Princess Sassy's Blog: The Armenian Pulse Interview

While in Miami Kim took time out to do an interview with The Armenian Pulse. Apparently she is the most requested celebrity! Kim talks about being a 4th generation Armenian and what her heritage means to her. She talks food, her father and much more.

"by Harout Kalandjian

Here at Armenian Pulse we have been getting constant email requests to interview Kim Kardashian. She is by far our top requested celebrity. I’m happy to announce that Kim has agreed to take some time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions. We have all seen Kim on her hit reality series “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”, or heard all the gossip stories in the rags. Often times, with the media running wild on just the gossip, other relevant or interesting aspects of celebrities lives get overlooked. Having spent considerable time on blogs and forums, I noticed the same questions were consistently being raised on “How Armenian is Kim?” “Does Kim speak any Armenian?”, “Is Kim really Armenian?”. So, for this interview, we will ask her questions related to her Armenian heritage and history in hopes to find out just a bit more about the subject.

Some people would like you to believe that Kim Kardashian is famous for doing absolutely nothing, this fact could not be further from the truth. Employing her entrepreneurial business skills, Kardashian started on her own as a fashion stylist and became an immediate sought after wardrobe stylist for infomercials, television shows, music videos and photo shoots. But it was her organizational, orderly arrangement and construction of high fashion closets that led Kardashian into a unique line of work overhauling and designing closets for celebrities.

In 2006, together with her sisters Kourtney and Khloe, Kim Kardashian opened the designer clothing store DASH in Calabasas, California, their second store opened in Miami in May of 2009. Kim Kardashian just launched her own perfume in February 2010 and the fragrance is now available worldwide. In addition, Kim will co-design a fashion line with her sisters Kourtney and Khloe in conjunction with Bebe for five seasons. Similarly, Kim and her sisters will also design a line of Armenian-inspired jewelry with Virgin, Saints and Angels to honor their heritage. Her online shoe company, ShoeDazzle.com, launched in March 2009, provides affordable, fashionable shoes to its members. Kim released her new fitness series DVD “Fit In Your Jeans By Friday” to incredible reviews and it has hit the #1 spot on Amazon.com!

Along with the success of her many projects and ventures, she is a consummate doner to charity. Kim is a Dream Foundation ambassador which grants last wishes to terminally ill adults and does regular sales on Ebay to generate donations for the charity. She also recently completed PSA’s about the political plight in Burma and Breast Cancer awareness and also participated in a photo shoot promoting the “Until There’s A Cure” bracelet dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness and funds to combat the pandemic. In 2009, she helped raise more than $90,000 for the Etchmiadzin Children’s Fund (EFC). For two decades, the EFC – under the auspices of Catholicos Karekin II and the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America – has raised funds to help build an orphanage and help children in need in Armenia, “Anything we can do to lend our support to our heritage we gladly do” Kim said.

So without further ado here is our interview with Kim, asking the questions we felt our readers most wanted to know the answers to. We hope you enjoy it!"

H: Hello Kim, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions. First of all, how are you and what are you up to?

K: I am great! Enjoying spending time in Miami with my sisters filming their show “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami“!

H: There is a ton of information about you, but one small fact remains unanswered. We are hoping you can shed some light on your Armenian background and how it has shaped your life.

K: I am 4th generation Armenian, born and raised in Los Angeles. My great Grandparents from my fathers side came to LA from Armenia right before the Genocide. My great Grandfather was Armenian and my great Grandmother Turkish-Armenian. My mother is English, so I am half Armenian, but, I was raised with a huge Armenian influence, always hearing stories of Armenia, eating Armenian food and celebrating Armenian holidays!

H: Armenian food is the best! What’s your favorite dish?

K: Lamajune with string cheese!

H: That’s an interesting combination I’ll have to try

H: Ever since you made a name for yourself, The Armenian youth have literally been obsessed with you. In all my time on forums and blogs, your name is constantly being mentioned. At Armenian Pulse, we have received so many email requests to interview you, clearly you have an Armenian fan base out there that is really proud of your accomplishments.

K: This makes me so happy! My father would be so proud that we talk about our Armenian heritage! My dad used to always tell us to never remove the ian from our last name like some Armenians that came to the U.S. He was so proud to be Armenian and his biggest regret was not sending us to Armenian school! I am so proud to be Armenian and so happy that I can identify with my Armenian fans!

