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 Paris
Hilton, the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton hotel chain, is a renowned jetsetter and socialite.
Hilton has developed a modeling career and has posed for such publications as GQ, Vanity Fair, Elle, YM, Hollywood Life, and Harper's Bazaar. She is featured in the Fall 2004 Guess print campaign.
She has also actively contributed in numerous fashion circles, often collaborating with top designers at their shows. Some of these designers and labels include Tommy Hilfiger, Joey and T, Heatherette, Richard Tyler, and Jeremy Scott. Currently, she is designing a high-end purse collection with her sister.
Hilton is also focused on developing her acting career. She recently completed filming House of Wax, which is being produced by Joel Silver, and has started production on her next film project, Pledge This. In 2003 she debuted her own TV show, The Simple Life, on Fox. The Simple Life 2: Road Trip reached its completion in August 2004.
Additionally, Hilton will publish her first book, Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose, with the Fireside imprint of Simon & Schuster in September 2004 and is currently recording her first album.
Hilton is also actively involved in numerous charities and has lent her support to various animal advocacy organizations.
Review
Paul Marciano, co-CEO and creative director of GUESS? From the moment I met Paris, I knew she had something special that would make her much more than a typical young socialite. She exudes a charisma rarely seen. You never know what to expect from her next. This book is a depiction of that Paris.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter One: How to be an Heiress
A lot of people seem to have the wrong idea about me. In fact, pretty much
everything I read about myself is totally ridiculous. Newspapers and magazines
write that I'm spoiled and privileged, and that all I do is dance on tabletops
and party with my friends. They think I instantly became famous because I was
born into a rich, well-known family, and everything has come so easily to me.
They like to think everything they read about me in the tabloids is true. Well,
you can't always believe what you read, right? So I've finally decided to give
you a sneak peek into my very hyped life -- so you can know the real me.
I haven't bothered to correct what's been written about me so far because,
well, gossips believe whatever they want anyway. The people I care about know
the real me. If I'm happy with who I am, what difference does it make?
And that's the bottom line for me. While the stuff printed about me over the
last few years is amusing and makes me laugh, I've finally decided to let the
world know: Okay, I get it. Everyone can have fun with my image because I like
to have fun with it too. My friends know that while I like my lifestyle, I
don't take it -- or my media image -- all that seriously. I do take my family
seriously. I take my dog, Tinkerbell, seriously. I take my work seriously. But
I don't take myself all that seriously.
Now, I have to confess to you: Despite what you've read, being a famous heiress
is not that easy. It is, of course, fun and exciting, and it comes in handy for
air travel. But look around you, and in the gossip columns: Not every heiress
is famous. Or fun. There are a lot of boring heiresses out there. What a waste,
I say! These are people who are so afraid of what other people might think or
write about them, they don't take advantage of all the possibilities that being
an heiress hands you on a silver platter. They think there's a prescribed way
of "being an heiress" that you're supposed to conform to. It involves
wearing white gloves, big hats, and pearls, having some dowdy debut or a
coming-out party, and going to fancy, snobby all-girl colleges -- boring,
old-fashioned stuff like that.
I totally disagree. There is no sin worse in life than being boring -- and
nothing worse than letting other people tell you what to do. I was one of the
few heiresses to walk the runway as a model. A lot of people thought that was
shocking. Why did I do it? Was it a desperate cry for attention, like the
papers said? Hardly. It's not like I need any more attention. Did I do it for
money? Of course not. Modeling doesn't pay that well, anyway, unless you're
Gisele or Cindy Crawford, or, like Patti Hansen, you get to marry a rock star.
I did it because it was fun.
Well, suddenly, everyone got all freaked out. It seems modeling wasn't on the
list of socially acceptable activities for heiresses. Then, a year later, every
other socialite started walking the runway. Now you can't keep them off the
runway. Now there are model agents in New York and L.A. who specialize in
getting socialites jobs as models. And if I hadn't pursued it, it might never
have happened. I mean, if I didn't do it, who would have? By being brave -- and
channeling my "inner heiress" -- I created a new opportunity for
young heiresses.
That is what being an heiress means to me: being in charge. After all, if you
have money and certain advantages, no one should be in charge of your life but
you. Especially after the age of twenty-one. I'm twenty-three now, but in a lot
of ways, I always took matters into my own hands. I knew I wanted to be a
model, actress, and singer from a pretty young age, so I told my parents, and
they could tell I was serious. In so many ways, being an heiress is really all
in your head. If you follow your own plans and dreams and you don't let anyone
talk you out of them, then you'll start to get the hang of being an heiress.
