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

She is best-known through the television series The Simple Life. She has appeared in several minor film roles, most notably in the horror film House of Wax in 2005. In 2004 she published a tongue-in-cheek autobiography.^[2] In 2006, she released her debut album Paris. Hilton's career pursuits include singing, modelling, acting, writing, and television. As a result of several legal incidents, Hilton served a widely publicized sentence in an L.A. County jail facility in 2007.

Early life and background

Born in New York City, Hilton is the oldest of four children of Richard and Kathy Hilton (née Avanzino). She has a sister, Nicky, and brothers, Barron and Conrad.

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

Hilton's 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.

Hilton 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.^[3] Hilton eventually earned a GED.

In December 2007, Hilton's grandfather Barron Hilton pledged 97 percent of his estate to a charitable organisation founded by his father, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. An immediate pledge of $1.2 billion was made, with a further $1.1 billion due after his death. He cited his father's actions as the motivation for his pledge. According to reports, the potential inheritance of his grandchildren is sharply diminished.^[4][5]

Career

Hilton has worked as a model, actress, musician, and engaged in sometime business pursuits.^[6] According to Forbes Magazine, she earned approximately $2 million in 2003–2004,^[7] $6.5 million in 2004–2005,^[8] and $7 million in 2005–2006.^[9]

As a model

Hilton began modelling as a child, initially at charity events.^[10] When she was 19, she signed with Donald Trump's modelling agency, T Management.^[10] 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".^[10] She has appeared in several magazines, including the April 2004 issue of Maxim.^[11]

As an actress

Film

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! and Bottom's Up. She plays the Hottie in a romantic comedy called The Hottie and the Nottie, released in 2008. As of August 2007, Hilton is part of the cast of Repo! the Genetic Opera, which began filming in September 2007.^[13]

Television

Hilton co-starred with Nicole Richie in the Fox reality series The Simple Life, which premiered on December 2, 2003. The Simple Life ran for three seasons on Fox. The show was cancelled by Fox after a dispute between Hilton and Richie, but it was subsequently aired by E! Entertainment Television for the fourth and fifth seasons.^[14] Despite talks of a sixth season,^[15] the series finished its run at the end of the fifth season.^[16] In March 2008, it was reported that Hilton would star in a new MTV reality series tentatively titled "Paris Hilton's My New BFF", about her looking for a new best friend.^[17] The series is to run for ten episodes from October to December, 2008.^[18]

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. Planning is underway for an eponymous cartoon series following the animated life of Hilton, her sister Nicky, and her dog Tinkerbell.^[19] , which began filming in September 2007 Paris will be guest starring on My Name is Earl when the show returns April 3rd 2008 with the episode titled I Won't Die with a Little Help from My Friends.^[20]

As a recording artist

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.^[21][22] 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.^[23] On July 16, 2007 Hilton confirmed that she was working on a new album with producer Scott Storch.^[24][25][26] In a recent interview with MTV, Hilton decided that her second album is going to be a dance album. She stated that she "loves Bob Sinclair" and wants to create dance-music vibe. Hilton has installed a professional recording studio in her house to work on the album.^[27] At a meet and greet in Montreal, Hilton stated that her album is to be released sometime in 2008.^[28]

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 colour 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 opposition to wearing fur.^[29] 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

Hilton helped design a collection of purses for Japanese label Samantha Thavasa,^[30] and also a jewellery line for Amazon.com.^[31] 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 percent increase in sales of Parlux products, predominantly due to sales of the Hilton-branded perfume.^[32] After the success of Hilton's perfume, Parlux Fragrances released several more perfumes with her name, including fragrances for men.^[33] Paris Hilton launched a new fragrance in October 2007, called Can Can. 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.^[34] 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.^[35] In mid August 2007, Hilton launched a line of tops, dresses, coats, and jeans at Kitson boutique in Los Angeles.^[36]

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.^[37]

In December 2007, Hilton joined in promotion of RICH Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine sold in cans rather than bottles. Hilton went to Germany to promote the drink.^[38]

