What Makes Kimye Work as a Couple

Mr. and Mrs. West on their wedding day (Instagram)
Mr. and Mrs. West on their wedding day (Instagram)

It seems like just yesterday that the world was musing over all the details of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's multi-million dollar

wedding. From the golden toilet tower to West's 45-minute toast, and Jaden Smith frolicking around in a white Batman costume, we followed every detail of the high-profile couple’s marital antics. On May 24, it will have officially been one year since the notorious twosome exchanged their "I Dos." (In case you're counting, that's 293 days longer than Kim's marriage lasted to Kris Humphries). Call us crazy, but we think Kim and Kanye might be in it for the long haul. In honor of Kimye's first anniversary, we decided to explore what it is that makes them work so well as a couple.

Kim and Kanye were certainly smitten with one another when they first started dating (Splash News)
Kim and Kanye were certainly smitten with one another when they first started dating (Splash News)

A Slow Start

Kardashian and West have known each other for years, reportedly meeting in 2004 while she was still married to Damon Thomas. During this time, West’s future bride was working as an assistant to Brandy and also palling around with then-best friend Paris Hilton. For West, it was "love at first sight," but it took Kardashian eight years and one more marriage to come around.

According to dating, sex, and relationship expert, Wendy Newman, this slow relationship start was crucial to the duo's building of a successful partnership. "Kanye knew he wanted to land Kim but it probably took Kim longer because there were things she had to sort out," she explains. "As she got to know him as a man and saw who he'd be as her partner, she was able to allow for their relationship to develop. In other words, he grew on her." Newman adds that had the situation been reversed with Kardashian lusting after West all these years, it's likely that their uniting would not have occurred. "More than not, men know when they see serious potential, and conversely, when there's just not enough there. Women have the luxury of having some men grow on us over time."

Related: A Look Back at Kim and Kanye's First Year of Marriage

"Screwing the Rules" relationship expert Laurel House agrees with this, adding that Kardashian didn't initially forge an attraction for West as she was in the midst of still working out her own past relationships. "Her other marriages were with men who she didn't know as well, and didn't have that deep trust and firm foundation that she had already built with Kanye," she explains. "For a public figure like Kim, that foundation is essential for an enduring romantic relationship. It was less about Kim coming around and more about her allowing herself to feel and explore that romantic love for Kanye. Sometimes love is a decision in that way."

A pregnant Kim got to attend her first Met Gala in 2013 with Kanye (WireImage)
A pregnant Kim got to attend her first Met Gala in 2013 with Kanye (WireImage)

A True Power Couple

Whether you are pro or anti Kimye, most will admit that there is something about the pairing that makes sense. "Kim and Kanye are the ultimate celebrity power couple, always presenting a united front," says House.

According to Erin Tillman, "The Dating Advice Girl," the relationship works because both West and Kardashian seem to have similar agendas, goals, and objectives. "If a couple has a conflicting vision of what they want in their relationship, the relationship has a smaller chance of success," she explains. "Kimye, however, share the desire to live life in the public eye, live life in front of cameras, and stir up controversy to get attention and promote their corresponding products and brands. If either one of them suddenly wasn't interested in documenting their life digitally, there could possibly be a conflict."

Related: Because He's Happy! 9 Things That Make Kanye Smile

House agrees that the duo exhibits similar core values that are essential to lasting relationships, such as:

1. Family first: Within the Kardashian clan, Kanye seems to have found a new family. He was incredibly close with his mother, Donda, who sadly and tragically passed away several years ago. But he seems to have forged a relationship with his mother-in-law, Kris Jenner, whom he appears to respect and love.

2. Partnership: Kimye always has each other's back no matter what. They promote each other, stand by each other, and help each other.

3. Perseverance: Both Kardashian and West are able to stay on track when it comes to both business and their relationship without being side tracked by the haters.

4. Consistency: The way in which they present their relationship, their values, and their brands have stayed consistent. Yes, it's likely strategic and smart, but it also appears to be genuine.

Tillman adds that in addition to being on the same page, the mega-star couple is a natural support system for one another during times when life gets crazy. "Though it appears glamorous at times, it can't be easy to live life in front of cameras all day every day," she notes. "They understand what day-to-day life is like for one another. They are good for each other in that way because they are most likely able to support each other when have paparazzi or media-related stress. They can confide in each other if they feel overwhelmed and give each other an ego boost if they're feeling less than fabulous."

Kim and Kanye share a love of fashion (Getty Images)
Kim and Kanye share a love of fashion (Getty Images)

Building Each Other Up

West says his wife has made him "a better human being," while Kardashian has continuously spoken out about how supportive her husband has been. Together each half of the pair seems to strengthen the other one.

"Sure, there is controversy about them when it comes to the perception that he controls what she wears, says, and does," points out House. "But Kim seems to truly value Kanye's opinion and wants to grow as a person and personality. She has undoubtedly elevated herself when it comes to presenting herself with class and confidence, her social group, her clothing, her attitude, and her overall public persona." The relationship expert also explains that West has helped to infuse Kardashian with a quiet new confidence that doesn't involve a need to be showy or salacious, despite her increased notoriety.

Related: All the Romantic Things Kim and Kanye Have Said About One Another

And on the other hand, it appears that Kardashian has helped to ground West and keep his ego in check. "Kim has brought out the sweet and nurturing side of Kanye, pulling him down from the untouchable and almost cold God-like attitude that he has historically used as his facade and allowing us to see a glimpse of his humanity — allowing him to be more relatable while simultaneously being aspirational," says House.

Kanye planted one on Kim at the Grammy Awards (Getty Images)
Kanye planted one on Kim at the Grammy Awards (Getty Images)

Public Displays of Affection

Since rumors started floating around about their dating status in April 2012, Kardashian and West have been far from shy about sharing their love with the rest of the world. We are constantly inundated with photos of them smooching on red carpets and holding hands while running errands. There are constant tweets of admiration, and they both speak so highly of each other during interviews. "Their affectionate public behavior shows that they are on the same team," says House. "That they not only respect, but also love each other. There is a sweetness that comes through in their public shows affection. It isn't as overt as PDA. It's not obsessive or impulsive. It's deeper than that."

Tillman agrees but also notes that in true Kardashian format, it’s far from ironic that Kimye’s PDA has worked wonders in pushing their individual brands. "They are smart business people! When you think of Kim, you think of Kanye and vice versa. It was no accident that Kim appeared in one of Kanye's music videos and that Kanye appeared on Keeping Up With the Kardashians as well as being a guest on Kris Jenner's short-lived talk show, Kris, back in 2013 when he had some legal drama with the paparazzi," she explains. "But love them or hate them, there is a high level of respect between Kardashian and West. Whether that respect is more on a business level, a romantic level, or both, a partnership is definitely present."

So now that the wedding and honeymoon hoopla is over, all eyes will be on the lovebirds to see how they mark their first wedding anniversary. Rumor has it that they are renewing their vows in Paris. West is supposedly renting the Eiffel Tower and is busy "planning something extravagant." Let the games begin!