It's all about feeling entitled, which seems, for some weird reason, to make a
very big impression -- a good one. And who's more empowered than an heiress?
Heiresses are born with privileges. If you walk into a room and know you're the
most exciting person in the room because...you are, then you're feeling like an
heiress. All you need after that is a good handbag, a great pose, and very high
heels, and you're on your way. (Long blond hair doesn't hurt, either.)
The best way for me to tell everyone how to act and feel like an heiress is by
doing this book. First of all, the book parties will be really fun! But beyond
that, I want to put it out there that if you can channel your own inner
heiress, create your own image, and project an extreme sense of confidence --
even if you don't really feel it every moment -- people will treat you
differently. Sure, heiresses are born with privileges. But if an heiress
doesn't project natural-born superconfidence, no one is going to take her
seriously or put her on the pedestal she deserves to be on. Put yourself on
your own pedestal, and then everybody else will, too. Always act like you're on
camera, and the spotlight's on you. Always behave like you are the center of
attention. Always act like you're wearing an invisible crown. I do. And it's
always worked for me.
And try adding a little attitude to your normal behavior. For instance, if you
expect people to do things for you, they will. If you act like a doormat, no
one will lift a finger for you. That does not mean you should ever be mean, or
snobby. A true heiress is never mean to anyone -- except a girl who steals her
boyfriend. An heiress should be a little above it all, but sweet. She can
afford to be kind because she's well bred and never in a hurry. And she
shouldn't go around spilling her guts to everyone. Have some secrets, I say.
Secrets are very important assets if you're going to be an heiress.
Even if you have no secrets -- and everyone does -- you've got to make people
think that you do. If people read a few tidbits about you in Vanity Fair or on
"Page Six," they instantly want to know more. They will want to know
everything about you. If there's one thing I've learned, it's this: People need
to believe your life is better than theirs.
After all, everyone needs a fantasy. Okay, maybe I don't, but most rich people
want something they can't have. If they have one Rolls-Royce, they fantasize
about having two. If they have a closet full of Chanel, they want a closet full
of Gucci.
I'm a fantasy to a lot of people. They want to think that I have more fun than
they do, have fewer problems, wake up looking great, go to sleep looking great,
can buy and eat anything in the world I want, and get any hot guy I want. They
think I'm "Paris Barbie." (I take that as a compliment. Barbie is my
total fashion icon!) No one wants to think that I have a normal life or
problems. They prefer to imagine someone has the Perfect Life, and I guess mine
seems like that to a lot of people. I've only been me, so I can't tell if my
life is perfect or not.
The way I keep people wondering about me is to smile all the time and say as
little as possible. Smile beautifully, smile big, smile confidently, and
everyone thinks you've got all kinds of secret things going on. And that keeps
them wanting more. And when they want more, you are automatically interesting.
If you give too much away, no one needs to know anything else. You've given it
all away -- and for free. And if you do that, well, you're never going to have
any money. Or make any money. It's what they call "supply and
demand."
So, while I'm going to reveal some of my secrets here, don't get your hopes up
too high. I'll never reveal ALL of them. How tacky would that be? An heiress
never reveals how much money she's worth, or her family's worth. An heiress
hardly ever refers to money, period. An heiress never reveals how many guys
she's dated, or...whatever. There are definitely a number of things an heiress
won't talk about. You can imagine what they are. There's a big difference
between being fun and provocative and being totally over-the-top and gross. An
heiress knows how to tread that fine line -- in stilettos.
I've noticed that my girlfriends want to tell their friends everything. They
need to talk about every tight T-shirt they buy, every carbohydrate they eat,
every insecurity they have, every single thing a guy says to them. These girls
have no secrets. So no one needs to talk behind their backs. They've spilled it
all. I don't do that.
Rule Number One: Heiresses aren't needy. If an heiress is feeling a little
insecure, she should go shopping. And if she still doesn't feel any better, she
should go to Paris. Or Saint-Tropez. For the weekend, if necessary. Because
there's always another fun place to visit, another set of fun people, another
cute outfit waiting to be snapped up. There's no reason for an heiress to ever
EVER be bored.
Rule Number Two: An heiress should never be too serious. Being too serious is
very dull, and is a sign you have no imagination or personality. No one really
wants to hang out with anyone too serious. An heiress is so confident -- and
why shouldn't she be? -- that she should always be able to make fun of herself.
First of all, if you make fun of yourself, no one gets upset when you make fun
of other people. And if you make fun of yourself first, no one gets the urge to
do it behind your back. You've taken all the power away from them -- AND made
them laugh. It's a double whammy.
