Confessions of an Heiress Read online

  I got Tinkerbell one Halloween, and we’re pretty inseparable. She’s a tiny, two-pound teacup Chihuahua, one of the smallest of her breed in the world, and a “deerhead” as opposed to an “applehead.” I’m not totally sure what that means, but I think it means that she looks more like a deer than an alien. I got her online, from a breeder at Texas Teacups.com. She arrived on a plane, which was very fitting for an heiress’s dog. She’s a little princess, so cute and sweet. A little lady. I call her Tink for short. Of course, some people think this is impossibly girlie. For me, it’s just normal. If I had to have a larger dog, I would be completely grossed out. Plus, Tink is entirely portable.

  Tink doesn’t even like other dogs—she acts just like a human! I know Tink and I are a lot alike, and Tink thinks a lot like me. I mean, she eats like me—she loves fast food and steaks. But obviously, her stomach is a lot smaller. I’m her stylist, and I can tell you she dresses really cute! She wears a lot of Fifi & Romeo coats in pink and white, and some have little cherries on them. And she also has really cute shoes. A lot of designers who’ve seen us in pictures together send me cute outfits for her. But I want to create a line of doggy clothes called Paris and Tinkerbell. She’s the best dog in the world: She can get really excited, but she can still chill. I take her everywhere with me. She sits on my lap on planes, and no one minds because she’s so cute. Everyone loves Tink.

  Besides teacup Chihuahuas, I’ve got a thing for other very small, cute animals, like ducks, guinea pigs, and ferrets. Last spring, I was in Vegas, and I got two ferrets, a boy and a girl. You have to buy them there because it’s one of the few places where it’s legal to sell them. I always go to the pet stores in Vegas. Now these ferrets frolic with Tink on the floor of my house, and they climb all over each other. It’s really fun to watch. Every so often, they get lost under the couch, but I’ve actually learned how to discipline them. Now I’m going to get the ferrets little outfits, too. They’re so small, they can’t even wear Tink’s hand-me-downs.

  I was imagining what it would be like if Tink kept a diary. How fun would that be! So we got together and I helped her write it; now you and your pets can have a peek at the life of an heiress’s dog.

  TINKERBELL HILTON’S DOGGY DIARY

  A BRIEF EXCERPT

  by Tinkerbell Hilton

  Today it was nice out, and Paris took me for a walk in the Hollywood Hills. Afterward, her driver took us to the dog park, because Paris thought there might be cute guys there. But I refused to play with any of the mutts that were running around. I really only like to hang out with poodles. The really small, fluffy ones.

  That’s because, if I may say so myself, I have excellent breeding and manners. I never pee on the floor. Okay, maybe sometimes, when Paris forgets to take me out enough. But I always attempt to pee outside. If I do pee inside, there’s always somebody around to wipe it up fast enough so that no one really knows it was me. They think I’m even better trained than I am.

  I also have excellent grooming, and those mutts at the dog park can see that from a mile away. They were all over me today—literally! I don’t really blame them, though. I have my nails painted pink to go with my many cute coats. I’m wearing one of my adorable Fifi & Romeo coats. (I also have cute shoes to wear, if Paris wants to really dress me up.) I never go anywhere without my Swarovski crystal-covered leash. Of course, an heiress’s dog such as myself doesn’t really need a leash; I only have one because it looks good and goes with my coloring. I’m smart enough to never run away—I know I have a good thing going here! I get to eat steak and hamburgers, and even Häagen-Dazs, if I’m really good or if Paris has the late-night munchies. Really, you know, I’m more human than pup—or I’m smart enough to act that way, because that’s what people expect from an heiress’s dog. And truly, I do like people better than dogs, because every dog is ten times my size—and scares the crap out of me! Whoops! I mean the be-jesus!!! I try never to swear, even when I’m barking mad. A well-bred dog does not swear, even when she’s barking or growling.

  After we got home from the dog park, Paris started surfing the Internet and found another website that has teacup Chihuahuas. She wants to get a boy dog to keep me company. She thinks I should have a boyfriend. She wants to name him Peter Pan. But she can’t seem to find another teacup as small as me. Let’s face it, most other Chihuahuas look like cows compared to me! So I’m not worried that I’ll get a little male Chihuahua I have to compete with for food or clothes. First of all, he’d probably be gay, in which case he’d leave me alone. Or else she’ll get sick of him and give him away to some boyfriend she’s ready to get rid of. And then I’ll have her all to myself again. And that’s just the way I want to keep it. After all, I’m an heiress’s dog. I know how to be a diva.

