Kim Kardashian says her racy Instagram photo was 'a middle finger' to haters after pregnancy weight gain

KIM Kardashian has appeared on the "The Tonight Show" in the US, telling Jay Leno that the racy photo she posted of herself in bathers was a "big middle finger to the world" for the flak she copped for gaining weight during her pregnancy.

Kardashian said comments on her appearance "really hurt my soul" and "changed how I am in public," causing her to "live more of a private life." (OK, really?)

"Why would I subject myself to so much negativity?" she said. "Especially now that I have a daughter. I just don’t need that energy. I rather be in a happy place, when I'm home."

She also went on to talk about her happy home life with fiancé Kanye West and baby daughter, North,

"I’m very happy right now,” she said, calling last week's engagement to West "the most magical night of my life."

"He’s so creative, so passionate about everything in life," she said of West.

As for her weight loss, he 33-year-old socialite proudly declared, "I got on the scale today and it said that I am 50 pounds (22kgs) down - that made me so excited."

Talking about her mother’s split from step-dad Bruce Jenner, Kardashian confirmed that the former Olympian will still walk her down the aisle.

"Our family I would say is the biggest most happiest dysfunctional family," she said.

Kardashian called her infant daughter North "the sweetest little girl" who "never cries."

"She’s a perfect little angel," she said. "I hope she grows up to be smart and opinionated like her dad."