On Her Terms
Once the face of a media frenzy, Paris Hilton has spent decades turning attention into power—evolving from early-2000s It Girl to architect of her own empire, defining success on her terms.
Interview by Fabián Waintal | Introduction by Christina Armanious | Photography by Paris Hilton Infinite Icon
Paris Hilton was never supposed to be underestimated—only, for a long time, she was. To the world, she arrived as a spectacle: the platinum-blonde heiress of the Hilton hotel chain stepping out of black SUVs and into a frenzy of flashbulbs, her image splashed across tabloids, her voice and likeness circulating across a then-nascent internet that was only just beginning to understand virality. She wasn’t simply famous; she was everywhere. In an era before Instagram or TikTok, Paris Hilton was the algorithm.
In the early 2000s, Hilton became shorthand for a new kind of celebrity, one untethered from traditional talent pipelines like film or music. But even before reality television made her a household name, she had already begun building a public image through modelling, appearing in fashion campaigns, on red carpets, and at high-profile parties as one of the era’s most photographed young socialites. The Simple Life, her reality series alongside Nicole Richie—where the two traded Beverly Hills privilege for small-town jobs and fish-out-of-water antics—drew millions of viewers, cementing her cultural ubiquity. Her catchphrases—“That’s Hot” chief among them—became cultural currency. She also began experimenting with music, releasing pop tracks—most notably “Stars Are Blind”—that hinted at a career beyond television.
Hilton was quietly laying the foundation for a global business empire. Her fragrance line, now one of the most successful celebrity perfume brands in the world, has generated billions in revenue. She expanded into fashion, accessories, and international licensing deals, attaching her name to products that extended far beyond the fleeting news cycle. In the years that followed, she began touring as a DJ, and has since headlined major clubs and festivals from Las Vegas to Ibiza, becoming one of the world’s highest-paid female DJs.
More recently, Hilton has taken greater ownership of her story. Her 2023 memoir, Paris: The Memoir, offers a more intimate and unfiltered look at her life, addressing long-held assumptions about who she is and how she has been perceived. In it, she opens up about her time in the so-called “troubled teen industry,” a formative period marked by strict control and isolation that, she suggests, has shaped both her resilience and the carefully constructed persona the public came to know.
That evolution continues with Infinite Icon, her long-anticipated return to music. The album, paired with a visual memoir, traces her journey while offering a clearer sense of who the “real” Paris is. The title itself feels intentional: a recognition not only of the image long attached to her, but of its permanence and her control over it.
And yet, for all the scale of what she has built, her focus has quietly shifted inward. Hilton has stepped into a new role: mother. While she remains very much in the public eye, there is a sense of balance that wasn’t always there before. Success no longer seems defined by constant visibility, but by what exists alongside it. In many ways, it marks a full-circle moment: after years of performing The Simple Life for the world, Paris Hilton appears to be living her own version of it.
She offers a glimpse of that balance in an exclusive interview with journalist Fabián W. Waintal. Set within the privacy of her Beverly Hills home, the conversation unfolds with a sense of ease and a touch of playfulness. Read on for more.
Fabián W. Waintal (FW): Who is the real reality icon? Is it Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton?
Paris Hilton (PH): We both are. We're both queens. I love Kim, and I’ve known her my entire life since we were little girls. I'm so proud of the women that we are and everything we've accomplished and created. I think it's so incredible, and I love her so much and her whole family.
FW: But you are the original one?
PH: Yes.
FW: Is there a place in the world that you could call your second home, other than Paris?
PH: Mexico. I love it there. The people are so sweet and so kind. And I just feel at home every time I go.
FW: Do you speak any Spanish?
PH: Un poquito español.
FW: Since your children's names are cities like Phoenix and London, what city would you choose for a third child?
PH: I’m trying to think… What do you think would be a good name? It wasn’t easy when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to name them. I always knew London. I wanted to name my daughter London for my entire life. That was my plan, but then, when I was trying to figure out another name for my son, it was really difficult. I was like, I don't know which city, and then I decided on Phoenix, because I just love that name. I think it's very cool. And I love the meaning of “rising phoenix” as well.
FW: No other new city that comes to your mind?
PH: Rio? That sounds cool.
FW: If you could choose the name of an actress to play the movie of your life, who would it be?
PH: [Thinks]
“My life today is iconic and full of life, and I guess it's simple in a way, with just being a family and all the love. But it's a fun life.”
FW: Ariana Grande?
PH: She's an amazing actress. I loved her as Glinda in Wicked.
FW: So, who would you choose?
