[Opinion] Kendall Jenner should not be the highest paid model

Vogue

Kendall Jenner awkwardly poses for the March edition magazine of Vogue. She sits on a furnace in a hunched-over position with a blank face. Photo courtesy of Vogue.com

Jessie Gesund, Associate Editor-In-Chief

Kendall Jenner is the world’s most prominent fashion supermodel in the industry. Dipping her toes into modeling at the age of 14, Jenner originally rose to fame in her family’s reality show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” After countless runway walks, magazine covers and fashion campaigns, Jenner earned the title of the “world’s highest paid supermodel” in 2018 by Forbes.

Contrary to popular opinion, I do not think Jenner should be the highest paid model. Although she headlines several photo shoots and runways, she is not bringing any unique looks, poses or statements into the industry.

Jenner’s recent photo shoots with Vogue and designer brand Givenchy lack adequate, emotional facial expressions. Giving the same straight-lipped, vague stare in every photo, Jenner does not portray any emotion or message through the lens. They were most definitely not photos worthy of a big paycheck at the end of the day.

In her recent Vogue photoshoot, Jenner was given a simplistic, yet imaginative set design to work with, along with the opportunity to model with children and a rabbit. However, Jenner did not deliver with her poses. While she could have been interacting with the children on the set and expressing happiness and youthfulness, she gave nothing. Jenner stood tall, looking down with a blank expression as the children painted her white coat.

Although there was area for excitement and creativity, Jenner was unable to appropriately tell a story with her stills. This seems to become a pattern in many of her photo shoots. Her posing and facial expressions appear weak. Instead of giving versatility, Jenner only gives a pretty face and figure.

While it is apparent that Jenner is extremely beautiful and has great style, she does not deliver on the duties of a model. Models are expected to come up with a variety of sophisticated and creative poses, as well as display products. Jenner does not perform well on that front.

Jenner’s socialite status has helped her climb to the top of the model ranks. Being a child of nepotism, or being favorited because of her parents, has most definitely helped her throughout her modeling career. Having well-known parents, former Olympian Kaitlyn Jenner and reality star Kris Jenner, as well as famous sisters, the Kardashian/Jenner clan, has made it easier for her to stay relevant in the news and in the modeling industry. Having fame does not mean Jenner should have more fortune.

There are other models in the fashion industry who are serving looks better than Jenner’s, but they are not compensated equally or given the sheer amount of attention Jenner gets purely because of her status. Underappreciated models should be given opportunities like Jenner, if not more so based on their uniqueness, poses and appearance on camera. Jenner’s salary is a basic flex of her popularity and pretty face, not her modeling skills.