Paris Hilton, the celebrity and hotel heiress who spent a stint in jail last year, said on Thursday she sees herself as a role model for young women as she prepared to judge a contest to crown Miss Turkey.
Hilton, who will sit on a jury to select Miss Turkey 2008, said she valued not only beauty but also "good heart" when looking at the contestants' attributes.
"This is my first time judging anything like this," she told Reuters. "I'm going to look at how the girls carry themselves, what they look like, the way they dress and what they say."
It might seem ironic that Hilton, 27, sees herself as a role model and is judging what other women will say about their lives and futures. She starred in US reality TV show The Simple Life portraying herself as a rich girl overcome by the boring routine of daily, middle-class life.
Hilton earned a lot of unwanted publicity in 2003 after an amateur sex video of her hit the Internet, and spent three weeks in a Los Angeles jail last year in a drunken driving case.
But her name is used to sell a host of products around the world and she is followed by paparazzi.
Hilton said 90 percent of stories about her in the media are "complete lies," and she blamed the numerous bloggers on the Internet for spreading misinformation.
"I don't pay attention to lies because I am a good person, I work very hard and I've built this empire on my own. I think this is an inspiration for a lot of girls out there."
Asked if she was happy to be seen as a role model by girls, Hilton said: "Yes."
Hilton, whose grandfather Barron Hilton decided to donate 97 percent of his $2.3 billion wealth to charity, said she did not have any hard feelings about his decision, which many presumed would drastically reduce her future inheritance.
"It won't affect me anyway," she said. "My grandfather is an incredible man. He is very generous. And what he is doing is amazing."
Hilton's latest project is a show on MTV in which people will compete to be her friend. Paris Hilton's My New BFF (best friend forever) is set to air on the US cable network later this year.
"I obviously have a lot of friends already, but I just thought it would make great TV show," she said. "You know, most of my friends are from Hollywood. They are kind a [sic] jaded a little bit. We are going to be meeting people from all around the world."
Comments (34)
Paris Hilton is nothing but trash.
Oh haha, talk about irony.
Yes she is the ultimate role model for ignorance...
If running around and spending money that you have never earned and screwing stuff/up is something to model yourself after you better be rich and spoiled.
@B4U
I'm so in for that P.A.R.T movement.......seriously.
I don't follow that much this kind of stars' lives, but Paris Hilton a role model... sounds like the funniest joke of the year or maybe the most ironic comment ever...
A ROLE MODEL!!!?? You just cant be serious!!I belive there is a explanation for it, maybe it is called alcool or drugs or brain dead...all of the above?I blame bad parenting, fathers that were not smart enough to raise children... and now they all want to "grow up" and be something superficial.I think in that sense, pornstars are role models too!!
you'd get more kindness from a dinner roll...
I have found many frank photos and shocking videos here.... http://newshotvideo.com
Paris? A role model? Jamie Lynn is a better role model and she's pregnant at 16!!
I cant stand paris
It might seem ironic that Hilton, 27, sees herself as a role model ~ "IRONIC" is not the "I" word I would have used, try idiotic for starters.
<p>This may turn into a good show for MTV. But there is no way that she will find a good new BFF. All the contestants will be a crazy psycho, a fake two-faced backstabber, or just another attention whore. All in which will just be there just in search of fame and spotlight.
<p>I know I won't be watching it at all, Because I hate reality shows, period.
<p>P.A.R.T (People Against Reality Television) I am starting this movement to get people together to influence TV stations to stop making any more reality TV programs. They need to get they're heads out of the ground, and there pocket books out, and stop making generic programs and start making quality television. P.A.R.T(people against reality television) Copy and paste this (P.A.R.T.) info for your descriptions and Board signatures and blogs. or write your own P.A.R.T. rants or slogansmoreless
If she is a role model, then I'm a millionaire. (checks wallet)
Nope, no millions.
I don't have anything against her really, I don't have an opinion of her either way. I just think it's funny that she's running a show to find a new best friend. What people will do for money. (and what other people will watch out of boredom)
What reality is she living in? not this one by the sound of it.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO..........................................................................................
She is NOT and never ever will be, a role model for me. Her name is the ONLY thing that is valuable, to her.
role-model,you've got to be joking....
Is it the beauty pagent for the country of Turkey or a contest to see who is a bigger turkey than Paris Hilton?
If you pay attention Paris says:
"I'm going to look at... what they say"
Would this be because the english used in Miss Turkey already goes above her hat?
I agree, Paris Hilton news should stay in teen magazines and cheesy tabloids. No one, absolutely nobody here, cares about Paris Hilton.
Why is this on TV.com? Is this REALLY necessary to have on here? REALLY?!?!?!?
give me a break
of course she is! she only went to jail and has an IQ of 5,000
maybe a role model for drunk drivers?????
She is anything BUT a role model!
I can't wait to be her new BFF! Or, wait, no... She came across as really arrogant in that last quote. Hmm...
Paris Hilton, role model? No way!
MSN15 and popyn - Spam?
Why is tv.com posting this? Is this really <i>television</i> news? I feel like the sites just trying to get a rise out of us.
Nearly choked on my drink when I saw the title. Role model??? Not likely
The day Paris Hilton becomes anyone's role model is the day that the world has officially gone to hell in a hand basket.
Paris Hilton-a role model-to who?? And My New BFF?? Oh please.
She's gross.
Ehhhh.