Anyone who attempts to KUWTK knows that Khloé Kardashian's marriage to Lamar Odom has had its fair share of ups and downs. But in her new book, Strong Looks Better Naked ($17; amazon.com), which arrives in the wake of the NBA star's hospitalization, the reality TV star turned business mogul opens up about the high points of the couple's six-year union, along with the inner strength that helped carry her through the tougher times. Below, read an excerpt.
When I first got married, I felt as if I was really coming into my own as a person. Being a wife completed me. I know it sounds corny, but I loved the whole experience—falling in love, getting engaged, making a home, taking care of my man, taking care of his kids, etc. Maybe those emotions seem a bit old-fashioned, but they were true at the time and they continue to be my values to this very day. So yeah, watching my marriage come crashing down was the absolute worst.
When it ended, when Lamar left, when it was truly over, things didn't get any easier. When I got married, I was no longer simply one of the Kardashians; I had my own life and a separate identity. I had broken free. I was an adult (finally). In sharing my life with Lamar, I felt as if my entire world had become greatly enriched. But with Lamar gone, it was as if I had taken a giant backwards step. I was back to being Khloé, but a somewhat more "damaged" version. And as much as I loved my family, losing Lamar had left me horribly adrift.
Then one night, during one of my darker moments, I remembered a conversation I had with my father many years earlier, when I was maybe thirteen or fourteen, about that teacher who had compared me unfavorably to my sisters. "She made me feel like I'm not even part of this family," I told my father. "She made me feel ugly." And my father wiped away my tears and said, "Let me tell you something, Khloé. You've always had to fight a little harder than your sisters for everything, and as a result you are much stronger than either of them. In fact, you're the only one I'm not worried about. You have more inner strength than you can imagine, and I promise you this: You are always going to land on your feet."
Remembering that conversation helped me survive the end of my marriage. I realized I was strong. I still had plenty of work to do on myself, but I knew I was going to get there.
Head over to amazon.com to pick up your own copy of Strong Looks Better Naked.
