Kendall Jenner Breaks Silence on Bruce Jenner's Transition: "I Will Always Love My Dad"
Kendall Jenner broke her silence about dad Bruce Jenner's transition from male to female
Credit: Amy Graves/WireImage
Whatever changes Bruce Jenner makes in his life, one thing remains constant: the love of his family. Though the reality star's kids have remained mostly mum on his transition from male to female, his daughter Kendall Jenner broke her silence backstage at Comedy Central's roast of Justin Bieber on Saturday, March 15 -- and only Us Weekly has the exclusive interview.
"I love my dad. He's always been there for me and my sisters," the 19-year-old model shared of the former Olympian, 65, who has six kids and four stepkids with ex-wives Kris Jenner, Linda Thompson, and Chrystie Crownover. "He's a wonderful man. And just because he's changing shoes now, so to speak, doesn't make him less wonderful. I will always love my dad, whether he's a man or a woman."
PHOTOS: Bruce through the years
(Indeed, a source previously told Us that all of the Jenner and Kardashian kids -- Kendall, Kylie, Brody, Brandon, Burt, Casey, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, and Rob -- were rallying around the former athlete. "[They've] become protective of him and just want him to live the way he wants," the insider said.)
Having grown up in the spotlight -- and now taking the fashion world by storm -- Kendall is used to seeing headlines about herself and her famous family. But she takes issue with the way they're perceived at times.
Asked what makes her angry, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star replied, "When people say we don't work hard. That's just the biggest lie ever. All of our family members are super dedicated to their work, and we all know how to commit ourselves to our jobs. It's a great quality to have, I think. A good work ethic goes a long way."
PHOTOS: Kendall's best runway moments
Kendall should know. At just 19, she's one of the most in-demand models around, walking in fashion shows for Balmain, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, and Givenchy, to name just a few. And that's just the beginning.
"I am very aware of the fact that I won't be able to model for the rest of my life. And acting is something I am definitely interested in," she revealed of her plans for the future.
For now, though, she's busy jetsetting around the world from runway to runway. "I love it," she gushed. "It's crazy, but I love it. I think this is something you can only do when you are young, though. I had to teach myself to sleep at certain times of the day because I was flying into a different time zone the next day. So, it's night back home in L.A., but daylight in Paris. And I need to be ready to work."
Fortunately, she gets to work alongside some of her closest confidants. "I am very lucky. Some of my best friends, like Cara [Delevingne] or Gigi [Hadid], work in the same business," she explained. "So I see them all the time. And we Instagram and text each other all the time. And when I am in L.A., I make a point of hooking up with my friends as much as I can."
Included in that group of friends are fellow stars Jaden Smith and Justin Bieber. Asked about rumors that she and Bieber might be more than just buds, she replied, "If I commented on every single story about who I am dating at the moment, I wouldn't stop talking. Justin and I are very good friends. I think he's super cool. And that's about it."
PHOTOS: Kardashian family album
In general, Kendall shared, she gravitates toward people who know what it's like to be in the spotlight. "I don't know if it's easier, but it doesn't hurt. When you grow up in the public eye, it's a little difficult for others to understand what you are going through sometimes," she explained.
"It's not normal to go get a coffee in the morning and have paparazzi follow you," she continued. "And some people might not understand that. My famous friends get it. We are on the same page."
When she isn't hanging out with Bieber or Delevingne or Hailey Baldwin, she's working or with her family. "We are all very tight, and we tell each other everything," she said of her sisters, who range in age from 17 to 35. "I am so proud of all of them. I spend as much time with them as I possibly can."
