Just Who is Paris Hilton Anyway?

Is Paris Hilton just a spoiled, shallow and selfish young woman or is she a woman to be pitied? Could she become a woman of character?

She was born Paris Whitney Hilton on February 17, 1981 to Richard and Kathy Hilton in New York City. From the moment she entered this world it was a known fact that she would never have to suffer poverty, she would be afforded a good education, she would never have to want for anything, and there would always be someone at her beck and call. Paris grew up in lavish residences and attended elite private schools. Finding nothing in high school to interest her she dropped out in 10th grade and obtained a GED.

After the "return to jail" episode I couldn't get this beautiful young woman off my mind. I found that I actually felt sorry for Paris. I went to bed that night thinking of her. I wanted to find out just who she was and what she had done. What better place to start than the Internet. The first thing I looked for was something really worthwhile she had done in her 26 years. I could find nothing. Articles about her drunken driving charge and jail sentence loomed big as life. There were many articles giving all the lurid details about the DUI and her return to jail and the ordeal that followed. The media gave her full coverage that day. All her wealth could not have paid for publicity such as this.

Next I checked out Paris' media career. The first thing I found was her sex video and how she capitalized on it even though she claimed to have been "humiliated" and "embarrassed" when it was first released. Then there were the movies. For her role in "House of Wax" she did win the 2005 Teen Choice Award for "Best Scream" and was nominated for "Choice Breakout Performance - Female." I guess that's something. Will she someday be one of the "Hollywood greats"?

Paris wrote an autobiographical book called, "Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose." This book did make the New York Best Seller's list.

Not only did Paris help design a collection of purses but she was also involved in the design of a line of jewelry and in the creation of a line of fragrances. I understand the fragrances were so successful that the company released several other fragrances with her name. Did she provide any of the creativity?

Paris has sold her name to several clubs and is paid by those clubs for making short appearances. However, I understand she lost one such job because she failed to make several promotional appearances. I've heard that the way attorneys make money is to sell their "time." Has Paris become a millionaire in her own right by selling her "name"?

In the romance department she has been involved with a number of young men and engaged to several of them.

I kept searching for some humanitarian cause she might be involved with but found none. In November of 2004 she was involved with Sean "Diddy" Combs' "Vote or Die" campaign to encourage young people to vote in the Presidential election. This was a worthy thing to do. However, Paris lost her credibility when it became known that she was not a registered voter herself and had never voted.

Paris Hilton has been released from jail. Will she become involved in some humanitarian project? Has her attitude actually been affected or will it be the same? Paris has said that she is now a different person and that she would like to make a difference. She says she believes that God has given her a second chance. God has indeed given Paris another chance. What will she do with the opportunity to change her life? She is at a fork in the road of life. The choice is hers. Which direction will she travel?

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry a heavy burden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NLT)