image property of Getty / Pascal Le Segretain
