For 44 years, Paris has been much more than a city. But now the heiress – once known for her endless parties, baby voice and chihuahua, Tinkerbell – has swapped cocktails for baby bottles and reclaimed her own voice… literally.
In fact, the baby voice has always been part of Paris Hilton’s personality. Like other iconic blondes such as Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe – journalist Hugo Rifkind called Paris Hilton “the Marilyn Monroe of the 21st century” – she was the product of continuous performance. “I’m not a dumb blonde, I’m just very good at pretending to be one,” she said at the time.
She knew how to turn fame into a career, and far from just spending her fortune, she made sure it grew through DJ gigs, a skincare line, 30 fragrances, music albums and a seemingly endless list of ventures – to which she’s now added another role: modeling for Karl Lagerfeld’s autumn-winter campaign. Lagerfeld was a fan of the reality show The simple lifein which, along with Nicole Richie, Hilton perfected the role of a work-averse girl and coined her own catchphrase: “So hot.”
“Karl told me it was one of his favorite shows, which I thought was iconic. He understood the show. It was a surreal moment for me and made me realize how much of a cultural impact that show had,” explains Paris, who arrives on the video call first, proving that diva behavior is definitely not her style… and that, in fact, she is sexy.
Request. We thought we knew everything about Paris Hilton until your memoir and documentary came out. Were you afraid to show yourself vulnerable in a world that thrives on hate?
Answer. It was definitely scary at first because I had been playing this character for so long. It was almost like armor because I’m a shy person by nature. Playing it helped me feel freer to be silly. Going through so much trauma in my life being that character made me feel comforted in some way. But then I wanted to let go of the character, and it was the most liberating thing I’ve done in my life: to let the world finally know who I really love and that there’s so much more to me than the party girl they thought I was. It allowed me to live more authentically and stop hiding parts of myself. Being able to live authentically has been a healing experience. I just feel more powerful just for being who I truly am and the woman I have become. I’ve been through so much… I’m strong, resilient and I feel like discovering who you are is a very powerful feeling.
Q. You’re not afraid to give yourself a compliment!
TO. My mother always taught me the importance of confidence and believing in myself, even when the world tries to tell you otherwise. I have learned that loving yourself is not arrogance. We should be allowed to celebrate who we are unapologetically. And this is precisely my motto in life: to live.
Q. You even celebrate your ADHD and turned it into a hit song.
TO. Sia told me she had never heard a pop star sing about ADHD. I asked her if it would be weird to have a song titled ADHD on the album. He thought it was a brilliant idea. I wish I had a song like this when I was a teenager. Instead of seeing it as a weakness, I started seeing it as a superpower. Sia is an amazing friend and I am very grateful to her. Just having her believe in me and produce my album gave me so much confidence. I feel like I’ve grown so much since my first record. I’m much more connected to myself and my voice now. Singing has become a creative outlet and I have a lot of fun doing it. Now, back in the studio recording my third album, I’ve sung in ways I didn’t even know I was capable of. I feel like music is such a powerful tool that can be so healing. Connecting with my fans on such a deep level through music has been amazing.
Q. In the 2000s, people constantly said that you were “famous for being famous.”
TO. Fame is what you make of it and I’ve always treated it as a platform. It’s about owning my story and creating a brand.
Q. You’re the executive producer of My Friend Daisy, a podcast by journalist Jenn Swann that explores the investigation into the murder of a 19-year-old woman in Compton and the online movement it inspired. What power does social media have in the fight for justice?
TO. Too often women’s voices are silenced or ignored, especially when they speak out about abuse. This podcast aims to ensure those stories are seen, heard and believed. Social media gives us the power to shine a light on injustice. My passion is building a world where every woman’s story matters.
Q. You are the CEO of 11:11, a media company that empowers creators, brands and intellectual property and through which you also produced your own documentary and cooking show. How important is it for you to maintain control over your projects?
TO. Creative control is everything to me. Everything I post through 11:11 Media is authentic and connected to me. In a world with so much content, I think people connect with what feels real. It means a lot to me to have that creative control.
Q. What can we expect from your hotel project?
TO. I am excited to follow in my family’s footsteps. I’ve stayed in the most iconic and beautiful hotels in the world, so I know exactly what makes something truly special. I can’t wait to bring all that luxury, creativity and attention to detail into a space that reflects my world. It will have a timeless appeal with a modern twist and will be a place where people can live their best lives.
Q. What did it mean to you to be the face of Karl Lagerfeld, a brand you admire so much?
TO. Being the face of the brand is a full circle moment for me. Over the years I have made my mark on fashion and this campaign celebrates this legacy in a powerful and playful way. We shot the commercial in a studio in Los Angeles near home, which I loved. The atmosphere on set was very creative, but also very warm and family-oriented, which made it even more special. I enjoyed working with Chris Colls. His photography is incredible and he is so talented. We worked with Jon Kortajarena, who I’ve known for about 15 years. He’s gorgeous, kind, funny and sweet.
Q. As a fashion expert, what do you particularly admire about the brand?
TO. The way it honors the designer’s legacy while keeping things fresh and fun. It captures her iconic energy: bold, elegant and totally original, but isn’t afraid to evolve. It’s timeless with a twist, which is exactly my thing.
Q. Paris, what’s hot now?
TO. The Labubus! I have about 100. My husband went to Harrods and bought me loads of them. My kids couldn’t stop opening the boxes. They are so cute!
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