Paris Hilton

Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American celebutante, businesswoman, singer, model, actress, author, and television personality.

Paris Hilton's best-known acting work is in the television series The Simple Life with her friend Nicole Richie. She has also appeared in several minor film roles, most notably in the horror film House of Wax in 2005. In 2006, she released her self-titled debut album Paris. As a result of several legal incidents, Hilton served a widely publicized sentence in a correctional institution in 2007.

Early life and background

Born in New York City, New York, Hilton is the oldest of four children of Richard and Kathy Hilton. Paris has a younger sister, Nicky, and younger brothers Barron Nicholas Hilton and Conrad Hughes Hilton.

On the maternal side of her family, Paris is a niece of two child stars of the 1970s, Kim Richards and Kyle Richards. Paris was related by marriage to Nicole Richie's godmother, Nancy Davis, when Nancy's brother, Greg, was married to Kim Richards.

Paris' paternal grandparents are hotel chairman Barron Hilton, and his wife, the former Marilyn Hawley; Barron Hilton's parents were Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton and his first wife, Mary Barron.

Paris moved between several exclusive homes in her youth, including a suite in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, Beverly Hills, and the Hamptons. She attended Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage, California her freshman year of high school; Dwight School in New York for her sophomore and junior years; then a few months at Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut before dropping out.[1] Hilton eventually earned a GED.[2]

The value of Paris' inheritance is estimated at between $30 and $50 million.[3][4]

Career

Hilton has worked as a model, actress, musician, and businesswoman. According to Forbes Magazine, she earned approximately $2 million in 2003–2004,[5] $6.5 million in 2004–2005,[6] and $7 million in 2005–2006.[7]

As a model

Hilton began modeling as a child, appearing first at charity events.[8] At 19, she signed with Donald Trump's modeling agency, T Management.[8] Hilton has also worked with Ford Models in New York, Models 1 Agency in London, Nous Model Management in Los Angeles, and Premier Model Management in London. She has appeared in numerous advertising campaigns, including Iceberg Vodka, GUESS, Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Dior, and Marciano. In 2001, Hilton began to develop a reputation as a socialite, being identified as "New York's leading It Girl" whose fame was beginning to "extend beyond the New York tabloids".[8] She has since appeared in several magazines, including the April 2004 issue of Maxim magazine.[9]

As an actress

Hilton became famous when she co-starred with Nicole Richie, the adopted daughter of Lionel Richie, in the Fox reality series The Simple Life, which premiered on December 2, 2003. After the success of the first season, The Simple Life was followed by two more seasons on Fox. The network canceled the show after a dispute between Hilton and Richie, but the show was subsequently aired by E! Entertainment Television for the fourth and fifth seasons,[10] with talks of a sixth season to follow suit.[11] Hilton has also guest-starred in episodes of The O.C., The George Lopez Show, Las Vegas, American Dreams and Veronica Mars. Furthermore, she appeared in several music videos, including It Girl by John Oates and Just Lose It by Eminem. Hilton has made cameo appearances in several films, notably Zoolander (2001), Wonderland (2003), and The Cat In The Hat (2003). She landed minor and supporting roles in the feature films Nine Lives (2002), Raising Helen (2004), The Hillz (2004), and House of Wax (2005). Her role as Paige Edwards in House of Wax won the Teen Choice Award for "Best Scream" and earned her a nomination for "Choice Breakout Performance – Female".[12] She also earned a nomination for "Best Frightened Performance" at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards. She landed her first lead roles in 2006 with the straight-to-DVD releases National Lampoon's Pledge This! (2006) and Bottom's Up (2006). Hilton is currently scheduled to appear as the lead in several upcoming theatrical releases, including an as yet untitled superhero movie involving Stan Lee, and as the lead in a romantic comedy called The Hottie and the Nottie. Plans for an eponymous cartoon series following the animated life of Paris, her sister Nicky, and her dog Tinkerbell are also in production.[13] As of August 2007, Hilton is part of the cast of Repo! the Genetic Opera, scheduled to begin filming in September 2007.[14]

As a recording artist

Further information: Heiress Records, Paris (Paris Hilton album), and Paris Hilton's second studio album

Audio samples from Paris:

*
"Stars Are Blind" (2006)
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"Stars Are Blind" sample.
"Nothing in This World" (2006)
Play sound
"Nothing in This World" sample.
* Problems playing the files? See media help.

