PARIS DOES DALLAS
Upon her recent visit, former Pride
grand marshal ordered to back away from questions about sexual identity.
Is Paris Hilton hiding something?
By Daniel A.
Kusner
Even though she arrived an hour late for her round-table interview at the W Hotel, Paris Hilton effortlessly charmed those she kept waiting. She’s gracious, sweet and surprisingly confident. And that baby-stripper voice practically disappeared.
On Tuesday, the entitled hotel heiress blew into town to promote her new PG-13 comedy, "The Hottie and the Nottie," which is being released on Feb. 8 by Dallas-based Regent Films.
Earlier that morning, Hilton was being interviewed by WFAA-TV’s Gary Cogill, who managed to ask how jail had changed her. Hilton answered like a pro.
That afternoon, however, the four other print journalists and I were asked to steer clear of questions pertaining to Hilton’s incarceration or her personal life. The publicists were forewarned that Dallas Voice will discuss gay stuff, and they assured me that queer topics wouldn’t be a problem.
On the surface, it’s easy to peg Hilton as a rich, dumb bimbo who parties all the time. But she works — a lot.
She’s only 26, but already has three fragrances, an album, a clothing line, several movies credits, a Carl's Jr commercial, and she’s authored two best-selling books. While "The Hottie and the Nottie" is her first starring role, Hilton also serves as executive producer.
In the film, she plays Christabel Abbot, a stalker-worthy babe whose best friend, June Phigg, is hideously ugly — we’re talking balding, nasty teeth and funky skin problems. Nate has known the Christabel and June since first grade. And Christabel won’t date him until June gets herself a dude. And thus unfolds a sweet Ugly Ducking story set in Los Angeles. It’s safe to say that Hilton could beat Jessica Simpson in an acting contest.
It seems Hilton is constantly on the go. Last week, she was hobnobbing at the Sundance Film Festival. And a couple of weeks ago, she attended a premiere for "The L Word" — wearing a hat and brown bobbed hair while hanging out with andro-babe Kate Moennig.
Two weeks ago, Hilton had already visited North Texas. She has a deal with the Denton-based Sally Beauty Supply, which is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of hair and makeup goods. Hilton has a hair-extensions line called DreamCatchers, and she says a line of Paris shampoos, conditioners and hair dryers are already in the works.
"The Hottie and Nottie" is all about meeting the girl of your dreams. Besides being hot and sexy, what would the girl of your dreams be like? I think Angelina Jolie is the hottest girl in the world. Not only is she drop-dead beautiful, she has a big heart and she lends her name to amazing causes and she’s an incredible actress.
Have you met her? No.
Drag queens really put their hair extensions through a lot of paces. Are your extensions drag-queen ready? Yes. I’m basically like a drag queen because I have to get ready every single day to do these things. And I know they love their makeup and their hair. And I love my makeup and hair, too.
Were you wearing your extensions at "The L Word" premiere? No, that was a wig — a brown one.
Are wigs next for you? Yeah, we’ll do wigs as well.
I’m curious, do you think you’re 100 percent straight? Paris giggles as a team of publicists and assistants all groan like they’re deeply offended.
Dallas publicist Susan Jacobs shouts from across the room, "Oh, Daniel, stop!"
What? I’m actually just trying to find a connection ... Paris keeps giggling. And then Jacobs then strangely adds, "Now stop it! You wouldn’t ask that of me."
Another publicist interrupts and says, "Next question."
The discussion shifts to Hilton’s fragrance line.
I take a moment to figure out what line I could have possibly crossed. Then I remember the backlash that Hilton received in 2005 when she and her mother were co-grand marshals at the Los Angeles gay Pride parade. Blistering commentaries were written because organizers couldn’t find members of the gay community who were more deserving of the recognition.
How on earth can a pop-culture icon, ex-con who attends "The L Word" premiere be offended by such a softball question like "Do you think you are 100 percent straight?
I thought, "Screw these bulldozing publicists and their Hollywood-manufactured homophobia. She’s a former Pride grand marshal."
I know everyone just had a huge reaction to my last question. But I didn’t ask about what you do in bed with somebody else. I’m just trying to find that connection between you and my demographic. I love the gay community. And I’m actually doing "The L Word" when it comes back on.
This season? I talked to the creator, and they said as soon as the strike is over, they’re going to write me in.
