Paris Hilton
From ePedia, the electronic encyclopedia
Paris Hilton at a press
conference for
GoYellow.de on May 20,
2005 in Munich.
Background
Hilton was born in New York City, the eldest 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 who 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. According to Forbes magazine in 2005, the net worth of Barron Hilton is estimated at just over US $1 billion, of which Paris is expected to inherit a little over US $50 million.
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, as well as $10 million house in the Hollywood Hills in which she and her sister stay to give them privacy and easy access to clubs in Los Angeles.
After attending high school at the Dwight School in New York, but dropping out and eventually earning a GED, Hilton decided not to attend a university. A naturally brown-eyed curly brunette, Hilton worked as a fashion model for Catherine Malandrino and Marc Bouwer, and on an ad campaign for Italian label Iceberg. She appeared in cameo roles in Zoolander (2001), The Cat in the Hat (2003) and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004).
Hilton shot to prominence when a sex video of her with then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was leaked onto the Internet shortly after The Simple Life debuted, causing a sensation. On June 9, 2004 it was released as a DVD titled 1 Night in Paris which was presented by Salomon. Hilton sued Salomon for releasing the tape, but the suit was settled. Hilton received US $400,000 and a percentage of the profits, which were donated to charity.
Hilton is often seen with her teacup Chihuahua, Tinkerbell. She has been voted the worst dog owner ever in an online poll by New York Dog and Hollywood Dog, while Joss Stone was named as the best dog owner.
Hilton was engaged to Tommy Hilfiger 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.
Model, actress, entrepreneur
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 appearance in the party section of New York society magazines. In recent years Hilton has gained recognition by appearing in television, movies, commercials, and modeling photographs. According to Forbes magazine, in 2003-2004 she earned approximately US$7.5 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 $15.5 million. During this period Forbes Magazine has ranked Hilton as one of the top 100 celebrities in the world.
She also 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, Uptown Girls, Raising Helen and Nine Lives. Hilton won the 2005 Worst Supporting Actress Razzie for House of Wax. She landed her first lead role in a theatrical release with National Lampoon's Pledge This! (2005).
Hilton and Nicole Richie (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: The Simple Life 2: Road Trip and The Simple Life 3: Interns. In April 2005, Hilton announced that she severed both personal and professional ties with Richie. Neither party fully commented on the reason why, but it's rumored that the feud started when Richie played a copy of the "One night in Paris" sex tape at a party (Richie denied this). Both had been friends since childhood. Kimberly Stewart and Bethany Carkhuff were raised as potential Simple Life replacements for Richie, but FOX eventually dropped the series saying they didn't see a place for it in their schedule. A month later, cable network E! picked up the fourth season with both Hilton and Richie as participants, though both would do tasks separately and not be seen together on screen.
Hilton also guest starred in episodes of teen drama The OC and noir detective show Veronica Mars.
On top of her acting career, she has also helped to design purses for Samantha Thavasa and Toys for Tots, and has created her own jewelry line for Amazon.com. Currently, her design work earns around US$250,000 per year.
In November 2004, Hilton participated in Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' Vote or Die campaign, to encourage youths to vote in the Presidential election. She drew criticism when it was revealed she did not vote, nor had she even registered to do so.
She is the founder of Heiress Records, a label on which she plans to release her debut album in 2006, tentatively titled Paris is Burning. Her planned first single entitled 'Screwed' was leaked to the Internet and has been remixed by Alex G. Her producers for the album include Jane Wiedlin from The Go-Go's and Scott Storch. She will be covering Blondie's hit "Heart of Glass" for her album. She describes the album as pop, rock and hip hop, she says it sounds like Blondie and Madonna. Hilton has announced in some interviews that her album is due in April 2006. Paris also has a single out "Caught Up In The Rapture" with Wong-G and Gizelle.
In early May of 2004, Parlux Fragrances (who have made fragrances for Guess, Perry Ellis, XOXO) announced that they would be releasing a fragrance line created by Hilton. The perfume would be aptly named "Paris Hilton". The scent was described as "a brilliant flirtatious charm, this head-turning fragrance can be dressed up or down for both day and evening wear." The scent consists of "an ethereal halo with delicious notes of frozen Apple and juicy Peach Nectar wrapped with sparkling Muguet and a splash of wet Ozone. A luminous bouquet of sensual floralcy is at the heart of this fragrance. Delicate Mimosa Blossoms are entwined with sheer Freesia and Night-Blooming Jasmine petals, while heady, rich Tuberose provides depth and texture."