Paris (2006).
Paris (2006).

Hilton founded Heiress Records, a sub-label of Warner Bros. Records, in 2004 and released her self-titled debut album, Paris, under that label on August 22, 2006. Although the album reached number six on the Billboard 200 for a week, its total sales volume has been low.[15][16] All Music Guide commented that the album was "more fun than anything released by Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson, and a lot fresher, too." On the whole, critical reception was mixed.[17] On July 16, 2007 Hilton confirmed that she is working on a new album, to be released in late 2007.[18][19][20]

As an author

In the autumn of 2004, Hilton released an autobiographical book, Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose, co-written by Merle Ginsberg, which includes full color photographs of her and her advice on life as an heiress. Hilton reportedly received a $100,000 advance payment for this book. Some in the media panned the writing as amateurish, and the book was parodied by Robert Mundell on The Late Show with David Letterman. The book became a New York Times bestseller. Hilton followed it up with a designer diary, also with Ginsberg, called Your Heiress Diary: Confess It All to Me.

Activism

Animal rights

In 2007, after watching a graphic video about animals raised for their fur, Hilton announced her support of vegetarianism and her anti-fur beliefs.[21] Hilton said:
“ From that point [after witnessing the video shown by Heather Mills], I've never worn fur and I never will. I also haven't eaten any meat since. I just survive on pasta and stuff like that. I was grossed out. It was disgusting. ”

Products and endorsements
Promotional poster for the fragrance "Paris Hilton" (2004).
Promotional poster for the fragrance "Paris Hilton" (2004).

Hilton helped design a collection of purses for Japanese label Samantha Thavasa,[22] and also a jewelry line for Amazon.com.[23] In 2004, Hilton was involved in the creation of a perfume line by Parlux Fragrances. Originally set to be a small release, high demand led to a wider release before December 2004. The launch was followed by a 47% increase in sales of Parlux products, predominantly due to sales of the Hilton-branded perfume.[24] After the success of Hilton's perfume, Parlux Fragrances released several more perfumes with her name, including fragrances for men.[25] Paris Hilton will launch a new fragrance in October 2007, called "Can Can" by Paris Hilton. This is her fourth women's fragrance after "Paris Hilton," "Just Me," and "Heiress." In January 2007, Hilton released the DreamCatchers line of hair extensions in partnership with Hair Tech International.[26] In early August 2007, Hilton signed a licensing agreement with Antebi for a signature footwear line, "Paris Hilton Footware", featuring stilettos, platforms, flats, wedges, and a sports collection, expected to reach stores in 2008.[27] In mid August 2007, Hilton launched a line of tops, dresses, coats, and jeans at Kitson boutique in Los Angeles.[28]

In 2005, Hilton lent her name to a chain of nightclubs owned by Fred Khalilian and known as Club Paris. This association ended in January 2007 after she had failed to attend several scheduled promotional appearances.[29]

Personal life

Hilton was engaged to fashion model Jason Shaw from mid-2002 to early 2003, and Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis, from May 29, 2005 to November 2005. Thereafter, she began dating another Greek shipping heir, Stavros Niarchos III, before breaking up in May 2006. In an attempt to rediscover herself, Hilton imposed a ban on sexual activity for one year starting in July 2006, although was found kissing her friend Brandon Davis five days later.[30] Hilton told Regis and Kelly: "One-night stands are not for me. I think it's gross when you just give it up. Guys want you more, if you don't just hand it to them on a platter."[31] Paris is currently in a relationship with Swedish model Alexander von Zweigbergk Väggö.