Here are my fail-safe instructions on how to be an heiress and live like you
have a privileged life -- and I am serious about them. Most of them, anyway.
MY INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BE AN HEIRESS
1 BE BORN INTO THE RIGHT FAMILY. Choose your chromosomes wisely. This may seem
like ludicrous advice, but actually it isn't. If an heiress is in control of
everything, why shouldn't she be in control of who she's born to? You know how
everyone always says there are no accidents? Well, I believe you choose who
you're born to. And if you do have the misfortune of being born into the wrong
family, remember: No one has to know. Airing family laundry is definitely a big
no-no for an heiress. You can always reinvent yourself and your lineage if you
have to. Half of Park Avenue and Bel Air have. Lineage can be a state of mind.
2 HAVE A GREAT NAME. If you are going to be an heiress, you can't have a normal
name, unless you're British. All British people have plain names, and that
works pretty well over there. But in America, you've got to have a name that
stands out. I love my name. Paris is my favorite city. And Paris without the P
is "heiress," isn't it? In sixth grade, people would make fun of me
and call me "France" or "London." Well, I'm going to name
my own daughter Paris! An heiress needs to have a glamorous -- or a really cute
-- name. My sister Nicky's name is cute. An heiress's dog also needs to have a
cute name. My teacup Chihuahua is named Tinkerbell, so she acts like a
Tinkerbell. If you have a cute name, you will act cute. If you have a glam
name, you will act glam. It's that simple. Future moms should make a note of
that.
3 HAVE ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS SKIN, BUT DON'T FRET OVER IT. Pile makeup on and
never, ever have a breakout. Perfect skin is a birthright, and it means you can
never really take a bad photograph. No amount of junk food or Coca-Cola can
change your skin. And if, God forbid, it does, have a great makeup artist
standing by. It can't hurt.
4 EAT ONLY FAST FOOD OR THE MOST FABULOUS FOOD. Greasy chips or perfect crab
cakes. Cotton candy or caviar. Fast food or fois gras. French fries or
black-pepper shrimp from the Ivy in L.A. Cheesy junk or expensive cheese. Being
an heiress is all about extremes.
5 DEVELOP A WAY OF ENTERING A ROOM THAT LOOKS ROYAL AND REGAL BUT NOT SNOBBY.
Learn how to pose in an onslaught of flashing lights without blinking. (Note to
celebrities: You can always improve.) Always know your best angle -- for your
body and your face -- and work it. Study your own pictures and you'll figure it
out.
6 NEVER, EVER WAKE UP BEFORE TEN; NEVER GO TO BED BEFORE THREE. Normal hours
are for normal people. You never want to be normal. Anyone can be normal. How
boring. I'm yawning.
7 ALWAYS TELL EVERYONE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR. Then do what you want. That way,
no one ever gets mad at you. They get very confused, then blame it on
themselves. If anyone confronts you, smile sweetly and act coyly. Particularly
with guys. And bosses. Try not to have bosses if you can avoid them. Or have
your manager deal with them.
8 NEVER HAVE ONLY ONE CELL PHONE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE MANY. Lose one all the time.
That way, if you haven't called someone back, you can blame it on the lost
phone. It's very important to get a new model the minute it comes out. Nokias,
Ericksons, Motorolas -- those are the coolest. Always have at least two
numbers: a friend line and a business line. If I feel like avoiding a call, I
answer my phone in a phony British accent and say, "Hello, Paris Hilton's
line," or something like that. I do that if I'm expecting a call from a
guy I've changed my mind about and I don't want to have dinner with him
anymore. Every woman has the right to change her mind from time to time;
therefore heiresses have more of a right.
9 NEVER WEAR THE SAME THING TWICE. This is particularly important if you're
going to be photographed a lot, which I am. If you double up, people will think
you have only one outfit -- and that's annoying. And untrue.
10 DON'T WEAR A DRESS THAT'S IN ALL THE MAGAZINES. That's for girls with no
imagination who just buy what magazines tell them to buy. Look for the cool,
unusual dress that no one else has the nerve to wear. Dare to be different.
Dare to wear colors and prints. All the boring New York socialite girls wear
black. Do you ever see a girl in a magazine wearing black? I don't think so.
Don't run out and buy the bag of the moment or the dress of the moment. I like
expensive things, but I like cheap things, too. I like anything that's cute and
makes me happy. I haven't met too many clothes I didn't like -- except black
clothes.
11 IF YOU'RE HAPPY, WEAR PINK. If you're depressed, wear black. Black is for
people who don't want to have fun with clothes and who are always hiding -- in
other words, depressed. No one with a truly great body wears black, trust me.
