Clad in matching Chanel outfits, Kim Kardashian and her daughter North posed for a glamorous Instagram post earlier in May. Kim's caption, “It’s North’s world. I’m just in it,” was met with criticism from fans and followers, accusing the reality star of thrusting her young daughter prematurely into the limelight.

Detractors are vocal in their discontent. A flurry of comments criticized Kim for encouraging her daughter's apparent narcissism, with one even dubbing her “Kris 2.0,” a nod to Kim's mother and manager, Kris Jenner. An insider explains, “Kim had to be aware that bringing North to the forefront would invite these reactions. She is clearly preparing her to perpetuate the family's fame. It's classic Kardashian: fame is the end goal.”

They add that North, already a TikTok sensation, enjoys the attention. “North is a natural extrovert who relishes dressing up and sharing content like her mother,” says the source. “Kim struggles to hold her back.” Nor does she necessarily want to; in March, the 42-year-old entrepreneur sought trademarks in North's name for possible skincare and toy ventures. The insider says, “Kim believes she is supporting North. If it were up to Kim, North would already have her own reality series and clothing brand.”

However, not all family members are on board. North's father, Kanye West, has expressed his reservations about his daughter's online presence, although he reportedly often yields to North's desires. Meanwhile, Kim's sisters, Kourtney and Khloé, have kept their children more shielded from public attention and are advising Kim to tread carefully. Kendall and Kylie Jenner also express concerns, having experienced the pressures of growing up in the public eye. Unsurprisingly, Kris Jenner is in full support of North's early debut.

As the architect of the Kardashian fame, Kris played a key role in catapulting the family to stardom through a reality show. A source notes, “Kim was an adult when all this happened, but North is only 9. She enjoys the spotlight, but there are concerns that her childhood is being curtailed. It's uncertain how this early exposure will impact her in the long run.”

Kim has always been staunchly defensive of her children. However, critics believe it's only a matter of time before North confronts the challenges of public scrutiny. The insider concludes, “Even though Kim thinks she’s equipping North well based on her own experiences, it's a significant burden for a young child.”