In January 2007, Hilton's private life created headlines with the launch of ParisExposed.com, a website that featured images of personal and medical documents, video, and other private material, allegedly obtained when the contents of a storage locker rented by Hilton were auctioned off due to lack of payment.[32] CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 discussed footage obtained from the website which features Hilton using several ethnic slurs.[33] On February 3, 2007 Hilton obtained a temporary injunction against ParisExposed.com, closing down the website for a short period of time before the site went back online.

Hilton is known for her love of small dogs, including a Yorkshire Terrier and a female Chihuahua named Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell (born October 31, 2002 in Athens, Greece[34]) was purchased from a Greek breeder named Andreas Evagelopoulos at the price of 3,000€. Hilton is frequently seen carrying Tinkerbell (dubbed an "accessory dog") at social events and functions, and in all five seasons of television reality show The Simple Life. In 2004, Tinkerbell "authored" a memoir, The Tinkerbell Hilton Diaries. On August 12, 2004, Tinkerbell went missing after Hilton's apartment was robbed, and a $5,000 reward was offered for her safe return.[35] She was found six days later. By December 1, 2004, Tinkerbell was again spotted with Paris Hilton at various events. Hilton has also purchased a male Chihuahua on 25 July 2007 from Pets of Bel Air in Los Angeles.[36]

The leak of a three-year-old home-made sex video, called 1 Night in Paris, of Hilton with her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon a week prior to the premiere of her Fox reality series The Simple Life attracted worldwide attention in late 2003.

Driving violations

In September 2006, Hilton was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content of 0.08%, the level at which it is illegal to drive in California. Hilton's driving license was subsequently suspended in November 2006,[37] and in January 2007 she pled no contest to the alcohol-related reckless driving charge.[38] Her punishment was 36 months' probation and fines of about $1,500.[39] On January 15, 2007, Hilton was pulled over for driving with a suspended license and signed a document acknowledging that she was not permitted to drive.[40] On February 27, 2007 Hilton was caught driving 70 mph in a 35 mph zone, again with a suspended license. She also did not have her headlights on even though it was after dark. Prosecutors in the office of the Los Angeles City Attorney charged that those actions, along with the failure to enroll in a court-ordered alcohol education program constituted a violation of the terms of her probation.[37]
Paris Hilton's booking photo
Paris Hilton's booking photo

On May 4, 2007 Hilton was sentenced by Judge Michael T. Sauer to 45 days in jail for violating her probation. Initially, Hilton planned to appeal the sentence, and supported an online petition[41] asking California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for a pardon.[42] The petition to Governor Schwarzenegger was created and organized on May 5, 2007 by Joshua Morales, a loyal fan of Ms. Hilton's who was upset by the sentence Paris received.[43] In response, various opponents started a counter-petition to maintain the sentence.[44] Both petitions attracted tens of thousands of signatures. Hilton later switched lawyers and dropped her plans to appeal.[45]

Hilton was required to begin her jail term on June 5, 2007,[46] and checked herself into the Century Regional Detention Facility, an all female jail in Lynwood, California after attending the 2007 MTV Movie Awards on June 3, 2007. With credit for good behavior, it was anticipated that Hilton would only serve 23 days of her 45-day sentence;[47] however, in an unexpected turn of events, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca signed orders on the morning of June 7, reassigning Hilton to 40 days of home confinement with an electronic monitoring device due to an unspecified medical condition.[48] Sheriff Baca commented on the release saying, "My message to those who don't like celebrities is that punishing celebrities more than the average American is not justice,"[49] contesting that under normal circumstances, Hilton would not have served any time in jail, and he added that "The special treatment, in a sense, appears to be because of her celebrity status ... She got more time in jail".[50] On the same day that Hilton was released from jail, Judge Michael Sauer summoned her to reappear in court the following morning (June 8) as the sentencing statement had explicitly said she would serve time in jail with "No work furlough. No work release. No electronic monitoring."[51] At the hearing he declined to be briefed by Hilton's attorney in private chambers on the nature of her condition and sent her back to jail to serve out her original 45-day sentence. Upon hearing the sentence, Hilton shouted, "It's not right!" and started screaming, requesting to hug her mother who was present in the courtroom.[52][53] Concern about Hilton's condition led to her being moved to the medical wing of the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, and she was moved back to the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood on June 13.[54]

While in jail, Hilton was influenced by prison minister Marty Angelo: Hilton referred to starting a "new beginning" during her interview with talk show host Larry King on June 28, 2007, two days after being released from jail,[55] and quoted from Angelo's autobiography, entitled Once Life Matters: A New Beginning. On June 9, 2007 Marty Angelo petitioned sentencing Judge Michael Sauer[56] asking to serve out the remainder of Hilton's jail sentence if the judge would release her to an alternative treatment program,[57] but the petition was turned down.

