It wasn’t a TV show.
It wasn’t Kylie Jenner’s Lip Kit.
When Kris Jenner said she would announce a new business venture in the UAE today, there were plenty of ideas about what it could be.
It turns out the reality TV star and producer came to Dubai to launch Legacy Business School, which opens in New York City in September, with a plan, we’re told, to soon open a campus in Dubai. Jenner will act as chairperson of the board.
The 60-year-old business tycoon spoke to media on Sunday, following a private event last week at Jean Georges Restaurant, where she revealed the plans to VIP guests.
“I know what it means to have a vision and a passion,” Jenner said, speaking at a press conference at the Dubai Design District (D3).
“I know what it means to work hard and turn a dream into a reality. Now I want to pay it forward and help young ambitious entrepreneurs.”
The school will focus on fashion management and Jenner says she’d be willing to allow students to intern with her family’s businesses “if they have the right passion for it”.
What other involvement will she have? Well, students may have the chance to learn the business of business from her directly: “I will be coming in to definitely do that [teach] from time to time. I love to mentor.
Carla Dibello, managing partner of CDB Advisory and a longterm friend of Jenner’s, has been involved with bringing the university to the UAE. She moved to the Dubai two years ago and works with American businesses who want to have a presence the Middle East. When Jenner contacted her about Legacy, Dibello said it was a no-brainer.
“Dubai is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, so to be able to give people the platform and access between New York and Dubai seemed like the best fit,” she said.
They will open an admissions office on the grounds of D3 where students will be able to apply for enrolment in New York, and eventually Dubai. For now, they’d like to open here in September 2017. Asked whether they will open the campus itself in D3, Dibello said they are “looking at locations” at the moment.
The private school will offer four-year programmes. Though the only requirement is a high school diploma, the institution will be accessible only to those who can afford it and will not offer scholarships.
As for Jenner’s legacy, Dibello said, “Kris is just such a mentor to me, and her work ethic is never-ending, and that’s just such a legacy.”
As well as being reality stars, Jenner’s children, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, and Rob Kardashian, as well as Kendall and Kylie Jenner, all run their own business ventures, from sock designing (Rob) to the sell-out lipstick range (Kylie). Collectively, the Jenner-Kardashian family — including Jenner’s ex-spouse, former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner — have an estimated net worth of over $300 million, which comes up to more than Dh1 billion.
This marks Jenner’s second visit to Dubai. In 2011, she stopped by with Kim to launch Millions of Milkshakes, a milkshake bar in Dubai Mall, and brought the Keeping up with the Kardashians camera crew with her. (The camera crew were around this time, too.)
In 2013, Khloe made her first visit, launching her family’s clothing line Kardashian Kollection at Lipsy and Iconic stores. She barely had a full day in the city, but returned the following year for the opening of luxury restaurant, Cle.
“I told [my sister] Kourtney that there’s no paparazzi allowed here and she said: ‘Kourtney and Khloe should take to Dubai’. She was so excited about the no-paparazzi clause,” she told tabloid!.
Jenner, who manages her children’s careers, says the kids used to hate that she would wake them up at 7am every morning, whether it was summer vacation or not. “I’ve raised five really strong daughters with completely different crazy personalities,” she said. “I’m really proud of my girls. People ask if I have a favourite kid. I joke I have a favourite kid, and everyday it’s different.”
Can we expect to see her kids involved with the school in some way, then? tabloid! understands that the rest of the clan may be added to the board, but Dibello remained coy and said nothing has been confirmed yet
