Is Kylie Jenner Crying Out for Help? An Expert Weighs In
June 16 2014, Published 2:49 p.m. ET
Kylie Jenner is green–scratch that, turquoise–with envy! Overshadowed by her sisters, the youngest of the Kardashian clan has been crying out for attention — dramatically altering her appearance, partying nonstop and posting a ton of provocative selfes on Instagram. Now insiders close to the 16-year-old are starting to worry that between her deep-seated insecurities and lack of parental guidance, her desperate bid to steal the spotlight has put her on a dangerous track to becoming a teenage train wreck.
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According to a source, much of Kylie’s rebellion has been triggered by sibling rivalry with Kendall Jenner, 18. Though the girls used to share a deep bond, Kylie has become very jealous of her sister’s modeling success after watching her spend the year walking in designer shows, jet-setting between the Cannes Film Festival and the Met Gala and scoring a coveted fashion spread in French Vogue. “Kylie constantly hears people talk about how much more attractive Kendall is, and the comparisons have really taken a toll on her,” says the insider, which may also explain why she appears to have undergone a slew of cosmetic procedures—which, for a teen, require parental consent.
“Kylie has grown up in a family that focuses on beauty and self-image, so it seems natural that she considers those things valuable,” behavioral expert Dr. Adi Jafe tells OK!. “In the Kardashian-Jenner household, trying to look ‘perfect’ is an actual pursuit, and plastic surgery can be seen as a tool for that.”
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On top of the striking changes to her appearance, Kylie has been partying nonstop in an effort to garner attention and fit in. “Because she feels like the ugly duckling of her family, she looks for other crowds to embrace her,” the insider shares. “She loves to hang with Justin Bieber’s crew because the attention helps her self-esteem.” On top of partying with Justin, 20, at Coachella, where she was seen downing shots of tequila, Kylie also accompanied him to the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight in Las Vegas last month without any supervision from big sis Khloé Kardashian, 29—who was also in town but spent the night exclusively with French Montana and his pals.
What makes Kylie’s rebellion especially worrying is exactly her family’s lack of concern, as they allow the teen to travel across the country on her own and to continually upload risqué images to social media. “She’s getting herself into dangerous situations,” says the source. “If someone doesn’t rein her in soon, something tragic will happen.”
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What do you think of Kylie's place in the Kardashian family? Would you be rebelling if you were her? Do you think it'd be tough to grow up in the Kardashian family? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @OKMagazine.