Tete-a-tete with Kim and Kris

ONE OF THE world’s most glamorous women visited one of the world’s most glamorous cities this weekend, as Kim Kardashian descended on Dubai with her mother Kris Jenner.

The mother-daughter duo were in the UAE to launch milkshake bar Millions of Milkshakes in Dubai Mall on Friday, where each lady has their own signature flavour.

Kim rose to fame along with her sisters Khloe and Kourtney thanks to E! reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which proved an instant ratings winner on its 2007 launch. The season six finale aired last week in the States, with Kim’s wedding to New Jersey Nets basketball player Kris Humphries.

And the family have also starred in a slew of spin-offs, all created and executive produced by matriarch Kris Jenner – Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Khloe & Lamar, which focuses on Khloe’s marriage to another basketball star, Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers.

KIM KARDASHIAN

You landed in Dubai 24 hours ago. What have you been up to?

It’s been perfection since the moment we got here. Everyone has been so nice, we haven’t left the hotel yet. We went to dinner at Nobu downstairs, and that was good – we have it at home and it’s one of my favourite restaurants.

Where did your tie-up with Millions of Milkshakes begin?

Well Sheraz Hasan, who owns it, has been a friend of mine for years. I knew it had been a dream of his to open a milkshake store, so he opened one in Los Angeles and I helped him launch that. And when he said he was coming to Dubai, he invited me. I thought it was the perfect time to come out here. I’m coming with a friend, who knows everything here – where to stay and where to go – and I’ll help and support him.

What does the Kim Kardashian milkshake consist of?

I wanted to do something fruity, so it’s strawberry, banana and pineapple, with sprinkles on top because I have a sweet tooth.

You’ve done a bit of acting in the past, with roles in How I Met Your Mother and 90210. Is that something you’re looking to venture into more?

You know, if a great movie role came up, like the opportunity to go to Bollywood, then that would be amazing. It just depends on what it is.

Can you tell us more about your upcoming novel Dollhouse?

It’s mine and my sisters’ second book and it’s out in November. Our first book is called Kardashian Konfidential, and it’s all the fun stories and things about us you might not have known from the show. This book is a novel about three sisters, and it’ll be interesting for people to read because it’s about their journey. Their father passed away, and it’s about their careers and their lives. You won’t really know which sister is which – you may think one is me, one’s Khloe and one’s Kourtney. There are stories along the way you might be really shocked at, and you’ll wonder whether it’s real or not.

How’s married life treating you?

It’s good, we moved to New York right after we got married, so it’s been fun living together for the first time in a different city.

What have been the main differences between New York and Los Angeles you’ve found so far?

LA is home to me. New York is a little more fashionable and fast-paced. I think New Yorkers are always on the go, like non-stop work the entire time. Just like me! I’m homesick right now, I miss driving my own car and living in a hotel for three months can start to get to you. But we’re staying in a beautiful hotel, so it’s fun. (Looks behind her) But there’s no aquarium in it!

Can you tell us about your much-discussed platinum and diamond wedding ring (rumoured to be worth $200,000)?

Lorraine Schwartz designed it. I was a huge fan of hers before I became a client. Kris picked it out with her, and he did a really good job.

You’re one of only six people in the world with more than 10 million Twitter followers (the other being Barack Obama, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry). What perks and responsibilities do you find that brings?

I definitely watch what I say, so I don’t write crazy swear words or anything. My sisters write the weirdest, craziest things on Twitter, and I just don’t do that. They say the most inappropriate things! But it’s just a way to express yourself and have fun, and I love being able to communicate with people and get answers to things – I ask what nail polish I should wear today, and like a million people respond! And I’ll use it as a tool to help with my brands – like if I can’t decide what colour fragrance bottle to make my new perfume, I’ll just tweet a picture with two different bottles and ask ‘Hey guys, which colour do you like?’ And they pick it. It’s good to involve my fans in my world.

In what ways has your family changed since you all entered the limelight?

I think everyone has changed for the better. A lot of times, you hear of people changing for the worse, but I really think it has brought us closer together as a family. And I think everyone has grown up a lot. Everyone is self-sufficient now – before we were really dependent on our parents, now we’re extremely independent.

How easy is it to remain thick-skinned to criticism of yourself and your family?

