Kanye West has always been known for his bold fashion choices, not just for himself but for the women he dates. His relationships often become part of his artistic vision, with his partners appearing in daring outfits that spark conversation.
But his approach has also led to controversy, as many believe he exerts too much control over how his partners present themselves in public.
His latest marriage to Bianca Censori has only intensified the debate. Many think he is shaping her into a new version of his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. “Kanye is trying to make Bianca into a radicalized version of Kim—almost like Kim 2.0,” an insider revealed.
“The difference is that when Kim was with Kanye, he was respected in the fashion world. He has since lost this respect.”
One of the most talked-about moments came at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
West and Censori arrived together, immediately catching everyone’s attention. Censori was draped in a black fur coat, but in a shocking moment, Kanye seemed to instruct her to remove it, revealing a nearly nude outfit underneath. Onlookers were stunned.
A lip-reading expert, Nicola Hickling, analyzed the footage and suggested that Kanye whispered to his wife, “You’re making a scene now,” before directing her to drop the coat and turn. Censori complied, and within moments, they exited the red carpet.
Speculation erupted about whether they left voluntarily or were asked to leave, but either way, the scene added to the ongoing conversation about Kanye’s influence over his partners.
This isn’t the first time Kanye has been accused of treating his partners more like fashion statements than individuals. His ex-girlfriend, actress Julia Fox, opened up about their brief but highly publicized romance in her memoir “Down the Drain.”
Their relationship started with excitement and extravagance, but soon, she began to feel like she was part of a curated performance rather than a genuine romance.
Fox met West on New Year’s Eve in Miami, and from the start, she was swept up in his world. “His energy is so fun to be around,” she recalled. Their attraction was instant, and she found herself moving from one extravagant event to another.
“I was just going day by day and seeing where it went,” she said. “It was just like, he still wants to hang out with me today, let’s do it.”
Their relationship quickly became a spectacle. During Paris Fashion Week, they stepped out in matching outfits, and every appearance seemed designed for maximum impact. In her memoir, Fox revealed that Kanye was meticulous about how they were seen.
He would even move restaurant tables to ensure they were in the spotlight.
At one point, he gathered a team to handle her wardrobe. While it was thrilling at first, it also felt surreal. One moment stood out for her: a dinner at Carbone in New York. Kanye had arranged for photographers to capture the evening, and the next morning, the images were all over gossip sites.
Fox admitted that the experience left her feeling like a “show monkey.”
Another moment that made her uneasy was an impromptu photoshoot in a hotel room, later featured in Interview magazine. She recalled mentioning that one of the outfits didn’t fit properly. Kanye’s response? “Just get a boob job.” She laughed it off, but in that moment, she thought about her post-baby body and told herself, “They’re not so bad.”
By the second month of their relationship, doubts crept in. She started to wonder if Kanye genuinely liked her or if she was just a pawn in his ongoing battle with Kim Kardashian. “Was this even real?” she questioned. “Or was I just another piece in his game?”
Eventually, reality set in. The constant travel, the media frenzy, and Kanye’s personal struggles became too much. Fox realized the relationship wasn’t sustainable. Unlike her past self, who might have stayed and tried to fix things, she had grown enough to walk away.
On February 14, 2022, a representative confirmed their split, stating, “Julia and Kanye remain good friends and collaborators, but they are no longer together.” Later, Fox revealed her true motivation for being with him in the first place. “I dated Kanye to distract him from Kim, so she could move on,” she admitted.
At first, she thought their relationship had potential. She even believed she could help him move past his obsession with his ex-wife. But she soon realized she was being used. “I was his little puppet,” she confessed.
Even after their split, the effects of their short-lived romance lingered. Fox revealed that dating Kanye may have damaged her career. “I’ve been up for certain things and couldn’t do it because of dating Kanye. It’s kind of wild,” she reflected.
Her experience with West was a whirlwind of luxury, attention, and control. While it was exhilarating at first, she ultimately saw the downsides of being in a relationship under such extreme scrutiny. More importantly, she learned the value of putting herself first.
Kanye West’s relationships have long been an extension of his artistic vision, but as Julia Fox and others have shown, there’s a fine line between being a muse and feeling like a prop. Whether with Kim, Julia, or Bianca, his approach remains the same: style, spectacle, and control.
But as history has proven, not every woman is willing to play along forever.
