Looking back, Paris Hilton feels that when she was a young paparazzi magnet her story was told for her. Now, the DJ, author, businesswoman, and most importantly— new mother, is telling her story her way in her well-received new book: Paris: The Memoir.
She also launched the book her way by partnering with TSX Entertainment for the groundbreaking #THISISWHOIAM campaign, which utilized fan engagement through providing Hilton’s supporters with a large platform.
“I felt for the past two decades that the media has been the one that’s been telling my story, and for so long, I couldn’t show all the sides of who I was because of my narrative that has been told for me instead of by me,” Hilton told me over the phone last week.
“And I just felt like this memoir gave me space to finally share my real story. So with this hashtag, #THISISWHOIAM, I just wanted to really share my stage and my space with others and give them the same opportunity and safe space to just reveal all the sides of who they truly are.”
Through TSX Entertainment, fans were invited to share their stories to be displayed on a Times Square billboard. Driven by user-generated content, the TSX billboard also featured videos from some of Paris’ closest friends – including Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tiffany Haddish, Amanda Nguyen and more – along with individuals from around the world.
Paris dug deep to get a who’s who of contributors to the video for her campaign. Unlike other celebrities, she opted to handle the big ask of her friends herself, rather than have an associate do it.
“I was just texting people throughout the week and just texted a bunch of my friends. And I’m just so grateful to people like Drew and Gwyneth and Tiffany and Whoopi (Goldberg) and so many more for all coming together and helping me amplify this,” Hilton said.
“And I know that all of my friends are very busy people, but it’s amazing that everyone was so supportive in sharing their own ‘This Is Who I Am’ statement. And I feel just so grateful to all of my fans and followers that have all been a part of this. We’ve had thousands of videos sent in, so it’s been really just inspiring and really empowering for everybody. I feel so proud.”
TSX’s innovative technology was a major factor for Hilton in choosing to partner with the company.
“Well, technology has always been a huge passion of mine, so it was really important to me just to bring a certain level of innovation to my book launch,” Paris said. “And through my next-generation media company 11:11 Media, we just saw this perfect opportunity to leverage TSX’s pioneering mobile integrated platforms just to invite others to join me in telling the world #THISISWHOIAM.
“And I wanted to give everyone the biggest platform to reveal their truth. So I’m just so grateful that we had this opportunity because I don’t think there’s anything more epic than having the biggest billboard in Times Square.
“So it was awesome. And I loved working with them alongside 11:11 Media, and particularly my nonprofit division called 11:11 Media Impact, and also my brilliant friends at Ogilvy who are the dreamers and the creators of the hashtag #THISISWHOIAM.”
Although Paris is making good use of social media now to further share her story and connect with fans, she wishes it was around when she was first a focus of the public eye.
“I think it’s incredible what’s possible with these social platforms where you are your own media company, in a way, where you can get your story out because back when I first came on and I started doing my business, I did not have a social platform, so my story was continually told by the media,” Hilton stated. “And now it’s like everyone is able to have their own voice, and I think it’s just incredible, the power of social media and how much impact that you can truly [make].”
Paris’ book has already made an impact in the literary world and has plenty of surprises in store for fans and readers.
“I really just bared my soul with this book, talking about everything from my childhood to my past traumas,” the author said. “And I think people will be surprised just to know that there’s so much more to me than they’d ever known.
“And yeah, everyone who’s read the book has said to me this was not what they were expecting. People are saying it’s the best memoir that they’ve ever read. And the response from the book has just been really incredible, and I’m so proud that I really just was vulnerable and real and put my story up.
“And it’s just been amazing hearing from so many people saying, ‘Thank you for telling your story. It made me not feel alone anymore.’ And just to have so much impact on people is really, really special.”
The hardest topic for Hilton to tackle in the book was the abuse she suffered at a teen treatment facility in Utah in the 1990s. In the memoir, Paris alleges such abuse as being referred to as the number “127”, which she said appeared on her facility-issued sweats, not by her name, as well as being forced to take medication, and being sent to a seclusion room.
“It was really hard to relive just all of the abuse that I suffered at Provo Canyon School and just having to remember so many just horrific experiences of what they did to me at these schools and, yeah, just having to dig deep and try to remember things that I tried so hard to forget for so many years,” Paris said.
“But I’m so proud of telling that story because it’s made such an impact and changed laws, so far in seven states. So I just am so proud of all of the hard work that we’ve been doing with our advocacy work to make a difference for children.”
Although reliving past traumas was difficult for Hilton in penning the memoir, its completion was a freeing and monumental accomplishment.
“This whole experience has been extremely therapeutic and so healing and just such a weight off my shoulders. And also, just to hear from everybody has made me feel not alone anymore as well, especially at all these book signings in LA, in London, in New York and just so many people coming up to me and saying they’ve been through similar experiences in their life. And when people can talk about trauma, it really is a healing thing.”
