Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 17, 1981 |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, model, singer |
| Website | ParisHilton.com |
Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American socialite, actress, fashion model, author and singer. Her initial rise to fame was simply as an heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune, as well as of her father, Richard Hilton's, real estate fortune. A videotape of her having sex with her boyfriend helped skyrocket her into the public eye, and that drew attention to her then-new participation in a reality series, The Simple Life. That was followed by a series of personal scandals and publicity stunts.
In addition to being a highly active socialite in both Manhattan and Los Angeles, Hilton participates in modeling, acting, and writing, within which venues she has accumulated much personal wealth. She has been described as a "skank", "celebutante," a portmanteau of "celebrity" and "debutante."[1] However, in August 2006 she launched a serious bid at a music career, with her debut pop album Paris.
Background
Hilton is the oldest of four children of Richard Hilton and Kathy Richards. Her younger sister is Nicky Hilton, and her younger brothers are Barron Hilton II and Conrad Hilton II.
On the maternal side of her family, Hilton is a niece of two popular child stars of the 1970s - Kim Richards and Kyle Richards, who appeared in the motion picture Escape to Witch Mountain and TV shows like Nanny and the Professor, Little House on the Prairie, and later, ER. By marriage, she also is related to Zsa Zsa Gabor (the Hungarian-born actress married Paris Hilton's great-grandfather Conrad Hilton), as well as Elizabeth Taylor (the actress's first husband was Paris Hilton's great-uncle, Conrad Nicholson Hilton Jr.).
Her paternal grandparents are hotel chairman Barron Hilton and his wife, the former Marilyn Hawley, and her paternal great-grandparents were Hilton Hotel founder Conrad Hilton and his first wife, Mary Barron. When Conrad Hilton died in 1979, he left nothing in his will to his children or other descendants. Barron Hilton contested this decision and won in 1988.
Hilton moved between several exclusive homes in her youth, including a suite in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, Beverly Hills, and the Hamptons. Currently, her parents own a $30.5 million mansion in Bel Air, a $12.3 million estate in the Hamptons, and a $10 million house in the Hollywood Hills in which she and her sister stay to give them privacy and for easy access to clubs in Los Angeles.
She attended high school at the Dwight School in New York, but dropped out and eventually earned a GED. Hilton decided not to attend a university.
Hilton first came into the public eye as one of the more famous New York socialites and heirs. Along with her sister, she would make countless appearances in the party section of New York society magazines.
Personal life
Hilton has been widely discussed by tabloids. In 2000, the National Enquirer reported a casual friendship with Leonardo DiCaprio as something far more intimate. She has also been linked/had flings with other celebrities, including professional skateboarder Chad Muska, filmmaker Vincent Gallo, actor Edward Furlong, boxer Oscar De La Hoya, Chicago Bears football player Brian Urlacher, singers Deryck Whibley and Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, former University of Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart, UK rap artist Joe Buckton, Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis (whose girlfriend at the time, Australian singer/actress Delta Goodrem, had cancer), Australian Idol contestant Robert 'Millsy' Mills, oil heir Brandon Davis, fashion model Lucas Bain, NHL goaltender Jose Theodore, English cricketer Kevin Pietersen and Ex MTV Simon Rex.
Hilton was engaged to model Jason Shaw from mid-2002 to early 2003. On May 29, 2005, she announced her engagement to Paris Latsis, a Greek shipping heir. However, on October 1, 2005, Hilton announced that the five-month engagement had been called off. Soon thereafter, she began dating another Greek shipping heir, Stavros Niarchos III, but as of May 2, 2006, Hilton publicist Elliot Mintz told the press of the reported breakup.
In an attempt to "rediscover herself," Hilton imposed a ban on sexual activity for one year. She told Regis and Kelly, "I'm doing it just because I want to. I feel I'm becoming stronger as a person. Every time I have a boyfriend, I'm just so romantic, and I'll put all my energy into the guy, and I don't really pay attention to myself. 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. If they want you, then they will wait. You have to make them work for it. I think that's the only way you know if they really want you or just want to be able to brag that they've been with you."[1] Despite her comments of a single life, Paris was photographed kissing Brandon Davis on July 16, 2006 in West Hollywood. [2] Hilton was also photographed making out with Stavros Niarchos III in St. Tropez on July 30, 2006. [3] On July 31, 2006, Paris told People that she and Stavros are together again. The couple split in May after seven months of dating. "We're together now here. We love each other," Hilton says. [4]
In 2006, Hilton told HX Magazine the reasons for her split with ex-best friend Nicole Richie. She claims that she and Nicole, "grew apart because of fame." [5] On 20 April 2005, amid media reports that their friendship was in trouble, Paris Hilton released a statement saying "It's no big secret that Nicole and I are no longer friends," and "Nicole knows what she did, and that's all I'm ever going to say about it."
