Name: Taylor Momsen

For a long time when I was younger, my mum always told me I couldn't watch programs like 'Keeping Up With The Kardashian's' because they would rot my brain. Contrary to rotting my brain, the Kardashian's have a valuable lesson to teach, and this is why I have grown to admire Kim Kardashian. 

Apparently Kim Kardashian is known for being famous and to an extent this is true. She spends her days in luxury, having millions of dollars for seemingly unknown reasons and a husband who is one of the most influential, and controversial entertainers of the times. However, if you look a little more closely you will see that Kim Kardashian is in fact a great role model for young women and has worked for what she has. 

Despite common belief, Kim did have business ventures before KUWTK. Stating that she has had a job since she was at least sixteen, and had to pay for any damages to her car should she crash or 'tap' someone's car, I think it's safe to assume she has had a good work ethic from a young age - despite her rather comfortable upbringing. She later went on to create a lucrative ebay business, selling Manolo Blahnik Shoes for a profit to pay her dad back (plus interest) and then moving onto clothes she didn't wear. After this was successful, she went on to clearing out other celebrities wardrobe's, from Serena Williams to Paris Hilton's, and selling them on ebay. Now tell me, what part of this sounds like a bad role model; the part where she is responsible for her own car? The part where she practically makes her own business at 16? To me, she sounds like a great example for young girls to aspire too - hard working and responsible. 

In addition, Kim, along with her sisters Khloe and Kourtney, opened a boutique store in Miami, that now has a total of three stores over America. Although not something that may warrant the level of fame Kardashian has, it is untruthful to say she hasn't worked, and too say she is a bad role model is just a statement that is obviously made out of ignorance. 

Now, onto the main reason why I personally find Kim Kardashian to be a good role model. Kim experienced a heinous violation of privacy when a personal video she made in confidence, as a consenting adult was leaked against her will. Millions have seen a video that should have never left the hands of her and her partner at them time, but it did. How did the world handle it? Did they condemn the person that clearly violated Kim's rights, privacy and dignity? No. They shamed her, called her a slut, dumb, ignorant and many more things. This is an extremely horrible case of the double standard that women face - was Ray J held 'accountable' in the same way? was he called a slut or dumb or stupid? No, he faced nothing of the sort. Women are constantly scrutinized to a level men simply aren't - take the fact that Perez Hilton, who was one of the 'celebrities' (although I loath to call him that) that slut shamed Kim, doesn't exactly have a clean record on the very thing he is shaming Kim for... 

The reason why I think this is the thing that makes Kim an amazing role model - in spite of many people saying this is the reason why she is a bad role model for young girls - is because she took this violation of privacy and shaming and turned it into an empire. Kim is now one of the most influential women in pop culture, she has too many endorsement deals to count, a book, a successful app, all things that make an impact on today's young society. Although some may say these things are shallow, or that it's not her doing it, either way she has turned a source of shaming into a successful business. 

This post was prompted by the backlash Kim Kardashian faced after posting a nude photo. Many shamed her because she is now a mother and wife - and apparently that facet of her takes over the fact that she is an adult woman who can conduct herself however she may choose. When nudes are leaked the internet freaks out and many celebrate, yet when a confident woman chooses to share a photo she is shamed and told to be a better role model, when in actual fact I find it a great help to see a woman who is not a size 0 being confident and happy about her body.

Many people have shamed Kim, ranging from bring up her sex tape to suggesting that because she posted a nude photo she is somehow saying that is all she has to offer.

To those people I say, she is a wonderful role model. She is by no means perfect but to have that much confidence and the ability to create a business out of yourself is not a talent everyone has. She maintains self love despite slut shaming, constant comments about her sexual history, intelligence, morals and integrity - to me that is a very important messages to send to young women.