Kim Kardashian has just stepped off the plane from LA, but she looks surprisingly fresh. Sporting 5-inch Christian Louboutin heels that nearly dwarf her small frame, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star radiates an icy confidence in stark contrast to the media storm surrounding her personal life.

After staging one of the most elaborate weddings of the year, Kim announced earlier this week she had filed for divorce from husband Kris Humphries, leaving fans, investors and friends in shock – the marriage had lasted just 72 days.

To some however, including sister Khloé, the short-lived union was on the verge of crumbling even before the wedding.

"I would never have said it before, but at the reception afterwards, Khloé – who always says what she thinks – walks by me and goes...'I give it six [expletive] months,'" the Kardashians' close friend Kathie Lee Gifford admitted.

Although some publications speculate that the couple staged the wedding as a publicity stunt, others, including marriage counsellor Stacy Kaiser – who appeared on Tuesday's Access Hollywood Live, believes it's not the case.

"First of all, there has been way too much emotion behind what's been going on between them," explains Kaiser. "There's been so much anger and sadness and resentment and it's my belief that you just can't fake that."

Kim also adamantly denies that the marriage was fake, saying she believes her fans know the real truth.

"Everyone that knows me knows that I'm a hopeless romantic!" she wrote on her blog. "I love with all of my heart and soul. I want a family and babies and a real life so badly that maybe I rushed in to something too soon. I believed in love and the dream of what I wanted so badly. I felt like I was on a fast roller coaster and couldn't get off when now I know I probably should have. I got caught up with the hoopla and the filming of the TV show that when I probably should have ended my relationship, I didn't know how to and didn't want to disappoint a lot of people...It just didn't turn out to be the fairy tale I had so badly hoped for."

Indeed Kim professed an interest in seeing her wedding on television, telling marie claire back in May, "It'll be fun to see the process of it. I loved seeing Khloé's wedding on camera."

In Sydney with sister Khloé for the launch of their Kardashian Kollection Handbag line, Kim looks dejected on the red carpet, barely able to crack a smile. Khloé, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air - she's obviously trying to make the best of a bad situation, and is playing the role of loyal sibling to a hilt. Meanwhile, Kim is seemingly growing increasingly frustrated with the ongoing questions about her divorce.

"I'm sad," is all she will offer, pointedly walking away from the gossip publications.

When marie claire asks her why she chose to launch a handbag collection exclusively in Australia, she looks relieved to steer the conversation away from her impending divorce.

"Well we have our clothing collection in the states in Sears," she says. "And when we started designing our handbag collection we got really into it! I've been to Australia tons of times and I love our fanbase out here, everyone has been so good to us. So as a result we really wanted to come out with a handbag line exclusively for Australia."

Kim explains that the three girls have total control over the creative process. "Me, Kourtney and Khloe designed the entire line ourselves," she says. "We're involved in the design process from start to finish. It's great to have such creative control over the range. I'm the true definition of a workaholic. I have my visions and I just go for it."

So would the girls ever consider opening a Dash store in Sydney?

"We always talk about it," says Kim, brightening considerably. "Like where we would want to. Sydney is a place I could really live. It reminds me so much of the states – "

She's interrupted by Khloe, who instinctively reaches for her sister's hand before realising it's the first time she's started to thaw all evening.

"It's so laid-back,” Khloe breaks in, smiling. "It's Lamar's (Khloe's husband) first time here and he went out today by himself and was like, 'it's so laid -back and the people are so nice!' It's exactly what I say to people when they ask if they should come here, I'm always like, 'you'll love it'".

"I really want to take Lamar to the zoo," continues Khloe. "Last time Kim and I were here we got to go to the zoo and hold koalas and see the kangaroos – we had such a fun time."

"And we have to go to Bondi beach," says Kim. "I think we should go there tomorrow."

The talk then turns to beauty - despite spending 16 hours on a plane earlier today, both girls look flawless. So what's their beauty secret?

"Hairdressers," the girls say simultaneously, laughing.

"I am so bad at doing my own hair," Kim admits. "Anytime you see a wave or a curl in my hair, you know I haven't done it myself! At the most, I can put it in a ponytail, but that's where my expertise stops."

"I just let my hair go - if there's no hairdresser around I really can't be bothered!" says Khloe, before confessing that her current hair colour is a result of regrowth rather than the chic balayage we'd pegged it for.

"The one time I don't pay to get it dyed, everyone loves it," she says, shaking her head.

Kim is then pointedly asked how she's handling all the attention since the news of her divorce became public.

"I've been ok," she says softly, before Khloe quickly jumps in. "We love Australia, and we'll always come back,” she says, before cheekily adding, "we love Tim Tams."

"Oh, I'm obsessed," grins Kim.

We're interrupted by the girl's representative asking them to step off the red carpet, but both girls turn back and say thank you. As Kim walks away with Khloe hovering protectively by her side, we can't help but think she'll have no problem handling whatever life might throw her way next.