The perfume launch was a success. Originally set to be a small release, demand became popular and they had a wide release before Christmas of 2004. The launch was a big part of the Parlux stock increasing 30%. Ilia Lekach, a CEO at Parlux, said "I am delighted with our record performance and I'm optimistic regarding results through the end of our fiscal year. We have recently commenced shipments of our Paris Hilton fragrance which has surpassed our expectations."
After the success of Hilton's perfume, Parlux Fragrances had her create Paris Hilton for Men, a cologne that has a "sensual aura." The packaging states: "Paris Hilton knows how she likes a man to smell, so she has created a scent to share with her male admirers around the world." The cologne is available at Lazarus-Macy's. Sales reports are not available. Hilton's latest perfume is called Just Me by Paris Hilton. She claims there will be more to follow.
On February 16, 2006, the Internet site IMDb reported:
"Socialite Paris Hilton has reportedly been asked to play a young version of celebrated humanitarian Mother Teresa in a movie biopic. Indian director T. Rajeevnath has contacted the hotel heiress about taking the lead role in his new film, which will chronicle the late nun's early life. He tells MTV.co.uk, "My agents in California have contacted Paris Hilton."
Celebrity and sex symbol
Hilton and her sister, Nicky, are known for their jet-set lifestyles. Paris in particular has been trying to build herself into a marketable brand much like Donald Trump, claiming she must be regarded as a role model.
She 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 with other young celebrities, including actor Edward Furlong, boxer Oscar De La Hoya, model Jason Shaw, Chicago Bears football player Brian Urlacher, and singers Rob Mills, Deryck Whibley, and Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.
In the fall of 2004, Hilton released a book, Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose, which brings full color photographs of her and gives her tips on the dos and don'ts of living as an heiress. Hilton was reportedly given a $100,000 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. Still, it became a New York Times bestseller.
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 was on the cover of the issue, but she did not pose for it; she says she does not know where Playboy got that picture.
Hilton has also received some gossip attention for a variety of other incidents, mainly party antics. She has been said to have pushed in front of others in line for a public bathroom, saying she only wanted to look at herself in the mirror. She has reportedly danced on bar tops, worn shirts reading "Got Blow?," and other times worn no top at all. Her most famous quote is probably "That's hot!" as she has used it in many situations.
Hilton received an offer from the U.S. version of the reality TV show "Big Brother" to participate in their show. Rumors said she has been offered more than US$1.8 million. If she will agree to be in the reality-show, "she will join a bizarre band of ex-strippers, beauty queens, a married couple and a virgin, who are living under 24 hour scrutiny on the set".
Hilton has also been featured in several television commercials including a T-Mobile commercial for which she was paid $250,000 and her Carl's Jr. commercial (see more below) for which she was paid $400,000 according to Forbes Magazine. She has also been a spokeswoman for the products of GUESS clothing.
Controversies
Hacked address book
On February 19, 2005, the contents of Hilton's personal T-Mobile account were posted to the Internet. They included phone numbers (which included many celebrities such as Nicky Hilton, Christina Aguilera, Fred Durst, Eminem, Lindsay Lohan, Alsou, Nicole Richie, Jay-Z, Anna Kournikova, Snoop Dogg, Andy Roddick, Kimberly Stewart, Avril Lavigne, Frankie Muniz, Ashlee Simpson), notes (with even more numbers and email addresses and reminders such as her date to host Saturday Night Live), and thirty-five digital snapshots. In two of the leaked photos, Hilton is standing topless next to the MTV Latin America's VJ Eglantina Zingg, whom she kisses. The images from the hacked phone can be seen at CallingParis.com. In other leaked videos, she is seen making out with celebrity lesbian Ingrid Casares and Playboy Playmate Nicole Lenz. Many of her notes showed heavy usage of Internet slang. Her address book can be viewed here.
Within days, it was revealed that Hilton's account could be accessed by guessing the answer to the "forgotten password" challenge question she chose: "What is your favorite pet's name?" The answer to this question is a matter of public record, although it is not clear if this was how the leakers accessed the account.
Allegations of racism
In 2004, Carole Aye Maung, reporter for the British tabloid News of the World, said that she viewed a tape that showed Hilton and Tommy Hilfiger model Brandon Davis in conversation with two African-American men who asked Hilton if she would model for them. After the men left the scene, Hilton allegedly referred to them as "dumb niggers." Reports said the tape was originally discovered by Star Magazine. After these reports, Hilton issued a statement saying "I am deeply hurt by recent reports. Anyone who knows me knows that this is not me. I love everybody and am not a person who discriminates against anyone—ever." Later, Davis told The National Enquirer that Hilton frequently used the word "nigger" to refer to blacks and that she "puts down Jews and other minorities, too." Davis said he ended his friendship with Hilton.
