Over the last 10 years, Kim Kardashian's name has become synonymous with contouring. Well before she launched her own controversial kits, Kimmy (and her glam team) successfully brought the stage makeup technique of shading and highlighting to the masses β and our cheekbones have never been the same.
While I was deep in a photo research hole, I discovered something momentous: The EXACT MOMENT that Kim K discovered contouring.
Behold, the second our entire beauty lives changed.
On August 15, 2008, Kim was still working her entry-level Kardashian glam.
One-shade face makeup that's maybe half a shade too light for her? Yes. Big lashes with heavy liner? Absolutely. Loads of peach blush? Yes.
On August 18, 2008, Kim K was still just a normal girl β with normal makeup.
Thick lashes? No eyeliner? Who among us did NOT wear our makeup like this in 2008?
Little did we know, the days of Kim out at events in minimal makeup were coming to an end.
All of this changed on August 25, 2008. On a trip to NYC to promote "Keeping up with the Kardashians," Kim's entire look β and makeup as we knew it β transformed.
Kim stepped into her hotel, presumably looking like the same beautiful (but undone) girl.
She stepped out like this.
POW. Ladies and gentlemen, Kim has officially discovered contouring.
Here she is, out and about with a broken toe, looking glam as hell.
Here she is heading to "The Late Show with David Letterman" in FULL GLAM β the first time we'd ever truly seen that.
Based on my extensive photo research, this was the first time Kim had REALLY embraced the super-light undereyes and defined cheekbones that would become her beauty signature.
I know; was there ever really a time we didn't associate contouring with the Kardashians?
Could this be the first time she worked with her glam soulmate, Mario Dedivanovic?
Mario and Kim have always been a match made in beauty heaven β it would be impossible to overstate how much his artistry has influenced what "Kardashian beauty" has meant for the last 10 years.
And with this look, a star was born β and a million contour palettes were launched.
To think β almost exactly nine years ago, this was the highlight that started it all.
