Kimoji

2015Emoji set / mobile appdead
Kimoji is a 2015 smartphone app featuring over 250 Kim Kardashian-themed emojis and animated GIFs, which sparked a major trend of celebrity emoji apps before discontinuing in 2019.

Kimoji was a smartphone app featuring over 250 Kim Kardashian-themed emojis and animated GIFs, launched in December 2015. The app hit 9,000 downloads per second on its first day and kicked off an entire wave of celebrity emoji apps3. After mixed reviews, declining interest, and a controversial feminist emoji update in 2018, the app was discontinued in 20191.

celebrity emoji appsmeme celebrity memesmid 2010s memesrecord breaking memes

Overview

Kimoji gave iPhone users a custom keyboard packed with Kim Kardashian-themed pictograms, stickers, and GIFs3. The emojis ranged from Kardashian's iconic crying face and middle finger to her Paper magazine cover pose, waist trainer, and platinum blonde hair debut1. Many of the icons leaned sexual, depicting Kardashian's butt and breasts, while others included more mundane items like doughnuts, hearts, and red Solo cups3. Later updates added animated stickers such as a handprint slapped on a butt and a couple in a shower3. Users could access the emojis through the iPhone keyboard selector and paste them into any messaging app4.

Kim Kardashian previewed the emoji collection on her personal Instagram on December 20, 2015, in a post that pulled in over 722,000 likes within two years4. The app itself launched the following day, December 21, 20151. Kardashian said the project had been in development for almost two years before release3.

She promoted the launch heavily across Instagram and Twitter, sharing screenshots of text conversations that showed the emojis replacing words in everyday exchanges1. The emojis were built around her personal brand, referencing her contouring routine, ugly cry, high-profile baby bump, and the scandalous nude Paper magazine cover shoot1.

Origin & Background

Platform
Apple App Store (launch), Instagram / Twitter (promotion)
Key People
Kim Kardashian
Date
2015

Kim Kardashian previewed the emoji collection on her personal Instagram on December 20, 2015, in a post that pulled in over 722,000 likes within two years. The app itself launched the following day, December 21, 2015. Kardashian said the project had been in development for almost two years before release.

She promoted the launch heavily across Instagram and Twitter, sharing screenshots of text conversations that showed the emojis replacing words in everyday exchanges. The emojis were built around her personal brand, referencing her contouring routine, ugly cry, high-profile baby bump, and the scandalous nude Paper magazine cover shoot.

How It Spread

On launch day, the Kimoji app hit 9,000 downloads per second and earned $1 million per minute despite mediocre initial App Store ratings. The flood of downloads caused issues with the app, and Kardashian tweeted "Apple, I'm so sorry I broke your App Store!!!" The tweet picked up over 5,200 retweets and 13,000 likes. She followed up with "My Kimoji app will be up and running again soon!". However, Variety later issued a correction noting that the App Store itself did not actually experience any issues despite Kardashian's claim.

The app's commercial success quickly attracted imitators. Throughout 2016, a wave of celebrity emoji apps hit the market, including Steph Curry's StephMoji, Justin Bieber's Justmoji, Amber Rose's MuvaMoji, and Hillary Clinton's Hillarymoji. Katy Perry's Meoji eventually dethroned Kimoji as the top-selling celebrity emoji app. A web developer who viewed Kimoji as a societal ill even created a parody set based on North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, with some illustrations directly mocking Kimoji designs.

The Kimoji trademark also spun off into physical merchandise: pool floats, Post-it notes shaped like Kardashian's butt, fragrances, and smartphone accessories.

On March 6, 2018, Kardashian announced a feminist-themed Kimoji update, tweeting an image of a "Full Time Feminist" emoji with the caption "So proud of this KIMOJI pack". The pack drew mixed reactions. Twitter user @ElizabethThee called the women's empowerment emojis "a slap to every women who has stood to fight for our rights," earning over 1,100 retweets and 5,600 likes in 24 hours. Others saw a positive message. User @MUNCHKiN_XO tweeted "I love the message behind the new Kimoji's" and got 480 retweets and 3,200 likes. Twitter compiled the debate into a Moments page that same day.

By late 2016, the novelty of celebrity emoji apps had worn off and Kimoji had already dropped out of the top 200 grossing apps. The app was criticized for its high price, lack of updates, and poor customer service. Kimoji was discontinued in 2019.

