A brief history of the early 2000s, as told by Kim Kardashian's weird celebrity appearances

The Kim Kardashian we all know and love today is poised, put together and makes carefully calculated business decisions. But in the 2000s, especially early on, it was a media free-for-all. Kim was clearly much less savvy than she is now, but weren’t we all? The world as I knew it, anyhow, thrived on salacious reality TV, questionable celebrity endorsements, pleated low-rise denim mini skirts and XL Ice Caps from Tim’s.

As we bid adieu to another year, it only feels appropriate to fete the 2000s the best way I know possible: by looking back at Kim Kardashian’s weirdest celebrity appearances (the Pete Wentz music video makeout) and endorsements (two words: Kardashian Kard) over the years.

Scroll on to take a trip down memory lane in the best/worst way possible. 

When nightclubs were a thing...

Remember when you’d put on a black party dress (probably made of some cheap cotton or rayon or faux silk) and leave the house at 10pm to go wait in line for a nightclub where you’d then pay too much for drinks and cover? Kim and her sisters, along with the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and others, sure do. This was the launch of the PS3 back in 2006 and dang does it ever summarize that year.

...and so were $1 million dollar lollipops

Remember in the mid 00s when having a sucker on you at all times was a thing? No, just me? Kim’s 2011 endorsement with the dessert restaurant Sugar Factory was perfectly timed for the confectionary fiends that year, and she unapologetically carried a $1 million lollipop to Vegas red carpet event along with little sis Kylie.

When Donald Trump was just a reality TV star

Wasn't it quaint to live in a time when Trump was just some ding dong on television who’d shout “You’re fired!” once a week? Kim made an appearance on The Apprentice back in the day and the two were snapped together on several occasions. 

When the Webbies were still relevant

The Webbies are still a thing, but they haven’t been nearly as relevant as they were in the 2000s. This was later on in the 2010s, but we're counting The Webby Awards as peak aughts times.

When life was simple

Before she was a mogul herself, Kim was all but a lowly stylist for Paris Hilton. Paris and Nicole’s antics on The Simple Life, which started in 2003 and ran for five seasons, were cringy and yet it was hard to look away. Kim’s random appearances through the series, most of which Paris is seen making her clean her closet or bossing her around, so perfectly epitomized the early era.

When thick belts were acceptable accessories...

When Jay-Z released his album Kingdom Come, Kim and then bf Nick Cannon showed up to the release party hosted by GQ and ROCAWEAR looking sooo early 00s. Kim’s slouchy knit dress was only made better by the It accessory of the decade: an outrageously thick belt worn around her waist.

...and also Bump Its

Nothing completed an outfit in the Aughts quite like a Bump It. The statement piece not-so-subtly raised the hair in the back while keeping everything else super sleek--especially for those who were a slave to their flat iron. 

MORE KARDASHIAN NEWS: 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' is coming to an end

[video_embed id='2031296']MORE KARDASHIAN NEWS: 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' is coming to an end[/video_embed]

When Sidekicks were all the rage

It’s hard to imagine a time before the iPhone, but for those of us of a certain age, the Sidekick and it’s slide out keyboard and customizable case was all the rage, especially south of the border. 

And so were flip phones

If you didn’t ever order a Sidekick up to Canada on eBay, chances are you at least had a flip phone, like a Motorola Razr. They were just as dope and could be personalized with some very questionable ringtones and sparkly skins. 

When Fall Out Boy was everything...

If you don’t know at least 70 per cent of the words to Fall Out Boy’s ‘Thnks fr th Mmrs’, which angstily deletes the vowels in the song name, you probably weren’t a teen or young twenty-something in 2007. In the music video for the single, a young Kim plays the love interest of Pete Wentz, the band’s bassist, and they’re filmed making out. Apparently the pair have kept in touch since the on-screen kiss.

...And DWTS was still novel 

While it’s hard to imagine Kim committing to a season of Dancing with the Stars these days, a younger version of herself was all for it. In 2008, Kim appeared on the celebrity dance competition along with pro partner Mark Ballas, but  she only lasted two weeks. Despite her effort dancing the Mambo to Baby Got Back, she was still voted off early.

When celebs slapped their names on just about anything

Kim and her sisters (likely instigated by mom Kris) thought releasing the Kardashian Kard, a credit card with a $100 annual fee, would be a good idea. In the 2000s, it kind of made sense though. My younger self probably would’ve signed up for the Kardashian Kard had it been available to financially illiterate first-year University students in Canada. 

When being a wrestling hostess improved your resume 

While it feels like a distant memory, there was a time in our lives when we could congregate in a massive stadium with strangers and watch music or sports. Kim’s appearance at Wrestlemania XXIV proves just that. She played hostess at the annual event that year in Florida, and weirdly enough, we crave those simpler times.

When a pair of sneakers could make your butt rounder

The Sketchers x Kim Kardashian shoe collab should’ve been a success. Skechers were at an all-time high in terms of cool then, but the “shape-up” sneakers, which promised to build a curvy Kardashian-like butt just by wearing them, was completely false advertising. (There was a lawsuit and everything.)

BEFORE YOU GO: Revolutionary new way to serve and eat cake has our hosts amazed

[video_embed id='2091516']BEFORE YOU GO: Revolutionary new way to serve and eat cake has our hosts amazed[/video_embed]