Career
In recent years Hilton has gained recognition by appearing in television, movies, television commercials, and modeling photographs. According to Forbes, in 2003-2004 she earned approximately US $2 million for her television and movie roles, but in 2004-2005 her earnings from television, movies, modeling, and personal appearances have earned her an additional $6.5 million.
| Paris Hilton Statistics | |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in ) |
| Measurements | 34B-25-35 |
| Shoe size | 11 (Women-U.S.) |
| Eye color | Naturally brown; wears blue-colored contact lenses |
| Hair color | Blonde[6] |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | German/Norwegian[7] |
Fashion Model
Hilton has signed with top modeling agencies: Ford Models Management in New York, Models 1 Agency in London, Nous Model Management in Los Angeles, & Premier Model Management in London.
Hilton has walked for top fashion designers such as Philippe Treacy, Jasper Conran, Heatherette, and Julien McDonald. She has appeared in numerous advertisements, including Iceberg, GUESS, Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Dior, Samantha Thavasa, and Marciano.
She has been featured in several television commercials, including a T-Mobile commercial for which she was paid $250,000 and her Carl's Jr. commercial for which she was paid $400,000 according to Forbes Magazine.
Actress
Film
Hilton has appeared in the short subjects QIK2JDG and L.A. Knights, as well as minor and supporting roles in the feature movies House of Wax, The Hillz, Wonderland, Raising Helen, and Nine Lives. Hilton won the 2005 Worst Supporting Actress Razzie for House of Wax. She landed her first lead roles in 2006 with the straight- to-DVD releases National Lampoon's Pledge This! and Bottom's Up with Jason Mewes.
She also appeared in cameo roles in Zoolander (2001), The Cat in the Hat (2003) and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004).
In 2003, a sex tape featuring Hilton and horse hung Rick Salomon surfaced.The tape leaked onto the Internet, presumably by Donald Thrasher, a friend of Hilton and former roommate of Salomon's. Salomon filed suit both against the company distributing the tape and the Hilton family, who he accused of tarnishing his reputation by suggesting that he had exploited Paris. Salomon further claimed in his $10 million suit that the Hiltons were implying that Paris was underage when the tape was made, and were attempting to crush him to preserve the image they had created for her.
After a few months, Solomon started to distribute the tape himself through adult film company Red Light District Video and was sued by Paris Hilton. This suit was settled, with Hilton receiving $400,000 and a cut of the profits from the tape. The DVD of the sex video is entitled 1 Night in Paris and is available widely, and was a huge seller of 2005, winning several AVN Awards.
Hilton also has several upcoming theatrical releases in which she is the lead role, including The Hottie and the Nottie (2008) and an untitled superhero movie involving Stan Lee.
Television
Hilton and Nicole Richie (adopted daughter of Lionel) starred in the 2003 FOX hit reality series The Simple Life, in which they lived with a family on their farm in rural Altus, Arkansas. Highlights of the show included the girls performing poorly at various jobs, making out with the local boys, and numerous instances of them shown as "fish out of water." It was followed by two more seasons on FOX: The Simple Life 2: Road Trip and The Simple Life 3: Interns, and another on E!: The Simple Life 4: ' Til Death Do Us Part. A fifth season to be aired on E! is currently in development stages. [8]
Plans for Hilton to lend her name and also star in a cartoon series which follows the animated life of herself, her sister Nicky, and her dog Tinkerbell are in production. [9]
Hilton has also guest starred in episodes of The OC, The George Lopez Show, Las Vegas, American Dreams and Veronica Mars.
Hilton's voice was used in See Paris Die! a viral animation promoting House of Wax.
Recording artist
Hilton is the founder of Heiress Records, a sub-label of Warner Brothers Records, which she created in 2004. Though Heiress Records' only release as of yet has been Paris, Hilton has said that she plans to sign new artists in the future.