How to Use This Meme

Kimoji worked as a keyboard extension on iPhone. Users would download the app, enable the Kimoji keyboard through their phone settings, and then switch to it within any messaging app using the keyboard selector. From there, they could browse categories of emojis and stickers, tap to copy one, and paste it into a conversation. People typically used Kimoji to add humor or personality to texts, picking from options like the crying Kim face for dramatic moments or the peach and butt emojis for flirtier exchanges. The animated GIFs could be sent through iMessage directly.

Cultural Impact

Kimoji's biggest mark on culture was proving that a celebrity could turn their personal brand into a profitable emoji product. The app earned massive revenue in its first hours and directly inspired a cottage industry of imitators throughout 2016. The model showed that social media following could be converted into app downloads almost instantly.

The feminist emoji update in 2018 briefly put Kimoji back in the spotlight, sparking a genuine debate about whether Kim Kardashian was the right messenger for women's empowerment imagery. The "My Body My Choice" emoji, featuring Kardashian's naked body with censor bars, became one of the most discussed individual designs from the pack.

Urban Dictionary defined Kimoji simply as "a very pointless but trendy app," capturing the cultural ambivalence many felt toward the product.

Fun Facts

Kardashian's "I broke your App Store" tweet went viral, but Variety confirmed the App Store never actually went down.

The app was in development for nearly two years before launch.

At peak launch, the app was pulling 9,000 downloads every second.

Some of the emoji designs had no obvious connection to Kardashian, like a row of gummy bears and a red Solo cup.

Derivatives & Variations

StephMoji

— Steph Curry's basketball-themed emoji app, which also became a top seller on the App Store[3].

Justmoji

— Justin Bieber's celebrity emoji app, part of the 2016 wave Kimoji started[3].

MuvaMoji

— Amber Rose's emoji set, which leaned even more heavily into sexual content[3].

Hillarymoji

— Hillary Clinton's campaign-themed emoji app[3].

Kim Jong-un parody emojis

— A web developer created a satirical emoji set based on the North Korean dictator, with some designs mocking Kimoji directly[3].

Kimoji merchandise

— Pool floats, butt-shaped Post-it notes, fragrances, and phone accessories sold under the Kimoji brand[3].

Frequently Asked Questions

Kimoji

2015Emoji set / mobile appdead
Kimoji is a 2015 smartphone app featuring over 250 Kim Kardashian-themed emojis and animated GIFs, which sparked a major trend of celebrity emoji apps before discontinuing in 2019.

Kimoji was a smartphone app featuring over 250 Kim Kardashian-themed emojis and animated GIFs, launched in December 2015. The app hit 9,000 downloads per second on its first day and kicked off an entire wave of celebrity emoji apps. After mixed reviews, declining interest, and a controversial feminist emoji update in 2018, the app was discontinued in 2019.

celebrity emoji apps meme celebrity memes mid 2010s memes record breaking memes

Overview

Kimoji gave iPhone users a custom keyboard packed with Kim Kardashian-themed pictograms, stickers, and GIFs. The emojis ranged from Kardashian's iconic crying face and middle finger to her Paper magazine cover pose, waist trainer, and platinum blonde hair debut. Many of the icons leaned sexual, depicting Kardashian's butt and breasts, while others included more mundane items like doughnuts, hearts, and red Solo cups. Later updates added animated stickers such as a handprint slapped on a butt and a couple in a shower. Users could access the emojis through the iPhone keyboard selector and paste them into any messaging app.

Kim Kardashian previewed the emoji collection on her personal Instagram on December 20, 2015, in a post that pulled in over 722,000 likes within two years. The app itself launched the following day, December 21, 2015. Kardashian said the project had been in development for almost two years before release.

She promoted the launch heavily across Instagram and Twitter, sharing screenshots of text conversations that showed the emojis replacing words in everyday exchanges. The emojis were built around her personal brand, referencing her contouring routine, ugly cry, high-profile baby bump, and the scandalous nude Paper magazine cover shoot.

Origin & Background

Platform
Apple App Store (launch), Instagram / Twitter (promotion)
Key People
Kim Kardashian
Date
2015

Kim Kardashian previewed the emoji collection on her personal Instagram on December 20, 2015, in a post that pulled in over 722,000 likes within two years. The app itself launched the following day, December 21, 2015. Kardashian said the project had been in development for almost two years before release.

