Kourtney Kardashian has once again found herself at the center of an online conversation about sexuality after an older article from her lifestyle platform, Poosh, resurfaced. The discussion began years ago, but social media users continue to interpret Kardashian’s comments as an indication that she identifies as autosexual.
However, there is an important distinction between what Kardashian actually said and how the internet has described it. She discussed autosexuality extensively through Poosh, but reports differ on whether she ever formally identified herself using the label. The original discussion appeared on the website in 2020.
What Does Autosexual Mean?
Autosexuality generally refers to experiencing sexual attraction toward oneself. It can include finding one’s own appearance, body or sensuality sexually appealing, rather than necessarily being focused exclusively on attraction to other people. According to Casey Tanner, a therapist and founder of QueerSexTherapy who contributed to the Poosh article, autosexuality can involve becoming aroused through one’s own eroticism. It can exist on a spectrum, meaning people may experience self-attraction to different degrees. The concept does not automatically mean that someone dislikes relationships or is incapable of being attracted to a partner. Instead, self-attraction can exist alongside attraction to other people.
The Poosh Article That Started the Conversation
In 2020, Kardashian’s lifestyle website published an article asking readers whether they might be “low key autosexual.” The piece suggested that many people could experience some degree of self-attraction without necessarily using the term to describe themselves. The article explored everyday experiences that could make someone feel more connected to their own sensuality. These included dressing in clothing that makes them feel attractive, enjoying their appearance in the mirror, taking care of their body or simply appreciating themselves without needing validation from another person. That message was presented less as a dramatic declaration of sexual identity and more as an exploration of self-confidence, sensuality and personal desire.
Did Kourtney Actually Come Out?
This is where the story becomes more complicated. Numerous headlines have described Kardashian as having “come out” as autosexual, and fans have repeated the claim across social media. However, the available reporting shows that the original Poosh material was framed as an exploration of the concept rather than a clear, direct public statement from Kardashian saying that autosexual was her exclusive sexual orientation. A 2026 report also noted that Kardashian has not clearly and directly confirmed the label in a separate interview. This distinction matters because publishing or discussing information about a sexual identity does not necessarily mean that the person publishing it is formally adopting that identity.
Self-Love Versus Sexual Identity
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that autosexuality exists on a spectrum. Someone can enjoy feeling attractive, admire their own body or become more confident through self-care without necessarily identifying as exclusively autosexual. The Poosh article emphasized that self-attraction can coexist with partnered intimacy. In other words, finding yourself attractive does not automatically mean that you prefer yourself to every potential partner. This is particularly relevant in Kardashian’s case because she has openly shared her romantic life and has been married to musician Travis Barker since 2022. The existence of a relationship does not contradict the concept of autosexuality, because the two experiences can coexist.
Why the Story Keeps Returning
Celebrity stories often resurface when old interviews, articles or social media posts are rediscovered. Kardashian’s discussion of autosexuality is a good example of how a piece of lifestyle content from several years ago can suddenly become a trending topic again. The fascination also reflects broader public interest in sexuality and the growing number of terms people use to describe different forms of attraction. For some people, the word provides a useful way to understand their feelings, while others may simply view self-attraction as part of ordinary confidence and sexuality.
The Bigger Message
Regardless of whether Kardashian personally identifies with the label today, the conversation she helped bring attention to focuses on an important distinction: appreciating yourself is not necessarily the same thing as being narcissistic. Feeling attractive, comfortable in your body and confident in your sexuality can be part of a healthy sense of self. Autosexuality, meanwhile, describes a more specific form of attraction toward oneself. For now, it is more accurate to say that Kardashian has publicly discussed and explored the concept of autosexuality rather than definitively claiming that she has formally “come out” under that label. The distinction may seem small, but it prevents social media speculation from being mistaken for a confirmed statement about someone’s personal identity.