Hilton began work on an album in 2004, whose title was earlier rumored to be Paris Hilton, Paris Is Burning, 1 Crazy Party, and Screwed. It was confirmed in 2006 that the album would simply be called Paris. Before release, Hilton hinted that her album would feature a number of genres, such as pop, reggae and hip-hop.[10] Producers for Paris include Greg Wells, Kara DioGuardi, Jane Wiedlin and Scott Storch. Hilton collaberated with Fat Joe and Jadakiss on the song "Fighting Over Me". Paris was released on August 222006.
The first single from Paris "Stars Are Blind", a reggae-influenced track produced by Fernando Garibay, was released for download on June 202006 and was a success on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #18. "Turn It Up" , which was premiered on AOL First Listen on June 302006, and "Nothing In This World" are scheduled to follow "Stars Are Blind" as her next singles.
Reaction to Debut
Some influential sources have bestowed the album with rather positive reviews - standing in sharp contrast to the pre-release hype, which was overwhelmingly negative. All Music Guide's chief critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine declared it "shockingly good -- and not just according to a grading curve for actors-turned-singers." The Phoenix reviewed the album in a cover story, lauding it's production and songwriting as finally validating Hilton's long-mocked celebrity. E! online called the album "an immaculately crafted selection of club tracks", and gave it a B-.
Uncut Magazine called the record "lavishly appointed, expensively designed and almost entirely characterless." The Los Angeles Times compared it to "cotton candy" ("leaving a sweet aftertaste and empty calories behind.") Q Magazine's review joked that her producers had "[furnished] her with above-average R&B to pant suggestively over."
As far as comparisons to today's current pop stars, All Music Guide stated, "...it's more fun than anything released by Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson, and a lot fresher, too." [11]
Hilton is already planning and recording tracks for her second album, including a new song called "Daddy's Little Girl".[12]
Discography
Albums
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
| File:Parishiltoncover.jpg | Paris
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Album | Chart positions | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UWC | AUS | CAN | IE | UK | U.S. | GER | SPN | SWI | NZ | NET | LAT | CZE | FIN | SWE | BEL | AU | PL | HUN | SVK | |||
| 2006 | "Stars Are Blind" | Paris | 6 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 7 | - | 7 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 93 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| "Turn It Up" | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| "Nothing In This World" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Author
In the fall of 2004, Hilton released a book, Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose co-written by Merle Ginsberg, which has full color photographs of her and gives her tips on the do's and don'ts of living as an heiress. Hilton was reportedly given $100,000 in advanced 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. Nonetheless, the book became a New York Times bestseller.
Hilton followed it up with a designer-diary, also with Ginsberg - Your Heiress Diary: Confess It All To Me. Aimed at her young fans, it contained pages encouraging fans to write about their goals, their friends and family, boys, celebrities they admire, etc. Hilton plans to release another book in 2007.
Designer
Hilton has helped design a collection of purses for Tokyo label Samantha Thavasa [13] and has also been involved in the design of a jewelry line, The Paris Hilton Collection, for Amazon.com. [14]
Hilton launched the Paris Hilton Limited Edition Watch Collection brand during a news conference at the Tourneau store in New York November 30, 2005. Hilton's 18kt white gold and diamond encrusted watches that she helped design [15] start at $100,000. [16]
Hilton also has plans to launch fashion and cosmetics lines.
Perfume and cologne
In early May of 2004, Hilton was involved in the creation of a fragrance line by Parlux Fragrances. The perfume would be aptly named "Paris Hilton".
Hilton said, "It's really hot. I mixed all these scents together...it smells so good" [17].
The perfume launch was a success. Originally set to be a small release, demand was high and necessitated a wider release before Christmas of 2004. The launch was followed by a 47% increase in sales for Parlux, which was predominantly due to sales of the Hilton-branded perfume. [18]
After the success of Hilton's perfume, Parlux Fragrances released "Paris Hilton for Men", a cologne for Hilton's male admirers, as well as another fragrance called "Just Me by Paris Hilton", which is available for both women and men.