Personal life

Hilton was engaged to fashion model Jason Shaw from mid-2002 to early 2003. In 2003-2004 she had a relationship with singer Nick Carter. Later she was engaged to 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. She is currently dating the guitarist of the band Good Charlotte, Benji Madden. ^[39]

In May 2008, Hilton announced her intention to marry Madden during a gushing interview with television talk-show host David Letterman. Hilton waxed lyrical about what a great couple they were, while flashing his initials in bling on her ring finger.^{[40] [41] [42] [43] [44]}

Hilton told Live with 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."^[45]

Hilton loves small dogs, and owns a Yorkshire Terrier and a female Chihuahua named Tinkerbell. 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 burglarized, and a $5,000 reward was offered for her safe return.^[46] 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 July 25, 2007 from Pets of Bel Air in Los Angeles.^[47]

A four-year-old homemade sex video of Hilton and then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was leaked on the Internet in 2003, later released as the DVD 1 Night in Paris despite attempted legal action. It appeared a week prior to the premiere of The Simple Life.

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,^[48] and in January 2007 she pleaded no contest to the alcohol-related reckless driving charge.^[49] Her punishment was 36 months' probation and fines of about $1,500.^[50] 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.^[51] 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 enrol in a court-ordered alcohol education program, constituted a violation of the terms of her probation.^[48]

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^[52] asking California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for a pardon.^[53] The petition was created and organized on May 5, 2007 by Joshua Morales.^[54] In response, various opponents started a counter-petition to maintain the sentence.^[55] Both petitions attracted tens of thousands of signatures. Hilton later switched lawyers and dropped her plans to appeal.^[56]

Hilton was required to begin her jail term on June 5, 2007,^[57] 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;^[58] 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.^[59] 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,"^[60] 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".^[61] 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."^[62] 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.^[63][64] 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.^[65]

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,^[66] and quoted from Angelo's autobiography, entitled Once Life Matters: A New Beginning. On June 9, 2007 Marty Angelo petitioned sentencing Sauer^[67] asking to serve out the remainder of Hilton's jail sentence if the judge would release her to an alternative treatment program,^[68] 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.^[69] Hilton announced she would be visiting Rwanda in November 2007 as a post-jail vow, but has since postponed the trip until an undetermined date in 2008.

Controversy

Paris Hilton has been quoted as saying that she is the "iconic blonde of the decade"' and compared herself to Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe (a claim she denied in the May 2007 issue of Harper's Bazaar).^[70] She will reportedly appear in the 2007 Guinness World Records as the world's "Most Overrated Celebrity". ^[71] In a poll conducted by the Associated Press and AOL, Hilton was voted the second "Worst Celebrity Role Model of 2006", behind Britney Spears.^[72] Critics suggest that Hilton epitomizes the title of famous for being famous;^[73] echoing that sentiment, the Associated Press conducted what they called an experiment in February 2007, trying not to report on Hilton for a whole week.^[74]

Hilton recently posed nude, covered in gold paint, to promote "Rich Prosecco", a canned version of an Italian sparkling wine.^[75][76]

Alleged Racism & Homophobia

In January 2007 a video surfaced on the commercial website ParisExposed.com in which Paris Hilton uses homophobic and ethnic slurs.^[77] Hilton appears to mock African-Americans and Jews at a party during the song We Are Family by Sister Sledge.^[78] The video was among Hilton's personal and medical documents in a storage facility which were auctioned off after allegedly failing to pay the bill. Hilton's publicist Elliot Mintz confirmed to the New York Post its authenticity saying she had obviously been drinking. On February 3, 2007 Hilton obtained a temporary injunction against ParisExposed.com, closing down the website for a short period of time before it went back online.^[79]

Filmography

• Wishman (1991)
• Sweetie Pie (2000)
• Zoolander (2001; cameo)
• Nine Lives (2002)
• QIK2JDG (2002)
• 1 Night in Paris (2003) (XXX Film)
• 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)
• House of Wax (2005)
• Bottoms Up (2006)
• Pledge This! (2006)
• The Hottie and the Nottie (2008)
• Repo! the Genetic Opera (2008)

Albums

• Paris (released August 22, 2006)

Singles

From Paris:

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