The Kardashian whose ‘goddess’ confidence dipped at the Met Gala & the sister who’s competing for attention, says expert
OVER the last decade, the Kardashian-Jenner family has become a staple of the Met Gala red carpet.
One body language expert says some sisters adjusted to the event better than others, and hopes that Kim comes to this year's event as "herself."
Body language expert Judi James flipped through the family's photos at the Met Gala over the last 10 years.
James told The U.S. Sun that one sister made a big splash with her red carpet debut, while others seemed like they were "hiding" or feeling shy.
Even Kim took some time to find her footing at the star-studded event, going from nervous to knockout over time.
KIM'S SHIFTING CONFIDENCE
No member of the Kardashian-Jenner family has appeared on the Met Gala's red carpet as frequently as Kim.
For that reason, she's got plenty of iconic styles to analyze, and James had a heyday going through the catalog of looks.
"Watching Kim’s appearances at the Met Ball is like watching a Rubik’s Cube puzzle get solved," James said.
In 2013, Kim turned up on the red carpet for the first time with then-partner Kanye West. She was pregnant with her oldest daughter, North.
"Kim’s body language here suggested she had not learned the confidence needed to style any look," James said.
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"Her lowered power signals shriek ‘plus one’ status here," James indicated. "Her chin is down and her torso is pressed into Kanye’s side."
But by 2015, James, said, "The goddess had arrived."
In a dramatic dress with a trailing train, Kim showed that she had come into her own star power over the past two years.
Kim "dominates" the red carpet, using her pose to strategically emphasize her curves in a way "no one else could."
"She looks pumped with confidence here, greeting the cameras with a haughty, over-the-shoulder look," James said.
It was Kanye's turn to look like the plus-one.
As Kanye leans against her, "Kim places one dominant hand of ownership on his torso as though to say ‘he’s with me,'" James said.
The 2019 event represented the peak of Kim's "unassailable" confidence in a silicone Thierry Mugler dress dripping with jewels.
"Her body language is now negligible, just a static pose and expression to show off her beauty," James said.
Kim keeps "one hand raised to show she is real and not a hologram," the expert added.
By 2021, Kim's icon status was solidified. Her body language – and outfit – reflected that.
"Success and perfection can cause their own problems when someone is under pressure to sustain those levels and this looked like Kim’s daring solution," James said.
The full-coverage Balenciaga ensemble was the "ultimate statement of confidence."
"By only posing as a silhouette, she informed the world that her body and her beauty were so instantly recognizable that an outline would be enough," James said.
But after a long streak of strong stances, last year's Met Gala indicated that Kim may have doubts about her own star power.
"If there was any body language signals to suggest some subliminal confidence dipping it was here," James said.
While Kim looked stunning, she "enlisted another icon" by wearing Marilyn Monroe's famous gown.
"By bleaching her hair and dropping 16 pounds in weight, Kim allowed her own goddess look to dilute," James said.
"She is also adopting a Marilyn pose here, pushing her breasts forward rather than featuring her signature waist and hips," James noted.
James said she hopes "Kim as Kim" will be back again this year.
KOURTNEY'S 'CHILDLIKE' REBELLION
The 2022 Met Gala was also a major moment for Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, both appearing on the red carpet for the first time.
The couple wore coordinating Thom Browne looks that fell short of the glitz and glamour usually associated with the event.
James thinks the underwhelming ensemble was an intentional choice on Kourtney's part.
"Her style and body language statement suggested she knew the best form of competition is rebellion," the expert said.
To see what she means, just compare Kourtney's look to her expression and posture.
"She carries this ripped, outer-stitched, bandaged punk look with the sweetest, most childlike smile," James pointed out.
While Kourtney leans on her man, she doesn't look needy or self-conscious.
Instead, she holds Travis’s hand "like a debutante being launched socially for the first time."
In the end, James said, "The counter-intuitive blend of cute body language and rebellious styling was compelling and clever."
KHLOE'S DEBUT & 'DESIRE TO BLEND IN'
Khloe Kardashian also made her Met Gala debut in 2022, but as she walked the red carpet, she lacked her sisters' oomph factor.
The gold Moschino gown and bleach-blonde hair Khloe sported were an echo of Kim's near-miss attempt at Marilyn Monroe's look.
"Khloe’s body language and her styling suggested a desire to blend in by getting it right," James said.
So, Khloe dressed to the theme, rather than "making her own, high-impact statement."
Along with the matchy-matchy dresses, James also compared Khloe's body language to Kim's.
"Her raised chin as she poses does suggest a hint of defiance," James said.
"But her eyes are raised too, suggesting she’s not got the confidence to look straight down the lens of the cameras in the way Kim does.
"The positioning of the gloved hands on her torso suggests a subliminal desire to create barriers or hide."
In some photos, Khloe was seen "using a hand-to-head-touch gesture that suggested her inner confidence was not quite as high as her outer beauty."
Other times, Khloe hid behind a pair of sunglasses, which was more evidence of her shy debut.
KYLIE'S 'DIVA' MAKEOVER GETS ATTENTION
Like Khloe, baby sister Kylie Jenner leaned on the most famous Kardashian sister as inspiration for her debut.
"In 2016 her silver sheath dress and short dark bob suggested she’d dipped into Kim’s wardrobe," James said.
While Kylie's dress included sheer side panels, another feature acted as a source of comfort.
"The long sleeves partly covered her hands, which were also partly balled, suggesting some inner tension or shyness," James said.
By 2019, Kylie had abandoned all hesitancy.
She stepped out in a "purple diva look" with the attitude to match.
"Her arms are held out in a splay, suggesting her message now is ‘look at me!’" James said.
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Taking a cue from Kim, in 2019 Kylie wore her own style but faced the cameras head-on.
"The knowing facial expression and eye engagement suggest she’s now well into the ring of competing for attention on the night," James said.