North West’s bold new fashion statement is stirring buzz online, and a California doctor is raising urgent concerns about the serious health risks involved.
North West, the 12-year-old daughter of reality TV star Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West, has drawn medical scrutiny after reportedly posting a TikTok video revealing an unconventional finger piercing. A doctor is warning parents about the potential health risks posed by body modifications to children.
North West and Kim Kardashian are in Midtown Manhattan in New York City on August 14, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Dangerous New Trend Raises Alarm, Doctor Warns
In the video, North displays a silver piercing threaded through her finger, positioned between the base and middle knuckles. The jewelry appears to pass directly through tissue dense with nerves, arteries, and veins, a location rarely used for piercings due to its sensitivity and potential complications.
Dr. Tanya Kormeili, a board-certified dermatologist based in Santa Monica, cautioned against this type of piercing, particularly in minors. “As a physician, I find it my duty to advise anyone against such aggressive piercings, especially for minors,” she said.
She explained that the hands are frequently exposed to germs from surfaces such as doorknobs, food, and mobile devices, increasing the risk of infection. This concern is even greater in children, who may not consistently follow hygiene routines.
“There are risks of infection associated with this type of piercing,” Dr. Kormeili added.
Injuries — such as snagging the piercing — she says can delay healing and increase the likelihood of complications. Infections in this area may also enter the bloodstream and affect vital organs.
Dr. Kormeili noted, “If you happen to have a heart condition, you are at risk of endocarditis [life-threatening infection of the heart’s inner lining or valves.]”
Risk of Disease, Organ Failure, and Other Shocking Outcomes
Other possible outcomes include compartment syndrome, a condition that restricts blood flow and can lead to tissue damage, and the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis C. Dr. Kormeili also cited toxic shock syndrome, a rare but life-threatening reaction to bacterial toxins that can result in fever, rash, and organ failure.
In light of these potential complications, Dr. Kormeili questioned the decision to allow such a piercing at North’s age. “Given such risk, why would anyone do this, especially at the age of 12?” she asked.
While the medical concerns sparked serious discussion, North’s recent videos reveal that her bold aesthetic is part of a larger, playful style transformation.
As reported on October 22, North shared videos and photos of herself adorned with face tattoos and eye-catching nails. The young fashionista caused an online commotion with her style, which is something her mom has spoken about in recent interviews.
Netizen comment about North West’s striking new look, posted on October 22, 2025. | Source: Facebook/Page Six
Inside a Private Jet: TikTok Chaos as North West Unveils Bold New Appearance
In the series of TikToks posted to the account she shares with her mom, North offered an unapologetic look at her edgy makeover — and she wasn’t alone.
Filmed aboard what appeared to be a private jet, one video shows her lip-syncing to a rap track with a group of friends, each girl wearing coordinated streetwear looks and dramatically styled hair.
North West lip-syncing to a song while dressed in her striking look, posted on October 18, 2025. | Source: TikTok/@kimandnorth
North, sporting piercings, bright turquoise braids, and icy blue contact lenses, led the group in the clip, flashing a mouth full of blacked-out teeth and faux face tattoos, including stars and hearts. Her caption — “fake piercings and fake tatts 4 life” — made it clear the aesthetic was intentionally playful, not permanent.
Each girl in the crew brought her own twist to the theme, with turquoise, pink, and green braided hairstyles framing heavily accessorized outfits. Their nails were bold and glittering; their expressions confident, and their energy infectious.
North West smiling with her friends, posted on October 18, 2025. | Source: TikTok/@kimandnorth
In the next clip, captioned “preparing for antagonist 🫡,” the girls flashed grins and struck poses, and in another post, they showed off intricate henna designs on their hands and a shared affinity for statement jewelry.
A different video, sped up for effect, captures the group dancing, laughing, and showcasing their looks — many of which paid homage to hip-hop culture through graphic, oversized shirts featuring prominent artists and chunky chains.
North also shared a montage of photos, including backstage snapshots alongside the performers they appeared to go see, underscoring the day’s vibe of fun, fashion, and fierce expression.
Social Media Spirals over North West’s Black Teeth
Within hours, the videos sparked a frenzy online, with many followers zeroing in on one disturbing detail: North’s blackened smile. A wave of comments flooded in, questioning the dramatic coloring. “What is up with her mouth/teeth?” asked one viewer, while another echoed, “why [sic] did she blacken her teeth? 😬.”