But do you identify with the gay community — as a member of it? Most of my friends are gay. I love them. They’re fun. We go out all the time. Gay men have the best taste. The best makeup — and they’re hot.
Will you play a lesbian on "The L Word?" I don’t know yet. But probably.
In a really smooth way, Hilton dodged the question about her sexual identity.
She’s not a dumb bimbo. To prepare for "The Hottie and The Nottie," Hilton researched the filmography of Marilyn Monroe — a celebrity who was misjudged as empty-headed but was arguably way smarter than we thought.
Soon our time was up.
During a lightning-quick photo session, Hilton worked photogenic magic - changing poses after each shutter click. She hugged me, kissed my cheek and asked if I wanted to have a picture of us taken us together. We ended up riding the same elevator, and she pulled out a BlackBerry.
What famous person are you texting right now? These guys from this band, Forever the Sickest Kids. They’re from Dallas. It’s all about Dallas today.
What are the rest of your plans for this afternoon? I’m getting a massage, and I seriously need to get my nails did. Then it’s the movie premiere and the party on at Ghostbar.
At the movie premiere, Hilton emerged as the full-glam diva, wearing a flowy yellow mini-dress, white coat and looking expertly coiffed and manicured. She sat with all six members of Forever the Sickest Kids.
At Ghostbar, she changed into a metallic dress and gave hairdo into a more "socialite gone bad-girl" tzjuge. Behind a VIP roped area, Forever the Sickest Kids and Hilton danced while standing a couch so that the sea of digital cameras and cellphones could capture the celebutante. She never got too close to the hoi polloi, but she hardly ever turned her back to the onlookers.
Sometimes being famous is hard work.
CAN PARIS SAVE THE STATLER HILTON?
On Tuesday, the entitled hotel heiress blew into town to promote her new PG-13 comedy, "The Hottie and the Nottie," which is being released on Feb. 8 by Dallas-based Regent Films.
Earlier that morning, Hilton was being interviewed by WFAA-TV’s Gary Cogill, who managed to ask how jail had changed her. Hilton answered like a pro.
That afternoon, however, the four other print journalists and I were asked to steer clear of questions pertaining to Hilton’s incarceration or her personal life. The publicists were forewarned that Dallas Voice will discuss gay stuff, and they assured me that queer topics wouldn’t be a problem.
On the surface, it’s easy to peg Hilton as a rich, dumb bimbo who parties all the time. But she works — a lot.
She’s only 26, but already has three fragrances, an album, a clothing line, several movies credits, a Carl's Jr commercial, and she’s authored two best-selling books. While "The Hottie and the Nottie" is her first starring role, Hilton also serves as executive producer.
In the film, she plays Christabel Abbot, a stalker-worthy babe whose best friend, June Phigg, is hideously ugly — we’re talking balding, nasty teeth and funky skin problems. Nate has known the Christabel and June since first grade. And Christabel won’t date him until June gets herself a dude. And thus unfolds a sweet Ugly Ducking story set in Los Angeles. It’s safe to say that Hilton could beat Jessica Simpson in an acting contest.
It seems Hilton is constantly on the go. Last week, she was hobnobbing at the Sundance Film Festival. And a couple of weeks ago, she attended a premiere for "The L Word" — wearing a hat and brown bobbed hair while hanging out with andro-babe Kate Moennig.
Two weeks ago, Hilton had already visited North Texas. She has a deal with the Denton-based Sally Beauty Supply, which is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of hair and makeup goods. Hilton has a hair-extensions line called DreamCatchers, and she says a line of Paris shampoos, conditioners and hair dryers are already in the works.
"The Hottie and Nottie" is all about meeting the girl of your dreams. Besides being hot and sexy, what would the girl of your dreams be like? I think Angelina Jolie is the hottest girl in the world. Not only is she drop-dead beautiful, she has a big heart and she lends her name to amazing causes and she’s an incredible actress.
Have you met her? No.
Drag queens really put their hair extensions through a lot of paces. Are your extensions drag-queen ready? Yes. I’m basically like a drag queen because I have to get ready every single day to do these things. And I know they love their makeup and their hair. And I love my makeup and hair, too.
Were you wearing your extensions at "The L Word" premiere? No, that was a wig — a brown one.
Are wigs next for you? Yeah, we’ll do wigs as well.
