Paris Hilton tells Chris Evans about her ‘path of self-discovery’ in new book Paris: The Memoir

Virgin Radio

16 Mar 2023, 10:41

Reality TV icon Paris Hilton has admitted her new book, Paris: The Memoir, was a vital tool in being able to tell her real story after decades in the spotlight. 

In the book, Paris begins with her privileged childhood and undiagnosed ADHD, describes the teenage rebellion that caused her parents to send her away and details the abuse and cruelty she faced at boarding school, which she said she “can’t believe” she survived.

While on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch, Paris opened up about the reason she finally put pen to paper about her life. 

She told Chris: “It was just a whole path of self discovery. Ever since my documentary, This is Paris, I've really just been on this path. I just felt that it was time just to tell my true story since the media has written my narrative for the past two decades, and it wasn't really who I was.”

Most Paris fans have been watching the Hilton heiress’ life since she burst onto the scene in early noughties reality series The Simple Life 20 years ago. Paris starred alongside best friend Nicole Richie in the E! Entertainment series, and it followed the socialites as they took on different day jobs. 

Paris admitted she never expected the series to still be such a hit with fans all these years later. She said:  “Fox contacted me and said we want to do a show that's like Green Acres meets Clueless. ‘We want you to play this blonde airhead, Nicole, you be the troublemaker. You guys are gonna go, we're not telling you where, but it's gonna be in the middle of nowhere. You guys are gonna live The Simple Life.’ We had no idea what we were getting into, and this was like the beginning of reality television.

“It was just so exciting. That show I'm so proud of, I love that it's so timeless, and people are still enjoying it today. I cannot believe it's about to be the 20 year anniversary in December. Nicole and I were just talking about that the other day. It's just insane that it's been so many years since it started.”

Chris couldn’t let Paris leave without discussing the ‘Holy Trinity’ picture, which celebrated its 16th anniversary last year. The photo showed Paris with Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan in a car following a night out in Los Angeles, but it sparked a major reaction from fans, given all three stars were at the height of their powers in 2006.

She shared: “It just felt like another night out in LA and then the next morning…just to see it plastered everywhere. I was like ‘this was just us going home, it wasn't that big of a deal.’”

All these years on, Paris has continued to keep in touch with both pop princess Britney and actress Lindsay Lohan, who recently announced her pregnancy.

She said: “Everyone’s doing really well. I was just writing with Lindsay yesterday, she's pregnant. I'm so excited for her. Britney is happy and married. The holy trinity is all grown up.”

Being a TV star, entrepreneur, superstar DJ, technology innovator, perfume and fashion designer plus many other titles, including new mum, doesn’t mean Paris is slowing down any time soon. 

On what she plans to do next, the multi-talented star explained: “I've just been focusing on building my media company 11:11. It's just exciting to do every business vertical, from having my own podcasting company, movie production company, television, metaverse. Products licensing, about to release my 30th fragrance, doing my second album. New skincare, new make up - I do it all.”

Paris’ new book, Paris: The Memoir, is out now. 

For more great interviews listen to  The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or  catch up on-demand here.