The 2026 Golden Globes ceremony was a glittering affair packed with Hollywood's elite, but amidst the constellation of A-list stars, one figure shone with a newfound and undeniable glow: Kylie Jenner. In a remarkable turnaround from her previous awards season experiences, the reality TV star and beauty mogul was the centre of attention, proving more popular with celebrities than many of the night's nominees.
From Outsider to 'King' Kylie
Attending the event with her boyfriend, Timothee Chalamet, who won the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for 'Marty Supreme', it was Jenner who held court at their table. High-profile guests including Jennifer Lawrence and Ariana Grande were seen seeking her out for conversation, a marked shift from her reception in previous years.
Embracing her popularity, the 28-year-old mother-of-two dropped her typically cool exterior, happily posing for playful photographs and swapping her signature pout for wide, beaming smiles. This warm reception stood in stark contrast to her experience on the 2025 awards circuit, where she was often treated as persona non grata.
A Year of Awkward Snubs
The difference between this year and last was particularly poignant. At the 2025 Golden Globes, Jenner was famously and publicly snubbed by Hollywood veteran Demi Moore. After Moore won Best Actress for The Substance, she approached the table shared by Chalamet and his A Complete Unknown co-stars. While Moore chatted animatedly with Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro, she appeared to dismiss Jenner, who had turned to offer congratulations. The cringe-worthy moment, where Moore offered a brief 'thank you' before continuing her conversation, was widely circulated on social media.
Further criticism followed Jenner to the 2025 Oscars. Many online commentators unfairly blamed Chalamet's Best Actor loss to Adrien Brody on the so-called 'Kardashian curse'. She was also lambasted for her demeanour during an introduction to Sir Elton John, with critics calling her 'rude' for not standing to greet the music legend.
Her relationship with Chalamet had been a topic of Hollywood gossip before, most notably at the 2024 Golden Globes, where cameras appeared to capture Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez discussing the couple, with a lipreader alleging the conversation involved Selena being denied a photo with Timothee.
A Night of Triumph and Acceptance
The 2026 ceremony, however, signalled a definitive change. Jenner's apparent acceptance into the Hollywood fold coincided with a major professional milestone for Chalamet. His Golden Globe win has now made him the betting favourite to win the coveted Best Actor Oscar, according to prediction markets, overtaking previous frontrunner Leonardo DiCaprio.
While Jenner watched proudly as Chalamet accepted his award, the actor's speech offered only a brief mention, ending with: 'To my parents and partner, I love you. Thank you so much.' This was a notable shift from his more effusive praise for her at the Critics Choice Awards earlier in the month.
The night's big film winner was Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another', which took home four awards including Best Picture - Comedy or Musical. In television, 'The Pitt' won Best TV Series – Drama, while 'Adolescence' dominated the limited series categories.
For Kylie Jenner, the 2026 Golden Globes was less about the trophies and more about a personal victory. After a year of perceived slights and online ridicule, her commanding social presence at the event suggests she has, for now, successfully navigated her way into the heart of the Hollywood establishment.
