Kendall Jenner's Path to Her Happy Place for WSJ Magazine Summer 2023

A New Look

With refreshing honesty and a sense of self-awareness, the 27-year-old supermodel and entrepreneur Kendall Jenner details her transformative journey from reality television star to global icon in the online edition of [comp link] WSJ Magazine’s Summer 2023 issue.

Louise Ford styles Kendall in Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Gucci, Hermès, Isabel Marant, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors Collection, Missoni, Miu Miu, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, and more.

We’ll look back over Kendall’s career archives, but these images by Sean Thomas [IG] may be the most personally-compelling images of Kendall ever taken.

WSJ Magazine’s Elisa-Lipsky-Karasz conducts the interview.

Kendall Jenner’s New Love Interest

The successful breeding of Kendall’s beloved mare Dylan may be a big reason why there are probably more images of Kendall smiling and being animated, than ever before in a Kendall Jenner fashion story.

Riding has long been a salve to her, her private-world retreat for the last seven years.

“Since I was really young, I felt out of place in my family,” says Jenner, taking pains to explain that she’s not being critical of her clan, with whom with she speaks to daily. “I was born into this life, but I didn’t choose this life,” she continues. 

Reflecting on her early days, Kendall attributes her resilience to growing up in the spotlight. As a member of the renowned Kardashian-Jenner family, she was no stranger to the constant scrutiny of the media.

The sometimes agonizing process for Kendall of finding her own voice and staying true to her values hasn't always been easy, but it has been a crucial factor in her success and personal fulfillment.

When questioned about the valuable lessons she has learned throughout her career, Kendall emphasizes the importance of authenticity. She truly believes that with her evolution, we are witnessing the power of staying true to oneself and remaining grounded amidst the chaos that comes with fame.

Kendall's passion for making a difference is evident as she describes her commitment to being an agent of change, raising awareness and developing initiatives that align with her values. In AOC’s eyes, Jenner has earned the right to use these words because of her actions and not making a scrumptious, visually-tantalizing, healthy-looking word salad.

Great News on 818

Launching 818 has given Kendall her freedom, writes WSJ. “In modeling you are what someone wants you to be. Where you show up on set, the makeup, the hair. You wear what they tell you to wear, and you take the photo that they want to see,” she says. “So, for sure, being my own boss is really cool.”

On the topic of Kendall’s co-owned tequila brand 818, AOC steps out of the WSJ Magazine interview and over to the 818 website.

Just as we were pleasantly shocked to learn Sunday [reading all the fine print] that sibling Khloé Kardashian’s Good American Jeans has B-Corp status, let’s sound the trumpets for Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand also just achieving B-Corp status.

Anne of Carversville is not messing around these days with supermodels talking activism and sustainability and then we go to their brand websites and find zippo — only a word salad.

To be clear, talking investors into B Corp status is not easy and one can be a great activist, sustainable company without B-Corp approval. It does cut out the greenwashing that certain models-owned businesses engage in, however.

No offense Sean Thomas, but this screen grab is the best picture is Kendall’s interview story. Having said that, yours are stellar, Sean.

LVMH agreed to make a 50-50 deal [vs 51-49] with Jay-Z in buying his Armand de Brignac champagne — knowing that they were conceeding traditional financial power and committing to reaching concensus with their new partner, when disagreements arose.

Now you can drink Kendall’s 818 Tequila knowing that the company has met a challenging and very strict set of criteria and audited reviews to obtain the B-Corp status. Typically the process takes two years.

It’s easy to get up on the fashion-media conference stage and pay lip service to sustainability in an audience that adores you. Facing the B-Corp process is a NOT fashion media, charm offensive to help launch your brand, knowing that you haven’t even invested in sustainable packaging.

Kendall Jenner’s team from growers to finance people are all rowing in the same boat, one that prioritizes people along with profits.

Good work, Kendall Jenner! You have every right to feel absolutely terrific about your entrepreneurial achievements.

Maybe A New Girl’s Club?

Kendall speaks of being very close to Hailey Bieber, and AOC has also raved about Hailey’s Rhode Skin brand. At the risk of being controversial, these young entrepreneurs could start their own club with very high standards for admission. Of course, it could be a Good Humans club, too, as long as the guys aren’t running things.

Members of their own social network seeking admission would not make the cut today.

Have a shot of 818 Tequila over that idea, Kendall and Hailey. As long as the criteria are clear, people either make the cut or they do not. Yours are the club’s rules to get started. You want to be change agents? Start here.

Kendall Jenner and Sean Thomas AOC Archives and Recent Work