I’m curious, do you think you’re 100 percent straight? Paris giggles as a team of publicists and assistants all groan like they’re deeply offended.
Dallas publicist Susan Jacobs shouts from across the room, "Oh, Daniel, stop!"
What? I’m actually just trying to find a connection ... Paris keeps giggling. And then Jacobs then strangely adds, "Now stop it! You wouldn’t ask that of me."
Another publicist interrupts and says, "Next question."
The discussion shifts to Hilton’s fragrance line.
I take a moment to figure out what line I could have possibly crossed. Then I remember the backlash that Hilton received in 2005 when she and her mother were co-grand marshals at the Los Angeles gay Pride parade. Blistering commentaries were written because organizers couldn’t find members of the gay community who were more deserving of the recognition.
How on earth can a pop-culture icon, ex-con who attends "The L Word" premiere be offended by such a softball question like "Do you think you are 100 percent straight?
I thought, "Screw these bulldozing publicists and their Hollywood-manufactured homophobia. She’s a former Pride grand marshal."
I know everyone just had a huge reaction to my last question. But I didn’t ask about what you do in bed with somebody else. I’m just trying to find that connection between you and my demographic. I love the gay community. And I’m actually doing "The L Word" when it comes back on.
This season? I talked to the creator, and they said as soon as the strike is over, they’re going to write me in.
But do you identify with the gay community — as a member of it? Most of my friends are gay. I love them. They’re fun. We go out all the time. Gay men have the best taste. The best makeup — and they’re hot.
Will you play a lesbian on "The L Word?" I don’t know yet. But probably.
In a really smooth way, Hilton dodged the question about her sexual identity.
She’s not a dumb bimbo. To prepare for "The Hottie and The Nottie," Hilton researched the filmography of Marilyn Monroe — a celebrity who was misjudged as empty-headed but was arguably way smarter than we thought.
Soon our time was up.
During a lightning-quick photo session, Hilton worked photogenic magic - changing poses after each shutter click. She hugged me, kissed my cheek and asked if I wanted to have a picture of us taken us together. We ended up riding the same elevator, and she pulled out a BlackBerry.
What famous person are you texting right now? These guys from this band, Forever the Sickest Kids. They’re from Dallas. It’s all about Dallas today.
What are the rest of your plans for this afternoon? I’m getting a massage, and I seriously need to get my nails did. Then it’s the movie premiere and the party on at Ghostbar.
At the movie premiere, Hilton emerged as the full-glam diva, wearing a flowy yellow mini-dress, white coat and looking expertly coiffed and manicured. She sat with all six members of Forever the Sickest Kids.
At Ghostbar, she changed into a metallic dress and gave hairdo into a more "socialite gone bad-girl" tzjuge. Behind a VIP roped area, Forever the Sickest Kids and Hilton danced while standing a couch so that the sea of digital cameras and cellphones could capture the celebutante. She never got too close to the hoi polloi, but she hardly ever turned her back to the onlookers.
Sometimes being famous is hard work.
CAN PARIS SAVE THE STATLER HILTON?
In 1956, Conrad Hilton opened Dallas’ first A-list modern hotel, The Statler Hilton — the first Hilton hotel designed by architect William Tabler. Hilton and Tabler eventually built many hotels together. The 20-story, 1001-room Statler sits at 1914 Commerce St., and cost about $16 million to build. The flat slab cantilever design reduced the number of columns and footers needed, which allowed a massive, column-free ballroom.
In the ’90s, it became the Dallas Grand Hotel. But since 2001, it’s been vacant. For years, Preservation Dallas has warned that the mid-century modern gem is at risk for demolition. Paris Hilton is following in Conrad’s footsteps. One of her next business endeavors will be hotels and restaurants.
Your grandpa’s Dallas Statler Hilton is the number-one most endangered architecturally significant building in downtown Dallas. If the wrecking ball was about to hit, would you rush to Dallas to stand in front and yell, "No! Don’t!" I’d actually love to visit it. Was it his first hotel?
[Coincidentally, Conrad’s first Hilton hotel was The Mobley - built in Cisco, Texas, in 1919.]
No, but the Statler was the first hotel your grandpa built with architect William Tabler. I don’t know if I’d be down there before the big ball was about to hit. But I’d really like to go see it before they try to tear it down.
— D.A.K.
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