Paris Hilton by Vijat Mohindra

Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American businesswoman, socialite, television personality, model, actress, singer, DJ, and author. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton (founder of Hilton Hotels). Hilton is known for her controversial appearance in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood best friend Nicole Richie. She is also known for her 2004 tongue-in-cheek autobiography, several minor film roles (most notably her role in the horror film House of Wax in 2005), her 2006 music album Paris, and her work in modeling. As a result of several legal incidents, Hilton also served a widely publicized sentence in a Los Angeles County jail in 2007. She is one of the few celebrities who rose to fame not because of their talent or work but because of their controversial lifestyle.