H: You didn’t go to Armenian school, but do you speak any Armenian?

K: Unfortunately I don’t speak Armenian, I wish I did!

H: You have no idea how much buzz was created on the fact that you mention Armenia as your location on your Twitter page.

K: People ask all the time if I am from there and unfortunately I have never been to Armenia, but it’s my dream to go there for sure!

H: Many Armenians weren’t actually born in Armenia, I was born in Beirut Lebanon for example and have never made it to Armenia either. Are there any plans in the near future to visit Armenia?

K: I am trying to go with my “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” cameras so that we can show the world what Armenia is like! It’s my dream to go to Armenia!

H: I’m sure the Armenian Community would love to see that happen! We recently saw a youtube video made by Perez Hilton and it was titled “Little Armenia: In Search Of Kim Kardashian” It was a hilarious video where Perez Hilton had a mission of getting an interview with you, how did you feel when they surprised you at one of your signing events?

K: I thought it was hilarious! It was like Borat style! I totally have a sense of humor and laughed so hard at that video when I saw it!

H: There was a segment in your hit reality T.V. series “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” where your mom was leading a very famous Armenian dance called the “Sourj Bar” at your sister Khloe’s wedding. How much, if any has your Armenian side shaped who you are?

K: That dance was so hilarious! I was hoping I did it correctly! Thinking about it, growing up with a strong Armenian influence has really shaped who I am!

H: Obviously your look is very important to your career as a model, spokesperson and pop culture icon. You definitely have the Armenian look, the big dark eyes, long black hair and great figure. How proud are you of your looks which can be attributed to not only your parents but that Armenian gene?

K: It’s so funny because everyone assumes I have had plastic surgery to get the body I have but I always say, have u seen Armenian women before?! LOL I love the exotic look of Armenian women and am proud to be Armenian!

H: It’s great you are so proud of your heritage. Armenians are well known for being great in business, Your father was no different, We all know that Robert Kardashian was a very successful and respected businessman/lawyer and that gene has passed on to you, You are literally involved in every aspect of entertainment and fashion, how and when do you find the time and energy for everything you are involved in?

K: I am a true business woman at heart! I’m a workaholic and I am so passionate about every project I am working on! I love diving into different projects weather it’s my perfume, tv show, shoe company or fitness projects I’m working on! I make the time!

H: Well, you’re certainly doing the right things. Growing up, what’s the best advice your father has given you concerning keeping your Armenian heritage alive?

K: My father always taught us to never forget where we came from. We grew up learning so much about our Armenian ancestors that we will teach what we have learned to our kids one day!

H: We know you have to go, we want to thank you very much for giving us your time and a bit of your history. I’m sure once this interview gets featured, Your Armenian fan base will have learned a bit more about your Armenian background.

K: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me!

H: You’re welcome Kim, Before we go, I would like to mention your newest venture, Your new fragrance branded after your name “KIM KARDASHIAN” just hit the market, What can women expect out of your new line of fragrance?

K: It’s a very voluptuous scent, very sexy and sweet!

H: The new fragrance by Kim Kardashian is now available exclusively at SEPHORA.com! For a limited time, you get the double K logo tote bag as a free gift, check it out!

“Khloe, Rob and I went to meet Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of Armenia! There was a charity event for the orphanages in Armenia and we went to support. Anything we can do to lend our support to our heritage we gladly do! We are dying to go to Armenia! Hopefully this year we will go! No one in my family has been back, and it’s really important to me that we go!The Armenian orphanage foundation raised $90,000 the night we attended their event! We are so proud!!!”

“This picture was taken at the Armenian restaurant, Carousel in Hollywood that we would always go to growing up! This particular photo was taken on my birthday!I think I was turning 19, I can’t exactly remember! No matter how big of a birthday party we would have, the family would always get together for a special B-day dinner at Carousel! Armenian food is my absolute favorite food on the planet!”

“This old school pic is of me and my grandmother. We always called her “Nana.” She is my Dad’s mother and her real name is Helen Kardashian. She passed away earlier this year… She was your typical Armenian grandmother: always cooking the best Armenian meals, our favorite, which was this Armenian breakfast called “beeshe”! I’m not sure if that’s even how you spell it but it’s basically a fried pancake with lots of sugar on top! She passed along the recipe but Kourtney is the only one in our entire Kardashian family who has mastered it. So every year in December my dad’s side of the family gets together and Kourtney makes it for us all! I miss my Nana so much!”