In this refreshingly candid documentary, Paris Hilton removes the Barbie doll exterior and reveals her deepest thoughts, fears, and feelings. Paris is doing something she has never done before: allowing us all access to the woman directing the show from behind the pink silk curtain.
Where to Watch: Exclusively on YouTube
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
“This Is Paris” was an Official Selection of the Tribeca Film Festival 2020
In this doc, we see a more contemplative Hilton than of days past. She admits that when starting this project, she had no intention of revealing her past abuse – but that’s the funny thing about trauma – it hits you when you least expect it.
Many people believe that the public and private Paris Hilton are one and the same, but in reality, the two couldn’t be less alike. A self-described “tomboy” as a child, she was fascinated with animals and was casual about her fashion. She was more interested in hampsters than she was in haute couture.
PARIS’ TEEN YEARS SAW HER TRANSITION INTO THE NIGHTLIFE-LOVING, CLUB-CRAWLING, FRESHLY-MINTED “IT GIRL” OF THE NEW YORK CITY CLUB SCENE
When the Hilton family moved from California to New York City in the late 1990s, chaos ensued. 16-year-old Paris and older sister Nicky got their first taste of fame. Paris saw her images splashed all over the city papers. NYC gossip columnists quickly dubbed Paris the newest “IT girl,” yet her conservative and concerned family did not know what to do with their debutante-gone-wild. She was becoming a far cry from the demure debutante they were attempting to create.
ONE THING WAS CERTAIN, HOWEVER:
PARIS HILTON WAS GOSSIP COLUMN GOLD $$$
In their final attempt to save Paris, they unwittingly made a decision that had the exact opposite effect than they were hoping to achieve. Uneducated about the “troubled teen” industry (and its reputation for abuse), The Hiltons decided to send Paris to a series of troubled teen programs, the last one being Provo School in Utah. Paris recalls that the abuse at the facility ranged from psychological to physical. She recalls being slapped, beaten, and placed in solitary confinement for up to 20 hours a day; she was naked, cold, hungry, and afraid.
In this insightful documentary, Kathy Hilton learns about the extent of Paris’s struggles at Provo, gaining a deeper understanding of her daughter’s experiences and their family’s journey.
Sister Nicky was aware of what went on at Provo but not the amount of abuse Paris endured. A more contemplative and private character, protective sister Nicky agreed to participate in this documentary to support her sister and ensure that if this story is going to be told, it will be told right.
PARIS BELIEVES THE ABUSE THAT SHE ENDURED AT PROVO SCHOOL HELPED TO FORMULATE HER WORLD-FAMOUS ALTER-EGO, “THE PARIS HILTON.”
Once Paris turned 18, she was free and intent on leaving her experience behind. She was determined to make a name for herself despite her reputation and despite her abusers. Paris did not want to be branded by this experience. She believed that discussing her abuse would only negatively influence her brand, which she worked so hard to build.
Paris suffers from insomnia and is afraid to go to sleep most nights. When she does fall asleep she has recurring nightmares of being dragged from her bed by reform school staff.
Looking back now, Paris sees how this experience changed her emotionally – and no matter how far she ran from the fear, it always managed to catch up with her. One thing is clear: The Paris Hilton who entered the Provo School was not the same Paris Hilton who came out. Years later, Paris STILL has nightmares of being dragged out of her bed in the middle of the night by reform school staff. Thinking back to that moment, thinking she was being kidnapped, Paris screamed for her parents’ help, only to see them let her be taken away into the night.
During her time imprisoned in the school, Paris lost her sense of trust and feeling of safety. She was no longer the little girl with no abandon who played with animals all day. The world had already changed her. Psychologically speaking, the abuse led Paris to make decisions she otherwise would not have made (ex., the Rick Solomon sex tape) and become involved in abusive relationships with persons she otherwise would never have pursued (she withholds these names). The abuse element created trust issues in the young Paris, causing her to trust the people who she would generally avoid abusive personalities. Like most survivors, survivors of abuse often seek to repeat the pattern with romantic partners; this helps them to replay their most traumatic experiences over and over. Abuse runs in cycles, and based on her comments on her relationships, she fell quickly into the cycle of abuse.
IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, PARIS HAS CHOSEN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL OUT AND FACE HER ABUSERS
In order to move forward in her life, Paris has to first take this unique opportunity to take a look back. Through this documentary, she accomplishes just that. Through this doc, Paris reunites with some of her Provo classmates, and they discuss their collective experiences of the abuse they endured while students at Provo.
The Provo School grads are using this documentary as a platform to bring attention to their hashtag #breakcodesilence, with their main goal being to shut down the Provo School and other similarly abusive institutions. Paris and her cohorts hope to use this documentary as a way to ally themselves with kids who are currently stuck in similar abusive programs. Paris and her cohorts hope to use this documentary as a way to ally themselves with kids who are currently stuck in similar abusive programs.
Paris also finally addresses how the pain she endured at the hands of the Provo school inevitably informed the character her real self would take a backseat to for the rest of her public life; “The Paris Hilton,” the baby-voiced, iconic reality star who is credited for pioneering the famous-for-being famous culture, the selfie cultural phenomenon and initiating the culture of self-indulgence. No one can argue that Paris has not left an indelible mark on pop culture.
IT SEEMS THAT PARIS IS FINALLY FINDING HERSELF, AND TO SEE HER DEEJAY ON STAGE IN FRONT OF CROWDS OF THOUSANDS IS TO SEE HER COME ALIVE
It seems that Hilton is finally finding herself. To see her on stage deejaying for crowds of thousands in full-out glitter, wild sunglasses, and her signature fingerless gloves is to see her come alive. She loves the energy of the crowd—and the crowd loves her back.
One thing is clear: This girl has got hustle, and maybe the next time you hear the soothing-rhythm of her baby voice in all of its overindulged glory, you might take her a bit more seriously. Paris Hilton runs the show and she knows what she’s doing.
Paris Hilton is an iconic international businesswoman. Her goal is to earn a billion dollars. From our viewpoint, she is well on her way. Since “This Is Paris” first launched on YouTube, it has achieved upwards of 18+ million views as of the publishing date of this article. Dumb blonde? We think not.
PARIS’ LIFE GOAL?: TO EARN A BILLION DOLLARS. FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, SHE IS WELL ON HER WAY…
Certainly, with Paris’ international influence, kids stuck in these abusive programs might finally have a chance of being believed: of breaking free from the shackles and torment Paris was once a victim of. As for Paris, addressing the abuse of her past might finally help her to be free to regain. Who knows? Maybe one day, she will be able to sleep peacefully at night, knowing that she has finally slain her dragon.
Since this doc first premiered on YouTube, it has achieved upwards of 18+ million views; no one, not even the Provo School, can take that away from her.
ONE THING IS CERTAIN: THIS IS PARIS, AND SHE IS NOT CHANGING FOR ANYBODY
(left) The image heard around the world: Paris Hilton Shot By David Lachapelle for Vanity Fair in 2000 (right) Paris poses for the 2020 YouTube Documentary