Another perfume titled "Paris Hilton: Heiress" is due for release in October 2006 [19]. A counterpart for men, "Paris Hilton: Heir", is also due by the end of the year, along with a new line of color cosmetics. [20]
Non-profit
In November 2004, Hilton participated in Sean "Diddy" Combs' Citizen Change campaign to encourage youths to vote in the Presidential election. She drew criticism after it was revealed she had neither voted, nor even registered to do so [21][22].
Brand
Hilton began her own chain of nightclubs known as Club Paris in 2005. The first of which in Orlando, Florida has been a major success. The second located in Jacksonville, Florida opened July 1, 2006. Hilton is in talks to develop further clubs in Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Cancun, Mexico. She also hopes to take the clubs to overseas markets and to expand the clubs to become five-star hotels featuring accommodation and casinos.
Gameloft, a developer and publisher of mobile games, previewed Paris-branded mobile at the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). At E3, the game was called "Paris Hilton's Jewel Jam", the name present on all of Gameloft's signage [23]. Hilton was to appear at Gameloft's E3 booth to unveil the product, though she appeared an hour late, saying, "Sorry I’m late. I’m really excited to have my new video game, 'Diamondquest.' Thank you all for coming, and you can download the game." (emphasis added) [24]
As of May 26, 2006, Gameloft's press release states that the game's name is Paris Hilton's Diamond Quest, stating "With a previous working title of Jewel Jam, the company decided on a final title to better reflect the fresh, dynamic and sexy appeal of the heiress extraordinaire." [25]
Media
In the March 2005 issue of Playboy, she was named the "Sex Star of the Year" in their list of the 25 Sexiest Celebrities. Someone appearing to be her, a look-alike, was on the cover of the issue, but she did not pose for it. Her spokeswoman said she did not know where Playboy got that picture. [2]
On March 8, 2006, Brian Quintana, an event producer, was granted a three-year restraining order against Hilton after he testified that she harassed and threatened him. Quintana claimed their relationship soured after he urged Stavros Niarchos III to reconsider dating Hilton. [26]
In May of 2006, Maxim magazine ranked Hilton #38 on its annual Hot 100 list.
In an interview with TMZ.com's Harvey Levin, Hilton read thousands of comments by TMZ users. The comments were, for the most part, negative and focused on her public image of a partying rich girl. Hilton referred to the comments as "mean and sadistic." The comments included, "Paris is just an oversized human condom," "Paris is like a fart in a mitten. You know it's there, you can't stand it, but you can't get rid of it," and "Would you please drop over dead or commit suicide you damn slut." Hilton defended herself by noting that she is "far less promiscuous than any of [her] friends." Hilton also commented on her famous sex tape, saying that she is "judged because of something that an ex-boyfriend did" and that she is "not a slut at all." Hilton said some of the comments made her cry. "They think I don't have any feelings." [27]
In 2006, Hilton told news media that she practiced sexual abstinence. In fact, she told news media that "people think I sleep with everyone, but I'm not like that". The hotel heiress revealed her vow of sexual abstinence as one of the most exciting things she has ever strived for, "I like the way guys go crazy when they can't have sex with you. If he can't have you, he stays interested. The moment he has you, he's gone." Paris told media she had various boyfriends because, "guys are like, 'Hey, what's going on? It's been like four months and I'm only getting a kiss here.'" [28]
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,[29] she will reportedly appear in the 2007 Guiness World Records as the world's "Most Overrated Celebrity".[30]
References
- ^ "Hilton, Paris (1981-)". The Biography Channel. 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
- ^ "Paris poses for Playboy... or does she?". MSNBC. 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
- ^ Gary, Crary Activists campaign against seal hunt February 2, 2004 ESPN.
See also
- LA Denim Atelier
- Conspicuous consumption
- Nicky Hilton
- Brenda Frazier
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
External links
- Paris Hilton at IMDb
- Paris Hilton's Official Site
- Paris Hilton's Official Music Site
- The Official Paris Hilton YouTube Channel
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Singles | |
| Books | |
| Film | |
| Television | |
| Cultural depictions | |
| Related | |
- 1981 births
- Warner Music Group artists
- American models
- American socialites
- American television personalities
- American pop singers
- American female singers
- American dance musicians
- Dance musicians
- Actor-singers
- Reality television participants
- Worst Supporting Actress Razzie
- American entrepreneurs
- People from New York City
- German-Americans
- Hilton family
- Living people
- Veronica Mars actors
- Paris Hilton
- The Simple Life