I’m perplexed that some people are more famous for being famous (e.g., Sharon Stone) than for anything really worthwhile, but what’s the deal with Paris Hilton?
Why is she famous? Other than being part of the Hilton clan and by extension filthy rich, I don’t understand why she is famous. She doesn’t have a job, doesn’t seem to do anything except party day and night, and from what I’ve read/heard, she’s seems like a spoiled bitch to boot. Of course, I don’t know her personally, so that sentiment is an uninformed opinion.
Still… why is she famous or famous enough to have a tv show? (Granted, it is a reality show that lets people poke fun of her.)
She began to make a name for herself as a model, soon appearing in shows for designers such as Marc Bouwer and Catherine Malandrino, and she later completed an ad campaign for Iceberg, an Italian label. In addition, Paris has posed for spreads in national magazines such as GQ, Vanity Fair and FHM; she was most recently profiled, along with her sister, in People magazine.
At the same time, Paris became the center of attention because of her relationships – real or imagined by the paparazzi – with some of Hollywood’s hottest young stars. In early 2000, Paris was spotted around town with Leonardo DiCaprio. However, the press, especially the National Enquirer, blew their casual friendship far out of proportion. Nevertheless, she apparently dated Terminator 2’s Edward Furlong for a few months, and was later seen out and about with boxer Oscar de la Hoya. The latest news is that Paris is currently shacked up with actor and Tommy Hilfiger model, Jason Shaw.
Paris, along with her younger sister Nicky, also became notorious as socialites, gracing party after party and getting bad press for their antics. For example, Paris has grabbed headlines by shoving ahead of others in a washroom line, then, when upbraided for her rudeness, quipped that she only wanted to look at herself in the mirror. She has also danced on top of bar banquettes, gone topless for attention, and paraded around in designer T-shirts with slogans like, “Got Blow?” Yet Paris maintains that the bad press “sucks” and that “people are mean.”
You know, when I saw your OP, the first thing that popped into my mind is “Hilton sisters.”
They’ve been all over the E! Channel lately, and I just don’t get it. Is it because they’re twins, or they’re rich? They certainly don’t seem talented or nice, and they don’t seem to DO anything.
A worse story is that Lizzie Grubman is now an entertainment reporter for WNEW in New York.
I’m trying to figure the calculus here. No-talent socialite = Reality TV host. Injure 16 people and flee the scene of the crime = 37 days in lockup and a radio gig.
Not saying this is the case for the Hilton sisters, but it does strike me that modeling is a fairly easy wasy to become “famous” without anyone ever hearing of you. You might be the biggest print or runway model in the world, but who would know except those in the right circles?
Janine dyed her hair dark, cut it really short, and got tattoos covering both arms.
I heard a rumor that she wanted to get out of the business and did all that stuff to herself to facilitate her leaving, but Jenna talked her into staying. Again, I’m not an insider, but I just read it somewhere.
There seems to be some kind of very small need for celebrities such as this. Earlier generations had the Gabor sisters, who really did nothing much at all but were fantastic at being famous.
The Gabor sisters were famous for making something of themselves. Many not-so-rich immigrant women have come to America to #$*! and marry the rich and famous – but the Gabors succeeded!
The Hiltons became famous by hiring a publicist. Period. That’s it.
And by the way, it’s very easy to become a run-way model if designers are worried about pissing off you (and your family’s friends) and it’s not difficult to become frequently described as a “well-known” model is your spend about 3 times your “salary” on PR.
[brief aside] Janine is (or at least was) hooked up with Jesse James who owns West Coast Choppers and who currently hosts Monster Garage on either Discovery or Learning Channel. I read that she wants to settle down, have kids, and persue her lifelong dream of being a paralegal. [/brief aside]