Hilton was released from jail on June 26, 2007. In total, Hilton served 22 days in detention, counting her day-long home confinement.[58] Hilton announced she would be visiting Rwanda in November 2007 as a post-jail vow and to spread awareness about that African country.[59]

In popular culture
Paris Hilton with Butters dressed as a bear in the South Park episode "Stupid Spoiled Whore Video Playset".
Paris Hilton with Butters dressed as a bear in the South Park episode "Stupid Spoiled Whore Video Playset".

While Hilton has been quoted as saying that she is the "iconic blonde of the decade"' and comparing herself to Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe (a claim she later denied in the May 2007 issue of Harper's Bazaar),[60] she will reportedly appear in the 2007 Guinness World Records as the world's "Most Overrated Celebrity".[61] In a poll conducted by the Associated Press and AOL, Hilton was voted the second "Worst Celebrity Role Model of 2006", behind Britney Spears.[62] Critics have alleged that Hilton epitomizes the title of famous for being famous; echoing that sentiment, the Associated Press conducted what they called an experiment in late February 2007, trying not to report on Hilton for a whole week.[63]

On May 11, 2007, a statue by Daniel Edwards entitled Paris Hilton Autopsy was revealed at Capla Kesting Fine Art in New York. Hilton is depicted by a clay model as dead, naked, and with her legs spread. The artist considers the sculpture a means of educating high school seniors about drunk driving. [64]

Guitarist Alex Lifeson of the progressive rock band Rush referenced Hilton during their August 8, 2004 concert in New York City on the R30: 30th Anniversary Tour. In one of his trademark rants during the instrumental track "La Villa Strangiato", he spoke as if he was Hilton, and ended with an ad libbed song (joined by Geddy and Neil) which included him yelling, "Where's your brain?" and "You make me sick!"[65]

Notable parodies of Paris Hilton include the following:

* In the MMOG World of Warcraft, Haris Pilton can be found in the World's End Tavern of the lower part of Shattrath City accompanied by her dog Tinkerbell, and her job tag reads "Socialite".
* In The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, London Tipton, the daughter of the Tipton Hotel's rich owner, is a parody of Paris Hilton.[66]
* Shortly after Hilton was incarcerated in June 2007, a music video spoofing her jail sentence was released on the popular video-sharing website YouTube. Featuring a Paris Hilton lookalike extolling the virtues of jail to the tune of her song "Stars Are Blind", the video achieved instant notoriety, garnering over three million hits in five days.[67][68]
* South Park portrays a very unflattering parody of Hilton in "Stupid Spoiled Whore Video Playset" in which Paris opens a store with everything girls need to be like her.[69]

Filmography

* Wishman (1991)
* Sweetie Pie (2000)
* Zoolander (2001; cameo)
* Nine Lives (2002)
* QIK2JDG (2002)
* L.A. Knights (2003)
* Wonderland (2003)
* The Cat in the Hat (2003)
* Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004)
* The Hillz (2004)
* Raising Helen (2004)
* 1 Night in Paris (2004)
* House of Wax (2005)
* Bottoms Up (2006)
* Pledge This! (2006)
* The Hottie and the Nottie (2008)
* Repo! the Genetic Opera (2008)

Discography

Main article: Paris Hilton discography

Albums

* Paris (released August 22, 2006)
* Untitled second studio album

Singles

From Paris:

* "Stars Are Blind"
* "Turn It Up"
* "Nothing in This World"
* "Screwed"