Kim Kardashian isn’t letting a setback slow her down. The reality star, entrepreneur, and aspiring attorney revealed on Instagram this weekend that she did not pass the California bar exam on her latest attempt — but she made it clear she’s far from giving up. In fact, Kim says the experience has only strengthened her determination to finish what she started nearly six years ago.

The SKIMS founder shared the news with her followers before the official results even became public, explaining that she has always tried to be transparent about her legal journey. “I’m not a lawyer — I just play one on TV!” she joked, referencing her upcoming legal drama All’s Fair. But humor aside, Kim acknowledged the challenge ahead, emphasizing that the bar exam is notoriously difficult and requires relentless preparation.

Kim wrote in her post that she plans to keep studying without shortcuts, staying committed to doing the work the right way. “Falling short isn’t failure — it’s fuel,” she told fans. “I was so close to passing the exam, and that only motivates me even more.” According to a source close to Kim, she decided to break the news early because she knew her supporters would be watching closely after years of following her progress.

Her legal journey has been highly public from the beginning. She successfully passed California’s “baby bar” exam in 2021 — an early-stage test for those in apprenticeship-style law programs — which was a huge milestone. She later completed law school through an independent study program, even participating in a small, intimate graduation ceremony earlier this year where she was the only graduate in her class.

While promoting All’s Fair earlier this month on The Graham Norton Show, Kim confidently discussed her hopes for her legal future. She said she views becoming a lawyer as the next chapter of her career and ultimately wants to work as a trial attorney. The ambition isn’t surprising: law runs in the Kardashian family. Her late father, Robert Kardashian, was a respected Los Angeles defense lawyer and famously served on O.J. Simpson’s “Dream Team” during the 1995 murder trial.

Kim had been waiting for her bar exam results while juggling a busy international press tour — one that even included a lighthearted viral moment where actress Sarah Paulson playfully put her hands on Kim’s iconic figure during a red-carpet appearance. Despite the pressure, Kim managed to stay positive and optimistic throughout the process.

Though this attempt didn’t go her way, Kim remains upbeat, determined, and fully committed to continuing the long road to becoming an attorney. As fans and critics alike know, persistence has always been one of her defining traits — and she’s proving once again that setbacks won’t stop her from pursuing her goals.

Sources: (BBC; The Guardian; American Bar Association; Associated Press)