'It's like being friends with Marilyn Monroe': Jonathan Cheban dishes on pal Kim Kardashian... as he launches school to teach rich kids about diamonds and caviar
Kim Kardashian's BFF Jonathan Cheban praises the Keeping up With The Kardashians star as 'aspirational' in a new interview following his return to the US after a stint on the UK's Celebrity Big Brother.
The 41-year-old revealed he jealously guards his friendship with the reality star, who's 35.
'When you are best friends with the most famous girl in the world, its like being best friends with Marilyn [Monroe]. People are infatuated and obsessed,' he told New You magazine.
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Connections: Kim Kardashian's BFF Jonathan Cheban is featured in the new issue of New You magazine in which he talks about being pals with the reality star he describes as 'aspirational'
The PR professional who runs celebrity website The Dishh.com describes Kim as 'a regular girl.'
'Everyone wants to be like Kim even if they aren’t gorgeous. They will try in their own version to dress like her,' he explained in the magazine interview.
'She’s a TV star. This also drives me nuts about people saying, ‘Why is she famous?’ If you have a TV show for 20 seasons in 180 countries, you would be famous as well, but you do not.'
See more of the latest news, pictures and video updates on Kim Kardashian
PR pro: Cheban, 41, said he has 39 businesses and his latest project is establishing a pop culture school for rich kids that teaches them about caviar, diamonds and private jets
Close: Cheban has been friends with the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star for years and has appeared on the E! reality series with Kim and her family
Cheban is also a fan of Kim's husband Kanye West calling the rapper and designer 'a genius.'
'Kids have been dressing like Kanye for the past four or five years and it’s now becoming mainstream to the point where American Apparel and H&M are doing the long shirts and his type of sweatshirts. His sneakers are revolutionary,' he said.
As for himself, he says he's plenty busy running 39 businesses and overseeing his latest venture, the International School of New York.
The school will offer a 'pop culture program' based at Trump Tower in New York that, Cheban said, is aimed at 'wealthy kids from all over the world.'
Big fan: The 41-year-old describes Kim as 'the most famous girl in the world' and her husband Kanye West as 'a genius' for his Yeezy clothing and sneakers line
He plans to teach them 'about private aviation, social media, quality of diamonds, types of caviar..... the social stuff you need to know to survive in a city like this with a lot of money.'
'If you are buying a diamond you need to know the clarity and if you are buying a private jet you need to know the different leathers and seats,' he said.
He's also planning a TV show about how to copy celebrities and get access to the luxury lifestyles they enjoy.
'People want to know where Beyoncé sits at a hot restaurant. It’s not about billion dollar houses; no one cares about that. They want to know where the hot stuff is and nobody knows better than me. I live it!' he said.
All business: Cheban was in Miami Beach, Florida, on Friday where he joined former Spice Girl Mel B for a fan meet and greet at Sugar Factory American Brasserie
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