  I know people don’t think of me as a girl with a lot of downtime. But you can’t look like I do at events if you never take time for yourself. And you can’t really be on at parties and know as many people as I do without retreating once in a while.

  This aspect of my life is a very intentional mystery to most. Remember what I said about keeping some things mysterious? But I’m sure you’ve often found yourself wondering, What does Paris do behind closed doors? Finally, I’m going to give you a little peek at my private life.

  Yes, I do have one.

  First of all, I love to cook. It’s so much fun to be able to make yourself a great meal. And Nicky and I both love to bake. A lot of times, I’ll cook at home for friends and we’ll watch movies. I’m particularly good at pasta, and I always cook for my boyfriends. The good news about being an heiress-cook is, I don’t have to clean up. If I did, I’d probably never do it. Really, I don’t know how housewives do it. If you cooked and cleaned—and, God forbid, had a job, too—you’d never have time for yourself. Or a decent social life.

  Every so often, when I feel like I have to get out of L.A., I go to Palm Springs—we have a couple of houses there—or the San Diego Hilton, where my cousins live. For the most part, these places are so boring that I get my adrenaline back within a few days, and then I’m out of there. I’m always longing for a city, and shopping, and civilized things. But doing spa treatments in places like Palm Springs forces you to calm down, and it’s really fun to be pampered.

  But my favorite thing to do to relax, at home or on vacation, is to take a delicious bath with very girlie products. I take more baths than showers. Or, to get really super clean, I take a shower first, then a bath. I love Acqua di Parma products, but Caresse smells good, too, even though you can buy it at Rite Aid. It might be cheap, but I love it—it smells so good. There really are no bad bath products. And a girl cannot have too many. I really like this body stuff called Butter Cræme Doo Wop—it smells like icing. And I love Chanel bath products. And products from the Body Shop. I’m telling you, you don’t have to use only expensive stuff. The cheap stuff’s good too, if it smells nice. Guys can’t tell the difference.

  I like classical music to relax to. I remember when I was little, my mom would put the classical channel on the radio for us to fall asleep to. There’s nothing as feminine or calming as a long bubble bath in a beautiful pink bathroom with great music. It makes me feel like Marilyn Monroe or Jayne Mansfield. And whenever you see an heiress in a movie, isn’t she in some beautiful bubble bath, with a feathery robe and slippers waiting next to it?

  It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a giant bathtub like I do, or a pink robe to climb into. There are other very girlie indulgences you can have that make life seem a little sweeter. Here are some of mine:

  My Favorite Music

  Madonna may be my favorite—and obviously, I’ve learned a lot from her. I’ve loved her as long as I can remember; she’s my idol. I also love Blondie (but I would, wouldn’t I?). Debbie Harry rules. The other music I play when I’m home or driving is Pink, Matchbox Twenty, OutKast, the Neptunes, Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, the Black Eyed Peas, Cyndi Lauper, and anything by my Japanese friend Yoshiki.

  My Favorite Bo
oks

  Contrary to what people think, I do read a lot. I love Candace Bushnell’s Sex and the City and Four Blondes, Maneater by Gigi Levangie Grazer, Plum Sykes’s Bergdorf Blondes, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Betina Zikha’s Ultimate Style: the Best of the Best-Dressed List, and anything by Jackie Collins.

  My Favorite Magazines

  I always read Us Weekly, In Touch, People, Vogue, Lucky, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Vanity Fair, GQ, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, Teen People, Cosmo, Blender, and FHM. Also, the Abercrombie & Fitch catalog has very cute guys in it.

  People always ask me what I think I’ll he like when I’m older. I’ve pretty much grown up in public, and I’ve done some pretty immature things along the way, but this is the fate of every heiress. Everyone does crazy stuff when they’re young, but if you’re an heiress, you have even more opportunities to mess up. And everything tends to get written about, so people don’t forget as easily. I learned this lesson the hard way. Now I know that everyone’s had embarrassing moments, but we don’t really hear about them if they’re not famous, because no one really cares.

  I’ve definitely gotten a lot more serious in the last couple of years. I’m going to keep acting and writing music, and hopefully I’ll be able to follow this album with another. I’m quite serious about the music thing. I love it. And work tends to keep me out of trouble. I barely have time to get in trouble anymore.

  Along with the Heiress line of jewelry I’ve been working on, I’ve also been developing a line of clothes. But I would make sure everyone could afford it, because I think everyone should be able to dress like an heiress. Dressing up and defining my sense of style, no matter what anybody else thinks of it, has given me a lot of confidence, and I’d like to pass that on to younger girls. There are just too many boring black dresses out there right now, and it’s not fair. Not everyone can afford Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli, but they’ll be able to buy my clothes and look really hot.