And if you really want to stand out and be confident, wear white.
12 MAKE PLANS, PLANS, AND MORE PLANS. Invite everyone you know to come along.
If there aren't enough hours in the day, don't worry, there will be. You live
in a different time zone: Heiress Time.
13 ACT DITZY. LOSE THINGS. It throws people off and makes them think you're
"adorable," and less together than you really are.
14 IF ALL ELSE FAILS, ACT BORED. Not boring. There's a huge difference.
15 PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION ARE OKAY, in limited amounts, but only with
your serious boyfriend, because that's exactly what someone with a famous
family name is NOT supposed to do. It makes other boys think you're dangerous,
so they will all want you, too. Guys like women they're a little afraid of. No,
make that a lot afraid of.
16 ALWAYS HAVE A VERY BIG BODYGUARD. It intimidates guys. If a guy does have
the nerve to approach you when your bodyguard is around, you know he's got to
be pretty fearless.
17 ALWAYS HAVE A TAN. It looks like you've been in an exotic (i.e., expensive)
place. It can never look fake, even if it is. Get the spray-on tan, so it
doesn't get all over your clothes.
18 CHANGE YOUR HAIRSTYLE ALL THE TIME. Everyone expects you to have the same
hairstyle in every photo, and only dull people do that. Tell everyone you're
wearing hair extensions even if you aren't, because they don't expect you to
tell them.
19 NEVER DRINK DIET SODA. It shows you have no nerve. Only drink real colas,
caffeine-packed energy drinks, or Vitamin Water. Hate champagne, because that's
what everyone expects you to love. Energy drinks are the best party drinks. You
never get tired. You never have a hangover. And you can make fun of all the
loaded people who think they're clever but are really acting stupid.
20 FEAR NOTHING -- EXCEPT INSECTS. And sweaty guys who insist on kissing you
when they come up to say hello. There's nothing worse than a sweaty guy who
kisses you on both cheeks. Once is bad enough, but to have to go through it
twice is really two times too much.
21 NEVER BE PREDICTABLE. Always surprise people. That way, they will never get
tired of you.
22 IF THE MEDIA PLAYS WITH YOU, WELL, PLAY WITH THEM. I went on Saturday Night
Live soon after my name was in the headlines every day for something I wasn't
too proud of, and which had really upset my family. On "Weekend
Update" with Jimmy Fallon, the script had him asking me, "Is it hard
to get a room in the Paris Hilton? Is it roomy?" and he wanted to cut it.
But I wouldn't let him. No way. That was the funniest line. And I got the upper
hand with the media the moment he said it on national TV. That's when it all
clicked and things started to change. People knew I could laugh at myself, and
that one bad incident was not going to make me lock myself in my room.
23 LAST BUT NOT LEAST: MAKE FUN OF YOURSELF. NEVER TAKE YOURSELF, OR RULES, TOO
SERIOUSLY (see all above rules).
Copyright © 2004 by Paris Hilton Entertainment, Inc.
Product Description:
Paris Hilton has a lifestyle most girls dream about. Her name is on everyone's
lips -- but can she help it if she was born rich and privileged? Now, with a
sly sense of humor and a big wink at her media image, Paris lets you in for a
sneak peek at the life of a real, live heiress/model/actress/singer/it-girl and
tells you how anyone can live a fairy-tale life like hers.
"If you follow your own plans and dreams and you don't let anyone talk you
out of them, then you'll start to get the hang of being an heiress....All you
need after that is a good handbag, a great pose, and very high heels, and
you're on your way. (Long blond hair doesn't hurt, either.)"
In her fabulous and very tongue-in-cheek -- and chic -- guide, you'll discover
Paris's twenty-three rules for How to Be an Heiress (Never have only one cell
phone when you can have many), Paris's list of Twelve Things an Heiress Would
Never Do (Go out the night after the Oscars), and Three Things Most People
Think Heiresses Shouldn't Do, But I Think They Should (Go out with broke guys).
Paris also shares private information such as her memories of growing up with
her sister, Nicky, and family photos; her favorite designers and her unique
beauty secrets; what a night out with Paris is like; her personal gallery of
fashion don'ts; and behind-the-scenes stories from both installments of her hit
television series, The Simple Life. Of course no book by Paris would be
complete without her pet teacup Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, and in these pages, the
best-dressed dog in the world shares pages from her own secret diary.
Featuring more than three hundred fabulous color photos of Paris, Confessions
of an Heiress is a look at life from the unique perspective of a young woman
who has the whole world at her stiletto-clad feet.
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Paris Hilton Jewelry Collection