PH: I don't know. It's a hard choice. Maybe I’ll choose myself.
FW: You became famous on the TV show The Simple Life, where you tried out lifestyles very different from Beverly Hills. How simple is your life today?
PH: It's a lot. My life today is iconic and full of life, and I guess it's simple in a way, with just being a family and all the love. But it's a fun life.
FW: What would you say to Paris Hilton if you could go back in time to the worst nightmares you had in boarding school?
PH: I would say, “Paris, you're going to go through some very difficult, hard, scary, and traumatic things in this place, but I promise you that it will be worth it. Because one day, you're going to use your voice and you're going to make a difference for millions of children and people around the world, so that the things that happen to you will not happen to them.” And my own advice would be, “don't be afraid to show the world the real you.”
FW: In the documentary Infinite Icon, you say that for 20 years, people didn't know the real Paris. Who is the real Paris?
PH: I am someone who has a huge heart. I’m kind, I'm full of love, I'm smart, and so much fun, funny, and creative. I love animals and children, and bringing light and sparkle and beauty to the world, and being an advocate and a businesswoman, and everything.
FW: Where do you think so much of this fascination with your fame comes from?
PH: I don’t know, maybe because I live a fantasy life, and people see it and dream about it. It’s an amazing life, and I am lucky. It’s great.
FW: Is there anything that people need to know about the real Paris Hilton?
PH: People assume because my last name is Hilton that I am going to be spoiled or rude, but when they meet me, I am just down to earth, nice, and normal, like everybody else. I am a hard worker.
FW: Do you feel that you had to change somewhat to compensate for that prejudice?
PH: Not really. I do this for me. I love making my own money, doing my own thing, and being creative. I am not doing it for anyone else but me, and I don’t really care what people think about me.
FW: What is a day in the life of Paris Hilton like?
PH: I get up at six in the morning, and I have meetings or a photo shoot or I am on the set. It depends what I am doing. It is always something, though.
FW: The perfect day for you?
PH: If I have the day off, I just stay home with my family, cook, and play with my kids. If I feel like shopping, I like going out and buying whatever I want.
FW: What was the last item you bought?
PH: I can’t remember exactly. But in Tokyo, I went shopping and bought all these cool Japanese clothes.
FW: Do you do your own grocery shopping?
PH: Yes.
FW: Do you look at the prices? How much is a gallon of milk, for example?
PH: Five dollars.
“I am someone who has a huge heart. I’m kind, I'm full of love, I'm smart, and so much fun, funny, and creative.”
FW: That’s really expensive milk.
PH: It’s the best [laughs].
FW: And in Hollywood, is the price of success expensive?
PH: Yes. The paparazzi. They are scary, and so are stalkers.
FW: Did you have a bad experience with them lately?
PH: They bother me all the time, but I have people who watch me. So I am fine.
FW: In some way, do you regret so much public attention?
PH: I am just living my life. It’s not my fault that they follow me, and I can’t just stay in my house locked up.
FW: Do you enjoy your fame?
PH: I don’t really think about it.
FW: Do you appreciate all the success, or do you think it all came too quickly?
PH: Every day I feel very lucky. I am so happy with my life, it couldn’t be better. I have everything I want, and I deserve it because I worked very hard for this.
FW: Is it true that you had your first credit card when you were 13 years old, based on the 100-dollar weekly allowance from your parents?
PH: No. People just make stories up. When I was 17 years old, I got my first credit card because I was working as a model. My parents did not spoil me. I did this all on my own. My parents taught me to be humble and to do something with my life.
FW: Can we sort out some of the rumours that have been published? Is it true that the mayor of a small American town called Altus renamed an intersection Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie Avenue?
PH: I only know that there is a Paris Hilton Avenue. I don’t know about any other street. And yes, it was because we were on the television show The Simple Life.
FW: Have you ever thought about registering the phrase “That’s Hot,” like Donald Trump wanted to do with his “You’re Fired”?
PH: I already did.
FW: Does it mean that no one else can use that phrase?
PH: No. I made up “That’s Hot,” and I paid for it, and I got the copyright. My lawyers did it.
FW: Do you have a list of people that you consider to be “very hot”?
PH: My husband is “hot.” I am “hot.”
FW: Is it really possible to have a stable relationship in Hollywood?
PH: People in Hollywood are kind of messed up in their relationships. If you cheat and that is how you want to be, then you are never going to find real love. But you can actually just love someone and be loyal to yourself. That’s the best thing you can have. It’s real. Just don’t let fame get to your head.