  But believe it or not, I don’t always want the glamorous, jet-set life. Let’s face it, I’ve done it. The ones who are in their thirties and forties and do it now were high school nerds. That wasn’t me. Someday soon, I want to have children and a big house with a lot of animals—like my parents had. I would like to be a young mom, like my mom was. My parents have been together forever, and I’d like to follow their good example. I mean, look how I turned out!

  On Moving Forward

  I’ve been through a lot in the last few years, a lot of ups and downs, and it’s all been an incredible learning experience for me. I turned twenty-three on February 27, 2004, but the last year has been so intense, I know it was my biggest leap in terms of growing and changing. I’ve always felt so young, but suddenly I feel much more adult. I never thought I’d be proud of that! I will always be me, Paris, and I will probably always love to have fun, dress up, and go out and shine. Self-reflection was never my strong point when I was younger, and I was okay with that. But I really learned who is always there for me, supporting me: my parents, my sister and brothers, and the rest of my family who love me through the good and the bad.

  I have a much deeper appreciation of them, their strength, and also, my strength. I’ve learned you don’t grow that much when things are good; you really grow in the tough times. When you get hurt, life gets very real, and then you have to stop and put the world in focus. I’m glad I was forced to do that this year. There’s been a huge shift in my self-perception and the way I look at the world. I know more than ever how lucky I am, how blessed I’ve been, and as a result, I think I got a lot more serious. What you’ve just read and seen is a slice of me becoming me: an heiress, yes, fun-loving and, I admit, privileged, and even pretty worldly for twenty-three. But now I can feel myself becoming a grown-up with real goals. Sure, it’s been great having so much attention. Who wouldn’t want that? But now I want attention not just for being Paris, but for what Paris, the professional, has accomplished: a TV career, a modeling career, a book, a start in music, and the knowledge that anything you try, you can absolutely pull off, no matter what anyone writes or says about you. That only gave me more to prove. And you can have just as much fun when you work as when you play. Getting photographed and getting treated like a star is fun. But having a dream and actually making it happen is so much more thrilling. Now I know I really can do anything I want. And that’s what being an heiress is all about.

  And I’d say I’ve proved that, haven’t I? And I’m only just getting started….

  STYLE CREDITS

  All chapter opening photographs and cover photograph by Jeff Vespa

  Produced by Andrea Collins

  Makeup by Geoffrey Rodriguez • Hair by Julio Hernandez • Styling by Victor Alegria

  Prop styling by Edward Murphy

  FRONT COVER

  Dress by BCBG • Jewelry by Chopard • Shoes by Jimmy Choo

  CHAPTER ONE

  Dress by Elie Saab • Jewelry by Doris Panos • Sheets by Frette

  CHAPTER TWO

  Nicki’s dress by BCBG • Paris’s dress by Matthew Williamson • Shoes by Sergio Rossi

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jeans by Blue Cult • Shoes by Paolo

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Pamela Roland skirt • Jewelry by Nancy Davis Peace & Love Collection

  CHAPTER SIX

  Suit by Chanel • Shoes by Chanel

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Halter top available at Palace Costumes • Jean shorts by GUESS?

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Dress by Douglas Hannant • Jewelry by Chopard • Pink watch by Chronotech

  CHAPTER TEN

  Top and skirt by Chanel

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Diamond earrings by Doris Panos

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Cashmere scarf by Juniper & Jasper • Sweat suit by Juicy Couture

  Mercedes-Benz SL600 courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

  PHOTO CREDITS

  All photos provided by WireImage and its photographers unless otherwise noted.

  COVER

  Jeff Vespa

  FOREWORD

  Page ii: Jeff Vespa

  CHAPTER ONE

  Page 3: Jeff Vespa • Page 4: Dimitrios Kambouris • Page 6: Jim Smeal • Page 7: Jeff Vespa (2) • Page 8: George Pimentel • Page 9: Michael Caulfield • Page 10: Jeff Vespa • Page 11: Jeff Vespa: Jason Nevader • Page 12: Michael Caulfield (3); Jeff Vespa (3) • Page 13: Jeffrey Mayer; Steve Granitz; Jamie Trueblood • Pages 14-15: Jeff Vespa (5) • Page 16: Steve Granitz; Jeff Vespa • Page 17: Donato Sardella; Jeff Vespa