She promoted the launch heavily across Instagram and Twitter, sharing screenshots of text conversations that showed the emojis replacing words in everyday exchanges. The emojis were built around her personal brand, referencing her contouring routine, ugly cry, high-profile baby bump, and the scandalous nude Paper magazine cover shoot.

How It Spread

On launch day, the Kimoji app hit 9,000 downloads per second and earned $1 million per minute despite mediocre initial App Store ratings. The flood of downloads caused issues with the app, and Kardashian tweeted "Apple, I'm so sorry I broke your App Store!!!" The tweet picked up over 5,200 retweets and 13,000 likes. She followed up with "My Kimoji app will be up and running again soon!". However, Variety later issued a correction noting that the App Store itself did not actually experience any issues despite Kardashian's claim.

The app's commercial success quickly attracted imitators. Throughout 2016, a wave of celebrity emoji apps hit the market, including Steph Curry's StephMoji, Justin Bieber's Justmoji, Amber Rose's MuvaMoji, and Hillary Clinton's Hillarymoji. Katy Perry's Meoji eventually dethroned Kimoji as the top-selling celebrity emoji app. A web developer who viewed Kimoji as a societal ill even created a parody set based on North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, with some illustrations directly mocking Kimoji designs.

The Kimoji trademark also spun off into physical merchandise: pool floats, Post-it notes shaped like Kardashian's butt, fragrances, and smartphone accessories.

On March 6, 2018, Kardashian announced a feminist-themed Kimoji update, tweeting an image of a "Full Time Feminist" emoji with the caption "So proud of this KIMOJI pack". The pack drew mixed reactions. Twitter user @ElizabethThee called the women's empowerment emojis "a slap to every women who has stood to fight for our rights," earning over 1,100 retweets and 5,600 likes in 24 hours. Others saw a positive message. User @MUNCHKiN_XO tweeted "I love the message behind the new Kimoji's" and got 480 retweets and 3,200 likes. Twitter compiled the debate into a Moments page that same day.

By late 2016, the novelty of celebrity emoji apps had worn off and Kimoji had already dropped out of the top 200 grossing apps. The app was criticized for its high price, lack of updates, and poor customer service. Kimoji was discontinued in 2019.

How to Use This Meme

Kimoji worked as a keyboard extension on iPhone. Users would download the app, enable the Kimoji keyboard through their phone settings, and then switch to it within any messaging app using the keyboard selector. From there, they could browse categories of emojis and stickers, tap to copy one, and paste it into a conversation. People typically used Kimoji to add humor or personality to texts, picking from options like the crying Kim face for dramatic moments or the peach and butt emojis for flirtier exchanges. The animated GIFs could be sent through iMessage directly.

Cultural Impact

Kimoji's biggest mark on culture was proving that a celebrity could turn their personal brand into a profitable emoji product. The app earned massive revenue in its first hours and directly inspired a cottage industry of imitators throughout 2016. The model showed that social media following could be converted into app downloads almost instantly.

The feminist emoji update in 2018 briefly put Kimoji back in the spotlight, sparking a genuine debate about whether Kim Kardashian was the right messenger for women's empowerment imagery. The "My Body My Choice" emoji, featuring Kardashian's naked body with censor bars, became one of the most discussed individual designs from the pack.

Urban Dictionary defined Kimoji simply as "a very pointless but trendy app," capturing the cultural ambivalence many felt toward the product.

Fun Facts

Kardashian's "I broke your App Store" tweet went viral, but Variety confirmed the App Store never actually went down.

The app was in development for nearly two years before launch.

At peak launch, the app was pulling 9,000 downloads every second.

Some of the emoji designs had no obvious connection to Kardashian, like a row of gummy bears and a red Solo cup.

Derivatives & Variations

StephMoji

— Steph Curry's basketball-themed emoji app, which also became a top seller on the App Store[3].

Justmoji

— Justin Bieber's celebrity emoji app, part of the 2016 wave Kimoji started[3].

MuvaMoji

— Amber Rose's emoji set, which leaned even more heavily into sexual content[3].

Hillarymoji

— Hillary Clinton's campaign-themed emoji app[3].

Kim Jong-un parody emojis

— A web developer created a satirical emoji set based on the North Korean dictator, with some designs mocking Kimoji directly[3].

Kimoji merchandise

— Pool floats, butt-shaped Post-it notes, fragrances, and phone accessories sold under the Kimoji brand[3].

Frequently Asked Questions