"Sometimes it's annoying that people assume that I am kind of blonde airhead", says Paris Hilton in a childlike voice, "But I love proving people wrong and any time they meet me in real life they're always very surprised. So, it makes me happy to know that I created something that basically started an entire new generation of people".
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The culture phenomenon, the socialite and presumed heiress, known to the world as Paris Hilton is set to turn 40 years old in a few months – and wants to get her recognition as a social media pioneer.
"When I was 21, I starred on "The Simple Life" which was the first of all of these reality shows. So, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. But basically, before the show started, they said, "We want this to be 'Green Acres' meets 'Clueless' and we want you to play into the character of, you don't know what you're doing." Kind of just having fun with it in a way. Like obviously I know what Walmart is. Little lines I would say like that, it was all about entertainment. So, anything that I was doing, I was always planning in a way because I wanted to entertain the audience. So, that was the way the character was built.
"And I didn't realize what a huge success the show would be and that I would continue shooting it for five more years. So, I just had to continue doing this character over and over again. And I'm also naturally a very shy person, which most people won't believe either. So, I think with that character was kind of like a mask to hide behind because I was a very shy person. So, when I would go into this character, I felt kind of like I was acting and just having fun with it".
Donned in all white, contrasted by her Californian suntan, with her rich golden locks of hair complimenting the lavish ensemble, Hilton arrives at the Television Critics Association summer tour to promote her new YouTube Originals documentary "This is Paris". A glam squad and film crew for her own YouTube channel follow her everywhere – because if it's not all documented for social media, what's the point. Right?
Her rise to international fame in the early 2000's came about as she was partying with such young Hollywood starlets as Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, with the paparazzi going after them when they were out on the town and partying like there's no tomorrow. But it was another anonymous friend who has eventually reaped the rewards in a massive way – Hilton's former closer organizer, a local Los Angeles girl by the name of Kim Kardashian.
While the Kardashian clan has built its own empire, Hilton reportedly had to come to terms with being overshadowed and tabloids over the years pitted the two ladies against each other. Hilton is now on good terms with the family, and attributes tensions to where her surroundings.
"Growing up in Hollywood it's very hard to trust people because you never know what type of intentions they have", she says during the press panel, "No one really knows who I am because I was portraying this character for so long. And my sister knows me better than anyone. She probably knows me better than I even know myself. And my sister is also someone who's very private. She does not do interviews. She doesn't really like being in the spotlight; we're kind of opposite in that way. And she agreed to do this film because she wanted it to be something authentic and she knows the real story. And I'm so grateful that she was in this film because she really was so honest and raw and real with me. And I don't think I have anyone in my life that's like that because there's just so many "yes" people around and Nicky actually always tells me the truth and just says things how they are. And in this film, she told me so many things that we have never even talked about before. So, I'm really just proud and happy that my sister was a part of this because she's my best friend and my other half".
Q: Did you lose trust in people over the years?
"Yes, I've definitely been betrayed many times in my life. But I think going through so much has made me the strong person that I am today. I don't know if I'll ever fully trust, but I'm really lucky in life that I do have people in my circle now that I do. But it's also been a very hard process with going through a lot of traumatic experiences to be able to let people in and trust them. But I feel at this point in my life that I am finally feeling that way, which is a really amazing feeling".
Q: Did you feel the time was right to open up in a film?
"Actually, when I first got approached about doing this documentary, I was very reluctant to do it. And I didn't really want to take the meeting, because I wasn't ready to really show myself. So, it was something very hard, because in this film I really show who I truly am. Traveling around the world and doing what I've done, it does get lonely sometimes. Because I'm constantly everywhere and I've been playing this character for so long. And now, even during this film, I really discovered a lot about myself and who I really am, and I wanted the world to see that there are a lot of misconceptions. And I've been judged based on a character that I created in the beginning of my career. And now I feel like it's finally time that people see who the real Paris is".
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