Kim Kardashian is no stranger to the spotlight, but it seems that even she wasn’t prepared for the whirlwind fame her eldest daughter, North West, is rapidly accumulating.

At just 11 years old, North has already made a name for herself in the entertainment world—whether it’s through viral TikTok dances, fashion-forward appearances at Paris Fashion Week, or her budding career in music.

However, sources close to the Kardashian family reveal that Kim is struggling with the idea of her daughter stepping into the limelight so soon. “Kim is fiercely protective of her children,” an insider shares. “She always knew North had star potential, but now it’s becoming very real, very fast. It’s almost like she’s competing with her own child for the spotlight.”

A Star in the Making

From an early age, North has been at the center of attention. With famous parents—Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West—it was almost inevitable that she would inherit the star power that comes with the family name. But recently, North’s fame has taken on a life of its own.

Her musical performances have sparked conversations in the industry, with many calling her a prodigy. Collaborations with artists, viral videos with millions of views, and appearances at A-list events have made it clear: North isn’t just a celebrity child—she’s a rising star in her own right.

And that, according to sources, is precisely what’s causing tension between mother and daughter.

Kim’s Internal Struggle

“Kim built her empire from the ground up,” says a Hollywood insider. “She’s used to being the center of attention, the one setting trends. Now, North is getting more headlines, more fan engagement, and Kim is finding it difficult to balance being a proud mom and feeling like she’s being overshadowed.”

While Kim has always championed her children’s interests, she’s reportedly growing uneasy about North’s accelerated rise to fame. Some speculate that Kim is worried about the pressures of Hollywood, while others believe it’s more personal—an internal struggle over passing the torch too soon.

“It’s either her or me,” Kim allegedly joked during a private conversation with close friends. While it was said in a lighthearted tone, many believe it reflects a deeper concern.

“I thought I was busy before. North, me having to be her momager right now is crazy. It’s just, it was not on my list. It was not on my Bingo card for this year,” Kim says as she sits in the room with her mom and sister.

“It’s a lot of work,” Kris responds. “It’s a lot of energy.”

“And I’m not ready,” Kim says, as Khloé adds, “You’re like, I have my own s— to manage.”

“If she has a shoot, I have to be there all day, so it’s like her or me,” Kim says.

In a confessional, Kim notes that it’s been difficult for her to decide when to prioritize career opportunities for her daughter over life experiences.

“I’m really conflicted on my daughter’s career, so we’re going to talk about that soon,” the mom of four shares. “I just really want to make sure that everything’s really well balanced. All of the work experiences are balanced out with just enough fun life experiences. I just want balance.”

North has had a busy year. The daughter of Kim and her ex-husband Kanye West starred as Young Simba in a production of The Lion King this past May, was featured on West’s song “Talking / Once Again” last February and most recently was featured on FKA twigs’ song “Childlike Things.”

Earlier in January, Kim appeared on an episode of Erin and Sara Foster’s podcast World’s First Podcast and opened up about taking on more of a “momager” role for her kids as they get older.

Speaking about her daughter North, Kim said, “She’ll get an offer to do a photo shoot or something. And like, we really sit and talk about it as a family.”

“Like, ‘Should she do this? What’s too much? What’s not?’” she continued.

Noting that she feels she “has to” take her kids to school alongside her busy work schedule, Kim said she’s fallen into the “morning madness.”

“That’s just in my contracts, like no matter what I do, no matter work, like I have to take my kids to school,” she said. “That’s just my time with them. It’s the morning madness.”

“I love it. It’s amazing. And then when they work and I have to be there, I have to see every last thing. I’m just like, it has to be worth it for us to make a decision,” she continued.

“You know, if North has something and I have to take off filming to do something with her, it just has to be a family decision. And really important to her,” the proud mom added. “There’s so much that I’ve stopped because it’s too much, and I’m really not ready to be a momager, and I’m kind of forced into this.”