  CHAPTER TWO

  Page 19: Jeff Vespa • Page 20: Lester Cohen • Page 21: (Clockwise from top left) Victor Spinelli; Dimitrios Kambouris; Jean-Paul Aussenard (2); Dimitrios Kambouris • Page 22: (Clockwise from top right) Courtesy of Le Lycée français; courtesy of Nicky Hilton; courtesy of Kyle Richards (4) • Page 23: (Clockwise from bottom left) Carmen Valdes; courtesy of Nicky Hilton (3) • Page 24: Ray Mickshaw; courtesy of Nicky Hilton • Page 25: Jeff Vespa (2); Donato Sardella • Page 26: Kevin Mazur; Jeff Vespa (2) • Page 27: (Clockwise from top left) Kevin Mazur; Donato Sardella; Jim Spellman • Pages 28-29: Amy Graves (2) • Page 30: Seth Browarnik (2) • Page 31: George Pimentel; Dimitrios Kambouris • Page 32: Kevin Mazur; Serge Thomann • Page 33: Carmen Valdes • Page 34: (Clockwise from left) Dimitrios Kambouris; Jean-Paul Aussenard; Serge Thomann • Page 35: (Clockwise from left) Steve Granitz; Jim Spellman; Jean-Paul Aussenard

  CHAPTER THREE

  Page 37: Jeff Vespa • Page 38: Ron Galella • Page 39: RJ Capak • Page 40: (Clockwise from bottom left) Jeff Vespa (3); RJ Capak • Page 41: (Clockwise from left) Arun Nevader; Dimitrios Kambouris; Jeff Vespa • Page 42: Arun Nevader • Page 43: (Clockwise from top left) Jeff Vespa; James Devaney; Theo Wargo; Kevin Mazur; Jeff Vespa • Page 44: Jean-Paul Aussenard • Page 45: (Clockwise from top left) Victor Spinelli; Donato Sardella; Jeff Vespa; Mike Guastella; Kevin Mazur; Steve Granitz; Carmen Valdes; Victor Spinelli
; (center) Steve Granitz • Page 46: (Clockwise from top left) Jean-Paul Aussenard; Victor Spinelli; Donato Sardella • Page 48: Jeff Vespa; Ray Mickshaw • Page 50: Dimitrios Kambouris • Page 51: Ray Mickshaw • Page 52: Amy Graves; Jeffrey Mayer • Page 53: Jeff Vespa; Dimitrios Kambouris • Page 54: Ray Mickshaw; Jean-Paul Aussenard • Page 55: Jeff Vespa; Donato Sardella • Page 56: (Clockwise from left) Dimitrios Kambouris; Steve Granitz; Jim Smeal • Page 57: (Clockwise from top left) Steve Granitz; Kevin Mazur; Mark Sullivan; Jean-Paul Aussenard • Page 58: (Clockwise from top left) Ray Mickshaw; Michael Caulfield: Jason Nevader • Page 59: (Clockwise from top left) Amy Graves; Jeff Vespa; Steve Granitz; Amy Graves (2) • Page 60: Mike Guastella; Jeff Vespa • Page 61: (Clockwise from top left) Lester Cohen; Jean-Paul Aussenard; James Devaney • Page 62: Jeff Vespa; Steve Granitz • Page 63: (Clockwise from top left) Michael Caulfield; John Sciulli; Gregg DeGuire; Serge Thomann • Page 64: (Clockwise from left) Steve Granitz; Jean-Paul Aussenard; Jeff Vespa • Page 65: Carmen Valdes; Ron Galella: Steve Granitz • Page 66: Jean-Paul Aussenard • Page 67: Tony Barson • Page 68: (Clockwise from left) Jeff Vespa; Steve Granitz; Albert Ortega • Page 69: (Clockwise from top left) Amy Graves; Jeff Vespa; Gregg DeGuire • Page 70: Albert Ortega; Gregg DeGuire • Page 71: Jim Spellman; Jeff Vespa; Johnny Nunez

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Page 73: Jeff Vespa • Page 74: Courtesy of Nicky Hilton • Page 76: (Clockwise from left) Jeff Vespa; Dimitrios Kambouris; Denise Truscello • Page 77: (Clockwise from top left) Dimitrios Kambouris; Albert Ortega; Jeff Vespa; Dimitrios Kambouris • Page 78: Jeff Vespa (2) • Page 79: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of Nicky Hilton; Donato Sardella; Michael Caulfield • Page 80: Jeff Vespa • Page 81: (Clockwise from left) Jeff Vespa; Seth Browarnik; Denise Truscello • Page 82: Jeff Vespa; Denise Truscello • Page 83: (Clockwise from left) Jeff Klein; Jeff Vespa; Ron Galella • Page 84: Theo Wargo; Chris Weeks • Page 85: (Clockwise from top left) Jeff Vespa; Jemal Countess; Denise Truscello • Page 86: Jeff Vespa