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Kim Kardashian shares the piercing moment she learned she didn't pass the bar exam


The reality star who won’t quit her real-life legal story


Image© Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Shirley GomezSenior Writer
NOVEMBER 17, 2025 3:04 PM EST

Kim Kardashian opened a window into the unfiltered chaos of chasing a real legal dream. Her new video, shared Nov. 16, spills the emotional and physical marathon leading up to the California bar exam. Yes, the same test she later revealed she didn’t pass. And the same journey she refuses to walk away from.

The video opens on a scene showing Kim sitting on her bed, crying, overwhelmed, stretched thin, and desperately trying to push through. Then the timeline rewinds to two weeks earlier, landing us squarely inside the storm.

The California bar exam isn’t exactly a light jog.© Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
The California bar exam isn’t exactly a light jog.

Those days were an all-consuming blur of case reviews, professor sessions, and marathon study hours. The California bar exam isn’t exactly a light jog. It demands five one-hour essays, a performance test, and 200 multiple-choice questions that seem specifically designed to make your brain do interpretive dance. Kim’s prep was so intense that she began dreaming about missing points on the exam. 

Pain, Pressure, and the Plot Twist No One Ordered

As if the stress alone wasn’t gladiator-level, Kim also threw out her back mid-prep. Her words for the situation were candid; the discomfort was real, and a couple of disc issues added physical pain to the mental weight. 

At one point in the video, she breaks down: “Every time I feel like I’m a step ahead, something happens to try to stop me from doing this.” But she kept at it. While her four children vacationed, she buried herself in notes, outlines, flashcards, and sample questions. She even managed to find a rare moment of calm the day before the test. “I feel really good about everything,” she said. “My body feels good. I feel prepared.” 

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The Results and the Resilience

Nov. 7 arrived like a plot twist straight out of prestige TV. Kim got the news that she had not passed the bar exam. It also happened to be the same day Hulu premiered her new legal drama, "All’s Fair," where — ironically, delightfully — she plays a chic divorce lawyer who leaves a male-dominated firm to start her own.

 Kim got the news that she had not passed the bar exam. It also happened to be the same day Hulu premiered her new legal drama, "All’s Fair"© GC Images
Kim got the news that she had not passed the bar exam. It also happened to be the same day Hulu premiered her new legal drama, "All’s Fair"

She handled the moment with humor. “Well…I’m not a lawyer yet,” she posted. “I just play a very well-dressed one on TV.” The result wasn’t the end. Not even close. “Failing short isn’t failure — it’s fuel,” she wrote. 

Her younger sister, Khloé Kardashian, took to social media to offer her support by writing: "I am so so so proud of you!!! I saw how hard you studied and how badly you want this! Keep going! We don’t give up! You got this baby! ❤️" Khloé's best friend, Malika, said: "You’re a fighter Kim. This set back is just a part of the journey… Your work ethic is inspirational. Sending you love on the way to your destiny 🤍"

While fans added: "Success is still forming… Trust the process xo Failure doesn’t define you…it prepares you!! With every attempt, you’re building strength, resilience, and growth.. Keep going Kim…. You will achieve, and you will succeed!! 💕"

 Kim Kardashian attends the "All's Fair" London Premiere.© Mike Marsland/WireImage
Kim Kardashian attends the "All's Fair" London Premiere.

Kim is still in this fight. No shortcuts, just more studying and the kind of determination that would make Elle Woods raise an eyebrow in admiration.

Her journey proves success looks a lot less like perfection and a lot more like persistence. Whether you’re chasing a license, a dream job, or just trying to keep life from exploding into confetti, her message lands. 

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