People can be really harsh on the internet. You just have to be strong and stay true to who you are. You can say all you want not to listen to these people and be strong, but until you experience it you won’t know how to react to it.

Is that the biggest downside to fame?

Yeah there are a lot of people who might want to bring you down, but it comes with the territory.

KRIS JENNER

How are you enjoying your time in Dubai so far?

I love it, we’ve been here just 24 hours, but I’ve really got a feel for the people. Everybody’s been so nice and the hotel’s magnificent, so it’s been a lot of fun.

What does the remainder of 2011 hold for you?

Well I’ve got a book coming out. I’ve written a memoir, and I start a book tour in a couple of weeks. That’s going to be a big deal for me, and we’re also filming Khloe and Kim take New York right now. There’s just always something going on, there’s so much travelling we’ve got to do for the rest of the year – Australia and all over the United States. We’re pretty much on the move until the end of December.

What does your memoir cover?

My life, from beginning to end. I have so much to look forward to, and so many other books I’d like to write. I’d like to do a business book and I’d like to do a cookbook, for fun and for personal growth, but I had to get that first memoir out of the way. Everyone’s been asking me to write a book, plus it’s a great thing to do for my kids.

How easy was it combing back through your entire life?

It takes a long time. I’m in my 50s, and it’s very interesting to go back your childhood and remember things. I would recommend it to anybody, even if it’s just for yourself and you don’t want to publish it.

How did you enjoy your time as a panellist recently on the US women’s discussion show The Talk with the likes of Sharon Osbourne and Leah Remini?

I did it for three weeks, and they’ve asked me to come back. I love The Talk – the women, the topics, the process and being part of an ensemble cast of smart and sensitive women. They made working every day a lot of fun.

How’s your son Robert doing on Dancing with the Stars in the States at the moment?

He’s doing great. He made it through another round this week, we’ll see him this weekend and on Monday he dances again, this time to the Rumba.

Did you know he had talent as a dancer?

I had no idea he could put two steps together!

You became a grandmother in 2009, when Kourtney gave birth to her son Mason. How has it been?

Amazing. It’s my favourite role, besides being a parent. My life is my children, and seeing your children have children is the most remarkable experience.

What were your ambitions when you originally set out with Keeping Up with the Kardashians?

I like to look at life, the big picture. We had clothing stores at the time, and still do, and when someone offers to shed light on your business it’s such a great opportunity. Being able to grow that has been great for the girls, and for me it was always about the learning experience. Being on television just to be on television is pointless. It’s fun for the first onset, but after that if you don’t have a plan as to where you want to go, it’s just ignorant.

Which of the girls did you initially think would relish the spotlight, and which did you think might have some trouble with it?

I didn’t know how my two little ones (15-year-old Kendall and 14-year-old Kylie) would react, because they were so small at the time, and they’ve done amazing. They’re so professional and they have such great work ethic. But who surprised me the most was Kourtney. I thought she was the least excited to be on television, but she signed up and she’s turned out to be the most amazing businesswoman. I thought Kim would shine the most – Kim and Khloe – and they certainly have. But everyone has an impeccable work ethic – these girls get up at 4am and work till they fall down. Then they get up the next day and do it all over again. I’m very proud of my girls.

Do you ever plan a rough storyline of the various shows in advance?

Absolutely not. We let the cameras roll – that was the one thing we agreed to do when we first started out, that we would be absolutely authentic. That’s the way we roll.

And what about the editing process after the cameras are done filming? How much say do you have in that?

We definitely have a say, but we’re so busy – we have an editing team. I’m a control freak, but I’m not that bad. We’ve never taken anything out in the editing process, no matter how painful. There are times when I would have liked to, but I think it’s much more interesting and authentic to the audience if you just let it roll.

Kardashian on prenup

KIM KARDASHIAN, WHO married basketball player Kris Humphries in a lavish made-for-TV wedding in August, has refused to be drawn on questions about whether she arranged a pre-nuptial agreement before marrying the New Jersey Nets player.

Some 3.2 million viewers watched Kardashian, 30, one of the highest earning reality TV stars, wed 26 year-old Humphries in a two-part episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians which aired in the United States this week.

Asked on Thursday whether she had signed a pre-nuptial agreement, Kardashian said: “I don’t really talk finances. My father was an attorney and I’m a smart girl — I’d like to think so — you can do the math.

“I wouldn’t worry about that.”