“Can you sign my forehead?”
One of Paris Hilton’s fans asked her as they stood onstage at Century Properties’ press conference at the Manila Peninsula’s Conservatory.
The press had gathered to listen to Paris talk about the beach club she’s helping design for Azure, Century Properties’ beachfront residential development in Parañaque. “If people go to the beach club, they’re going to know it was designed by me. It’s going to be very Paris—sexy, fun, beautiful. It’s gonna be the best beach club on earth,” she said.
Adoration
Paris had the chance to meet some of her fans at the press con including Isha Dinio, who calls herself Paris’ number one Filipino fan. She cried as Paris hugged her and presented her with a bag from her brand. “Thank you so much for wanting to see me here in the Philippines. You’re my inspiration,” Isha told Paris.
Isha isn’t alone in her adoration of Paris.
The next day, hours before Paris was scheduled to make an appearance at her handbag and accessories store in SM Megamall, a big crowd had gathered at the mall’s atrium. The place was packed with people eager to see her. The video of her song “Nothing In This World” played on a big screen. The screaming started before she even arrived.
We asked the security guards if they had ever seen a crowd this big gather for any celebrity at the mall and were told, “Hindi po kasing ganito (Not like this).”
5,000 people
By the time Paris arrived, over 5,000 people were in the area. Fans stood on their toes, cameras and phones held up, wanting to catch a glimpse of her. A mob of photographers and camera men chased after Paris as she entered her store.
It was madness.
But the chaos didn’t seem to faze Paris. She watched the crowd from inside the store before checking on the bags that were on display. “I’m pretty used to it,” she said.
Everywhere Paris went, she was mobbed by fans—whether she was going to the Pacific Star building for a meeting with Century Properties’ creative team or at the airport getting ready to leave.
Before meeting Paris, we spoke to countless people who had already had the chance to spend time with her. We kept hearing the same words used to describe her. “Charming.” “Sweet.” “Kind.” “Barbie.”
Paris really did look like a Barbie doll that had come to life—with her blonde hair and her long legs and her love of pretty dresses.
Super had the chance to sit down with Paris inside her store for an interview before she left for a signing session with her fans and before she jetted off to the airport for her return flight to Los Angeles.
Paris talked about her passions, her plans and the things she can’t live without.
Did you expect this huge crowd?
I do store appearances all the time around the world and it’s always very crazy, a lot of pandemonium so I’m pretty used to it. I’ve been doing this for a very long time.
What’s the craziest paparazzi or store experience you’ve ever had?
It happens everywhere. One of the craziest was in Mexico City. There was probably like 20,000 people and it caused a huge riot almost. It was scary. We had policemen helping me.
Sometimes it gets too crazy, there are so many people but I love my fans. It’s so flattering that they love me so much, it makes me feel really happy.
At the press conference yesterday, someone asked you to sign her forehead. Do you get requests like that a lot?
I do, all the time.
And you do it?
Every time someone asks me to sign their forehead I feel weird doing it. I’ve done it once in Hawaii because this little boy asked me and he begged and begged and I was like, okay, fine. But that was the only time I’d ever done that (laughs).
Tell us about your handbags, do you design them yourself?
Yes, I work with my design team. I approve everything. I send my design inspirations every month. We have design meetings every few months and go over everything. I’m involved every step of the way.
Do you have any favorites from the collection?
I love all of them. Some of my favorites are the Tinkerbell one, it’s called the Timeless bag, and I love the Louis Vuitton-inspired bags, they’re so cute. I love that kind of feel.
How has your style changed?
It’s definitely changed a lot over the years. I’ve changed the way I dress, it’s a little more sophisticated. When I was younger I was very Barbie-ish. Now it’s more like businesswoman. Sometimes.
You have 17 product lines, is there any product in the market that you wanna tap?
I basically have everything so … I don’t know what I would do next. I basically have everything, head to toe, all Paris.
You’re on TV, you modeled, you’ve released an album, books, fragrances, you have a fashion empire, you’ve done so many things—is there anything you haven’t done yet that you still want to do?
I feel very accomplished in everything I’ve done. I have 17 different product lines now and the next thing I’m doing is the Century Properties Azure. Real estate is the one thing I haven’t gotten into yet so now I am and I’m really excited about that project.
Is this your first real estate project?
Yes.
Is this something you see yourself doing in other countries as well?
Definitely.
Will there be a second season of “The World According To Paris”?
They wanna do it so I’m thinking if I want to or not.
Do you think you’ll be in a reality show until you’re sixty?
No.
If you have kids, would you want them to be in a reality show?
I haven’t really thought about that yet. We’ll see when it happens.
How do you relax?
I’m always busy and always working so to relax I love to go to a spa and get a massage and facial or go to the beach and swim.
Who do you look up to? Who inspires you?
I’ve always looked up to my mom. She really inspires me. And Marilyn Monroe. She’s so beautiful and such an icon and I’ve always looked up to her.
You got to wear local designers for your shoots here, are there any designers in particular whose clothes you liked?
Rosanna Ocampo, I wore a lot of her dresses, they’re gorgeous. Joel Escober I love. Really talented. Those were two of my favorites.
Will you be bringing the dresses home?
Yes. A lot of the designers here gave me so many beautiful dresses and accessories so I’m definitely going to be wearing them when I go back to the States.
Will you be bringing home any other souvenirs from the Philippines?
Yeah, Manny and Jinkee gave me so many presents, all their Pacquiao shirts and Manny figurines and cute little Filipino candies and chocolates and some really beautiful necklaces. A lot of different Filipino-designed jewelry that are really gorgeous.
What are five things you can’t live without?
My Blackberry, my iPhone, my family, my friends, water (laughs).
Is it true you have forty pets at home?
No. (laughs)
So how many pets do you have?
Like 20something.
Which causes do you feel strongly about?
I do a lot of charity work, I always have since I was a little girl. I really love working with children and animals and just anything to help the world.
What impact do you want to have on the world?
I just want to make people smile, make people happy and entertain people and make a difference.
Do you have a message for Filipina women who look up to you?
It’s all about being confident and believing in yourself and knowing your dreams can come true if you really believe in them. Don’t listen to anyone else. Be a good person and good things will come to you.
What’s the best thing about being Paris Hilton?
Just that I get to travel around the world, see all my fans. I feel really blessed by God, I thank him every day because I feel so grateful for what I have.
