Bonjour Montreal, Here's Paris

April 07, 2008

Several hundred fans blocked a downtown Montreal street on Saturday, where American heiress Paris Hilton was appearing at a shoe store to kick off her new line of footwear. Some came bearing small dogs, in homage to Hilton's own love for canine breeds like Chihuahuas. Others sported "I Love Paris Hilton" T-shirts. There was a lot of screaming, with the adulation bordering on religious.

Adding to the surrealism of it all, a group of Raelians had apparently decided to piggyback on the publicity of the Hilton appearance. About a dozen of them, wearing pink Rael hats, were distributing cards touting the power of womanhood. "Femininity is Love," read the handouts, which stressed their belief to "feminize the Earth," as a way of avoiding war.

Hilton, meanwhile, was inside Browns Shoes, signing photos for fans and helming a celebrity-journalism assembly line, where reporters were trotted through a carefully-orchestrated opportunity for eight minutes with Hilton.

In between autographs, Hilton meditated on her own mystique. What is it fans find so appealing about her? Wearing a black one-piece dress of her own design, Hilton sat perched on a white leather chair as she pondered the question. "I think I'm real. There's a lot of celebrities out there that when they become celebrities they change who they were, and I've always remained the same. I'm really great with my fans, I appreciate all that I have and I appreciate my fans, I love them. I've been through a lot, I think people relate to that. Everyone goes through things."

Those things include a brief stint in prison, which made her a star of the 24-hour cable news services, who reported her teary-eyed trip to the big house with relish. Hilton says she's fully aware of the shift in celebrity culture, which has gone from fawning to something resembling a blood sport. The cameras now seem to wallow in the misfortunes of a generation of young, unstable women, from Anna Nicole Smith to Britney Spears, creating a cottage industry in train wrecks. "I think that with the Internet and all these mean bloggers, it's become a negative thing. Celebrities used to be celebrated, and people wanted to see the beauty of it. Now it's gotten really mean and ugly. I feel like everyone in LA is a paparazzi. There used to be ten of them and now there are hundreds. It's gotten way out of control, there's too many of the gossip magazines to sell to. I've just learned to live my life and not take it seriously."

Spears, in particular, has weathered a gruelling downward spiral, all of it captured by photographers who stand to gain tens -if not hundreds - of thousands of dollars for that next new-low shot, as she stumbles through rehab, bad haircuts and dramatic interventions. Is Hilton concerned about her buddy Spears?

At this point, her manager stages an intervention. "Next question, please," he insists.

After the question is gently pressed, Hilton sees a rosier side to Spears' current state. "I love Britney. I wish her the best. I think she's doing much better. She looks beautiful and I'm rooting for her."

Hilton concedes it's an intriguing time in American political life, with the prospect of the first woman or African-American elected to the highest office in the land. "I've been travelling so much though, I haven't had time to study their platforms. But it's very exciting."

There's the obligatory distinct praise for Canada and Montreal. "I love Canadians. They're so real and genuine and nice. And Montreal is a beautiful city."

Among the throngs of people braving the crowds to get a glimpse of Hilton, or even a handshake and an autograph, were parents who had brought their young daughters to meet Hilton, someone they appeared to perceive as a role model. Hilton's advice to young women is forthright: "Stay true to themselves. Whatever you put out in the world will come back to you. I've always been a good person with a good heart. I think people see that. I believe in karma. Treat people the way you want to be treated."

Does Hilton harbour any regrets? "I learn from everything in my life. Right now I've never felt better, never felt happier ... I just don't pay attention to negative things. I don't need that in my life, I know who I am."

From-http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080407.whilton07/BNStory/Entertainment/home