Kim Kardashian: Nude shoot an 'art project'

Kim Kardashian has opened up about her nude photo shoot with

Paper

magazine, and she says it was all an exercise in self-confidence building.

She also calls it an "art project":

"I was so honored and excited to work with (photographer Jean-Paul Goude) because he is a legend, and for me that was something I wanted to do to make myself feel confident," she explained during an appearance on Australian TV show "The Project," reportsUs Weekly. "As a role model I'm not saying anyone else should do that, but for me it was an art project and it taught me to do what you want to do."

"I'm never one to preach, but I felt really positive and really good about myself. I love the photos, I did it for me, I hope other people like them," she said.

The show's host, Rove McManus, who even admitted to admiring the photos himself, had a very important question for the reality-TV star: "Can you actually balance a champagne glass on your derriere, or was it all Photoshopped?" he asked.

"My back hurt for about a week after that shoot … I used muscles..," Kardashian said. "(Goude) has an art of posing you, and it was definitely not comfortable," she added with a laugh.