Paris Hilton may have slipped under the radar for a while, but a rare interview with London’s Daily Telegraph has proved she’s still very much alive and little changed.
The 33-year-old socialite turned DJ is living the “Barbie American dream”, surrounded by a collage of self-portraits on every wall and printed on every cushion in her Beverly Hills mansion.
Here are nine deliciously tacky highlights of her latest chat about her life.
SHE’S GENUINE, LIKE, CHILL
She lives in a mansion with a private nightclub, describes herself as the “closest thing to American royalty” and has an entire room of Jimmy Choos. But Paris Hilton still thinks she is a normal human.
It’s all just perception, says the self-described Princess Paris. “The princess Barbie (image) is a fun character but in real life I’m very chill and down-to-earth normal,” she says.
HER HOME IS A SHRINE TO HERSELF
Almost every square inch of wall is allegedly covered with pictures of the one and only, shown in every one of her many facets – covered in gold paint, greeting fans, with Elizabeth Taylor.
Prints adorn cushions, a giant image of her made up of thousands of tiny images covers an entire wall, while a portrait overlooks an opulent staircase.
“I like it because it looks very regal,” she says of the snap.
“In movies everyone always has an elegant picture painted of them and I was like, ‘I need one of those’.”
HER DOGS LIVE IN A VILLA
It’s Italian, and it’s in her room, which boasts a black and gold bed and a terrace overlooking her swimming pool.
The dog kennel – if kennel is an appropriate description – is complete with cornicing, a black crystal chandelier and designer furniture.
“Hi baby, I love you,” she coos at one of the pooches which has appeared on its own miniature balcony.
SOMETIMES HER WARDROBE OVERWHELMS HER
Hilton has hundreds, if not thousands of designer dresses, including a custom-made bejewelled mini dress from India that “just blings”.
“It gives me a panic attack sometimes,” Hilton says says with all the choice, as she apparently sinks theatrically into a rail of frocks.
SHE WEEDS THE HUNGRY TIGERS OUT
She used to cry and call her mum every time she read something critical about her. But now she’s honed her skills in identifying who her true friends are.
“So many people have bad intentions, so many girls want to hang out (with me) to be someone,” she crows.
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“I weed those people out of my life. I call them hungry tigers.”
THAT SEX TAPE WASN’T HER FAULT
Hilton still remembers the sex tape that went viral under the title One Night in Paris when she was a teenager.
She describes the tape, filmed by former boyfriend Rick Salomon, as “devastating”.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully trust any man again after that,” she says.
“It was just the most hurtful and awful thing that anyone could do to a little girl. I was very young, it wasn’t my fault.”
SHE’S A TRUE AQUARIAN. LIKE EINSTEIN.
“Aquarius(es) are social butterflies, humanitarians, geniuses: Einstein was one,” Hilton says.
Whether or not Einstein believed astrology had the power to inextricably link him to the heiress is another matter altogether.
SHE’S AIN’T NO HILTON. JUST PARIS.
She may be the great-granddaughter of the founder of Hilton hotels, but Paris says her success has come entirely through her own means – as a model, actor and professional poser.
She launched a jewellery line and perfume, and even launched herself as an international DJ last year at Ibiza’s Amnesia nightclub and according to her she “killed it”.
She did it all alone, with no financial assistance from her family.
Recently Hilton cemented her individuality by opening her first hotel in the Philippines.
“It’s called Paris, not Hilton, just me,” she says, “because I don’t want people to think it’s my family’s. It’s mine.”
SHE’S BEEN A BUSINESS SUCCESS FOR A REASON
“It’s like a kind of Barbie American dream. I have that childlike quality to a lot of little girls especially (like me). I’ve always been a kid at heart. I think I always will be.”
Unless of course, you are a hungry tiger.
– AAP