North West showing off her blackened teeth, posted on October 21, 2025. | Source: TikTok/@kimandnorth
Others joined in with similar sentiments, including, “What happened to her teeth?” and “What’s wrong with her teeth? 🦷.”
North West posing with her friends and someone else. | Source: TikTok/@kimandnorth
Some netizens expressed concern about the overall aesthetic, particularly given North’s age. “Face tattoos at 12?” questioned one person. Another took a more critical tone targeted at North’s parents, writing, “Not even joking, Kim is probably a worse influence on her than Kanye could ever be.”
Meanwhile, another observer drew a direct comparison to her famous father, simply stating, “She’s like her dad.” However, not all responses were disapproving. One spectator offered a nostalgic perspective, noting, “It’s temporary tattoo we all did this. Walking around with foil paper in our mouth talking bout grills 😂😂😂 she is being a kid [sic].”
‘She’s So Creative’: Kim Kardashian Gets Candid on Raising North West in the Spotlight
North’s style has been discussed by the public frequently, and all through the headlines about her fashion choices, Kim hasn’t stayed silent. The reality star opened up about her daughter during a candid October 15, 2025, appearance on Alexandra Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
When asked how the online chatter surrounding North has been affecting their family, Kim responded with a blend of vulnerability and maternal pride. “You know what? She’s so creative and she’s so amazing,” Kim said, describing North as “really mature in one sense.”
She recalled her daughter brushing off criticism about her bold style choices with confidence, and divulged how North once told her, “I saw this and, like, I don’t really care […] if someone says that they don’t like my blue hair […] I probably wouldn’t be hanging out with those people.”
But raising a pre-teen under a global spotlight? It’s not easy. “All the kids are like wearing the same things, but then my daughter tries to wear it, and then I’m like, ‘Okay, we’re never wearing that again,'” noted Kardashian.
She added that North, who typically dresses more like a tomboy, simply wants to experiment and only wants to fit in with her friends — though the consequences of those choices play out in front of millions.
North West spotted out with a dog in New York City on August 14, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
‘She Learns from That’: A Mom’s Defense of Her Daughter’s Bold Choices
Still, Kim emphasized her daughter’s emotional intelligence and willingness to grow from experience. “She learns from that, and she sees it,” she shared, recalling how North often reevaluates her actions with humility, saying things like, “Oh, I don’t like how I said that […] Oh, you know what, Mom? Okay, you’re right.”
As a proud mother, Kim made it clear that she supports her daughter’s self-expression — within reason. “Babe, if you want blue hair, like it is what it is,” she said. “It makes her so happy, I would never take that creative [sic] away from her.”
Speaking more broadly, she urged the public to show understanding, especially toward single moms, adding, “I’m doing the best that I can, and my babies are good babies. So, I just urge everyone to like [sic] not be judgmental and to have grace on single moms tryna figure it all out with, like, you know, a pre-teen, it’s a lot. If you know, you know.”
North West and Kim Kardashian at a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles, California on April 9, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
‘She Teaches Me a Lot’: Kim Kardashian Sees North West as a Muse and Mini Style Icon
Kim also shed light on her daughter’s evolving fashion sense during a September sit-down with Complex, where she praised North not only as a trendsetter but as a source of inspiration in her own right. When asked whether her daughter has taught her anything or introduced her to new styles, Kim didn’t hesitate to answer, admitting, “She teaches me a lot.”
Describing North’s style as “really unique,” Kim shared that her daughter often puts her onto new brands and expresses a deep sense of individuality.
“She just loves what she loves,” Kim explained. “It’s just really fun to see someone be so creative and also know herself so much.”
The mother of four recounted a moment when North briefly experimented with more traditionally feminine fashion, trying on girly outfits that matched what her friends were wearing. But the phase was short-lived. “She tried it with me once […] and she was like, ‘Whoa, wait. This isn’t me,'” Kim recalled. “She realized quick like, ‘This isn’t me.'”
Kim Kardashian and North West at The Daily Front Row’s Seventh Annual Fashion in Los Angeles, California on April 23, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
Instead, North gravitated back to what felt natural — oversized t-shirts, jerseys, and jorts — a tomboyish aesthetic that Kim Kardashian embraces and admires.
“I love that for her,” North’s mom swooned, her voice filled with pride over her daughter’s strong sense of self and willingness to define her style on her own terms.