Interview, Portrait: Paris Hilton on ‘The World According to Paris’

CHICAGO – Paris Whitney Hilton has been a celebrity on the scene for over ten years now. Her image and staying power continues to draw interest, as she launched a new TV series recently on the Oxygen Channel, “The World According to Paris.”

Paris Hilton started as a model around 2000, and quickly caught on as a socialite and pop culture celebrity. Her friend, Nicole Ritchie, teamed up with her in 2003 for the series, “The Simple Life,” which ran on various networks for five seasons. She has also reinvented herself as a singer (”Paris”) and author (”Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose”). She recently was in Chicago to promote her new Oxygen Channel series at “The Cable Show” convention.

Photographer Joe Arce captured this portrait during her appearance in Chicago at a club event for NBC Universal, and HollywoodChicago.com got to ask a few questions on the red carpet.

Paris Hilton in Chicago, June 15, 2011, Promoting ‘The World According to Paris’ Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com: How would you describe your new show, ‘The World According to Paris’?

Paris Hilton: It’s a really intimate look at my life, and my friends, the good and the bad of all of it. Any relationships I have, the arguments that might come up and all the drama.

HollywoodChicago.com: What is the difference between this show and ‘The Simple Life?’

Hilton: This show is completely different. In ‘The Simple Life’ I was playing a character and not living in my world. This show is my world, and my life and me being myself. I’ve never let this much access to camera crews before.

HollywoodChicago.com: What’s the best part of having your boyfriend, your Mom and your closest friends on the show?

Hilton: The best part is I get to spend time with them. We traveled the world together, and most of my friends on the show I’ve been with for half my life. As we traveled around we always said, ‘I wish there was a camera here.’ So now there is, and it’s really fun and exciting to show people our life.

HollywoodChicago.com: Being a celebrity in your position, means sometimes there is a backlash. How do you handle negativity in your public life?

Hilton: I don’t pay attention to it, and I have amazing friends and family to help me get through it if I do. But basically I don’t pay attention to negative people.

HollywoodChicago.com: In this point in your life and evolution, what do you value the most?

Hilton: I value my family, friends and animals. I feel blessed from God and I thank God every day.

HollywoodChicago.com: Finally, it you could have any super power to help you get through life, what would it be?

Hilton: Probably to fly and be invisible.

By PATRICK McDONALD Senior Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com