Carl's Jr. advertisement
Another controversy involving Hilton was her appearance in a Carl's Jr. television advertisement, originally broadcast in May 2005. In the commercial, which introduces the restaurant's "Spicy BBQ Six Dollar Burger", Hilton wears a provocative swimsuit and soaps up a Bentley automobile and herself before taking a big bite out of the burger. According to Forbes Magazine, Carl's Jr. paid Hilton $400,000 for filming in this commercial.
This has drawn criticism from television watchdog groups, including the Parents Television Council. The research director for the PTC, Melissa Caldwell, says; "This commercial is basically soft-core porn. The way she moves, the way she puts her finger in her mouth — it's very suggestive and very titillating." The Los Angeles, California based group says they plan to mobilize their more than 1 million members to contact the restaurant chain and voice their concern.
Andy Puzder, CEO of Carl's Jr., says the group needs to "get a life... This isn't Janet Jackson; there is no nipple in this. There is no nudity, there is no sex acts; it's a beautiful model in a swimsuit washing a car." Puzder was referring to the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy when he spoke of Jackson. Puzder says he showed the ad to his three children, ages 7 to 12, and says they weren't corrupted.
FOX News host Bill O'Reilly speculated that Hilton did not in fact eat the burgers she endorsed and was therefore dishonest, inviting her to come on his show The O'Reilly Factor and eat one of the burgers on the air in order to prove him wrong. Hilton has not thus far acknowledged the invitation.
In addition to featuring the ad on their website, Carl's Jr. has also built a separate site to play a longer version of the commercial. A similar ad with Hilton for Hardee's hamburger chain (also owned by Carl's Jr. parent corporation CKE Restaurants) aired in 2005.
Before this deal with Carl's Jr., Hilton lost out on a $750,000 multi-commercial deal with Burger King because the company did not feel her sexy image was a good fit with their brand.
The ad was spoofed in the 2006 movie Date Movie.
Slander lawsuit
On October 13, 2005, diamond heiress and actress Zeta Graff filed a lawsuit against Hilton for slander. The lawsuit alleges that Hilton deliberately gave a false story to The New York Post in order to humiliate Graff. Graff is seeking ten million dollars in damages.
According to the story as originally published in The New York Post, Graff confronted Hilton in the London nightclub Kabaret, tried to rip a diamond necklace off Hilton's neck, and had to be restrained and thrown out of the club by security. It was later revealed that the story was only partially true. Graff and Hilton did meet in the nightclub that night, but had only a brief argument. Hilton tried to have Graff thrown out but the club's owner refused. Hilton and her friends left the club in protest while Graff remained behind.
In her deposition, Hilton denied planting the story in The New York Post and even claimed not to be aware of it until much later. However, Hilton's former publicist Robert Shuter gave sworn testimony that he and Paris worked together to create the story, and he was told by her to call The New York Post and give them the story as an anonymous source,
"That's hot!"
"That's hot!" is a phrase used by Hilton (although an earlier usage is attributed to her Simple Life co-star Nicole Richie and has been used by others for many years). The catch phrase, a synonym for "That's cool" or "That's awesome," has since been parodied in pop culture outlets such as Saturday Night Live and even by Hilton herself, on The Late Show with David Letterman.
In 2004, Hilton filed a successful request to trademark the phrase. She wishes to market clothing with the phrase prominently emblazoned on the garments; she felt it was time to trademark the phrase because "I've been saying it forever. I want to put it on T-shirts and stuff like that."
Restraining Order
In 2006 Los Angeles party planner Brian Quintana had a restraining order placed on Hilton, stemming from an incident in which Hilton became enraged over Quintana telling Hilton's boyfriend, Stavros Niarchos, that Hilton may have herpes.
Quintana testified last month that his relationship with Hilton turned nasty after she overheard him informing her beau, Stavros Niarchos, that she might have a sexually transmitted disease.
"I wanted him to be aware of it—that she had herpes. To make sure he didn't catch anything. He informed me that he was [aware]," Quintana said.
He said Hilton interrupted his conversation with Niarchos and became "furious."
"She said, 'This is between the three of us; if this gets out you're a fucking dead man,'" Quintana said. He claimed that after the exchange, he began receiving suspicious phone calls and started to believe his life was in "imminent danger."
Quintana further alleged Hilton "has a drug and alcohol problem, some rather shady associates and is known for erratic behavior."
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