Kim Kardashian is reminding the world that fame never outshines friendship, especially when it comes to those who’ve known you before the spotlight. On Sunday, the 45-year-old SKIMS founder shared a touching tribute on Instagram to mark one year since the passing of her dear friend, Lindsay May Palevsky, who died after a long battle with cancer in November 2024.
Kim’s post was quietly powerful. She shared several images on her Instagram Story, including a photo of Lindsay’s grave plaque, which read that she was born on July 3, 1980, and passed away on November 2, 2024. The billionaire reality star didn’t use words in her caption, only a purple heart and infinity emoji.
Among the images was a nostalgic throwback of Kim surrounded by her oldest friends, her so-called “lifers”, the tight-knit group of women she’s been close to since growing up in Beverly Hills.
Mourning a Childhood Friend
A source told the Daily Mail earlier this year that Kim was “deeply affected” by Lindsay’s death. “It’s been really hard on Kim because she had known Lindsay since childhood,” the insider shared. “They’re only in their forties, not their nineties, so it’s difficult to process. Kim has found comfort in her sisters and her ‘lifers’ — the friends she’s kept since those early Beverly Hills days.”
When Lindsay passed away last year, Kim publicly expressed her heartbreak, writing, “I felt this so deep. I love you so much.” Her sister Kourtney Kardashian commented, “This made me cry. I love you.”
Kim’s “lifers” have long been a fixture in her life, women who knew her long before reality TV, business empires, and billion-dollar success. The core group includes Allison Statter, Simone Harouche, Zoe Winkler Reinis, Sarah Meyer Michaelson, Ashley, and, of course, the late Lindsay Palevsky.
In 2023, Kim celebrated their friendship with a nostalgic post captioned, “Lifers Appreciation Post. Life is better when you have your lifers!” She included a mix of old and new photos, from their Marymount High School days in Bel Air to recent get-togethers as grown women with families and careers.
The Friends Who Grew Up with Kim
Allison Statter (née Azoff) is the daughter of famed music executive Irving Azoff. She’s now the CEO and founder of Blended Strategy Group, managing top stars like Cardi B, and even collaborated with Kim on her KKW Beauty line.
Simone Harouche, a stylist and designer, has worked with Miley Cyrus, Nicole Richie, and Christina Aguilera. She was also with Kim in Paris during the 2016 robbery, one of Kim’s most traumatic experiences.
Zoe Winkler Reinis, daughter of actor Henry Winkler, co-founded This Is About Humanity, a non-profit supporting families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Sarah Meyer Michaelson is the founder and CEO of Roe Caviar, while her sister Jennifer Meyer is the jewelry designer loved by stars like Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox.