Kim Kardashian has candidly admitted that in the early 2000s, she went to the extent of dropping Britney Spears’ name to attract attention and gain entry into exclusive spaces, during a time when achieving fame was her singular obsession.
The SKIMS founder and reality television star made the revelation during an intimate conversation on her sister Khloé Kardashian’s podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land, released on January 27, 2026. The episode, which focused on personal growth, ambition, and the evolution of their public personas, featured Kim reflecting openly on the lengths she went to in her pre-fame years.
Kim recounted a specific incident from the early 2000s when she was living in New York City and dining with her longtime friend and former publicist Jonathan Cheban. During the meal, Cheban learned that pop superstar Britney Spears was staying at a nearby hotel. Kim said the information immediately presented an opportunity.
“I remember Jonathan saying, ‘Britney Spears is at this hotel,’ and I was like, ‘Okay, let’s go there,’” Kim explained on the podcast. “We literally went to the hotel just because Britney was there. I think I even said something like, ‘I’m here with Britney’ or dropped her name at the door or something—just to get in, to be seen, to be noticed.”
She continued: “Fame was all I wanted. I lived for it. That was literally my only goal at the time. I didn’t care how I got it—I just wanted to be famous.”
Kim described this period as one of intense ambition mixed with naivety. At the time, she was working as Paris Hilton’s personal assistant and closet organizer, a role that gave her proximity to celebrity circles but not yet the spotlight she craved. The Britney Spears anecdote, she said, exemplified her willingness to do “whatever it took” to break through, including leveraging the names and locations of bigger stars to gain access to events, venues, and media attention.
The confession aligns with earlier stories Kim has shared about her pre-Keeping Up with the Kardashians days, including her infamous 2007 sex tape scandal with then-boyfriend Ray J, which catapulted her into global recognition. However, the podcast moment marked one of the most direct admissions of how deliberately she pursued visibility before fame arrived.
Khloé, who hosts the podcast, responded with a mix of surprise and understanding. “You were really out here name-dropping Britney just to get into places?” she asked, laughing. Kim affirmed without hesitation: “Yes. 100%. I was shameless about it.”
The sisters also reflected on how dramatically their relationship with fame has changed over the years. Kim, now 45, acknowledged that while early fame was intoxicating, today she values privacy, family, and business success far more than public attention. She credited motherhood, therapy, and building billion-dollar brands like SKIMS and SKKN BY KIM for shifting her priorities.
“I used to think fame was the end goal,” Kim said. “Now I realize it’s just a tool. The real goal is impact, creating things that last, and protecting what actually matters—my kids, my sanity, my businesses.”
The podcast episode has quickly gone viral on social media, with clips of Kim’s Britney Spears admission circulating widely on X, TikTok, and Instagram. Fans and commentators have reacted with a blend of amusement, nostalgia, and admiration for her honesty. Many pointed out that such tactics were not uncommon in the early 2000s celebrity ecosystem, where proximity to established stars was one of the few ways newcomers could gain traction before social media democratized fame.
The revelation also reignited discussions about the Kardashian-Jenner family’s calculated rise to prominence. Critics have long argued that their success was built on strategic media manipulation, while supporters praise their work ethic, branding genius, and ability to evolve with changing cultural landscapes.
Since those early days, Kim has transformed from a tabloid fixture into a global entrepreneur, law advocate, and mother of four. Her businesses—SKIMS (valued at over $4 billion), SKKN BY KIM, and various investments—have made her one of the wealthiest self-made women in the world. She has also become a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform, successfully lobbying for the release of several incarcerated individuals through her work with the Alice Marie Johnson case and subsequent initiatives.
The Khloé in Wonder Land podcast, launched in late 2025, has become a platform for the Kardashian sisters to speak more candidly about personal struggles, family dynamics, and lessons learned from fame. Previous guests have included Kris Jenner, Kendall Jenner, and close friends, with episodes often blending humor, vulnerability, and behind-the-scenes insights.
Kim’s admission about using Britney Spears’ name is unlikely to dent her current image. In an era where authenticity and self-reflection are increasingly valued, the story has been largely received as a relatable “glow-up” anecdote—proof of how far she has come from a young woman desperate for recognition to a confident mogul who no longer needs to chase the spotlight.
As Kim prepares for new SKIMS campaigns and continues her legal studies, her willingness to revisit and own the more opportunistic moments of her past appears to be part of a broader effort to humanize the carefully curated Kardashian brand.
