Paris Hilton Shines In New Documentary And Advocacy Role

Paris Hilton, once a tabloid fixture and the face of early 2000s celebrity culture, is stepping into a new era—one defined not just by glitz and glamour, but by advocacy, resilience, and a candid look at her own past. As her latest documentary, Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir, prepares for its cinematic debut on January 30, 2026, Hilton is reflecting on a journey that has taken her from the heights of Y2K fame to the depths of personal trauma, and ultimately, to the forefront of a movement to protect vulnerable youth.

According to Sky News, Hilton describes her teenage years as marked by “pain and abuse” at so-called behavior camps—facilities that, she says, were anything but therapeutic. In her 2020 documentary This Is Paris, she revealed harrowing details: “a parent-approved kidnapping” that led to her being sent to four different youth facilities, where she was “force-fed medications and sexually abused by staff.” The experience, she now says, became a catalyst for the “most meaningful work” of her life.

“These places, they really instill that shame in you where you are so ashamed that you don’t even want to speak about or talk about or think about it, and that’s such a powerful muzzle for abusers,” Hilton told Sky News. The fear and stigma kept her silent for years, but breaking that silence proved transformative—not only for her, but for countless others. “It just showed me the power in being vulnerable and real, even when it’s scary, even when it hurts, that if I can tell my story and make a difference in other people’s lives and make them feel safe to be able to come and tell their story.”

Since sharing her story, Hilton has become a leading advocate against the so-called “troubled teen industry.” She has testified before Congress multiple times, pushing for reforms that have already changed 15 state laws and resulted in the passage of two federal bills aimed at protecting children from the abuses she endured. “I’ve now changed 15 state laws and passed two federal bills to protect children so they don’t have to go through the pain and abuse that myself and so many others have, and that is the most meaningful work of my life. I’m so extremely proud of that work.”

But advocacy is only part of the story. Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir is also a celebration of Paris Hilton as a pop culture phenomenon—one whose influence, especially on Y2K fashion and branding, remains undeniable. At the film’s premiere, Billboard caught up with Hilton and a host of celebrities, including Lizzo, James Charles, Carmen Electra, and Tiffany Haddish, all eager to sing the praises of the self-proclaimed “queen of all icons.”

Hilton herself is quick to claim her place in fashion history. “I definitely invented Y2K fashion,” she told Billboard. Carmen Electra recalled Hilton’s signature looks: “You’re thinking of her wearing the Dior with the von Dutch, and it’s all mixed together.” BBNO$ added, “The whole color of pink is Paris Hilton. So I don’t really know how you can beat that.”

Her entrepreneurial reach is just as impressive. Tiffany Haddish gushed over Hilton’s perfume line: “The best trend she started? It’s her perfumes. I love her perfume. I have every single one. She’s been making perfume for over 20 years.” James Charles, meanwhile, credited Hilton as “the OG influencer. She came first. She walked so all of us could run.” Hilton herself summed up her philosophy: “Just showing that you can be unapologetic and shine and sparkle and you don’t have to live inside a box. You can make your own box.”

Her journey from tabloid target to respected entrepreneur and advocate has not been without its challenges. Reflecting on the early 2000s, Hilton told Sky News that relentless tabloid coverage and the struggle to process her trauma made for a “very hard and difficult time.” She recalled, “Especially during the early 2000s, the media was just extremely cruel to myself and to other young women and I don’t think I ever really gave myself credit for how much I survived back then because it was a lot. It was just very painful... to constantly feel judged and misunderstood and underestimated, and people were just so mean.”

Yet, Hilton has witnessed—and contributed to—a shift in the industry. “The industry has changed a lot from back then,” she observed, noting that women in the spotlight today “don’t have to go through what myself and a few other women had to go through.”

Her new film, Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir, offers a retrospective of her life and career, featuring performances of her songs—including the 2006 hit “Stars Are Blind”—and a candid look at her evolution as both a celebrity and a person. The documentary was deeply affected by the LA fires of 2025, which destroyed Hilton’s Malibu beach house, a loss that she says left a mark on the project.

The celebration of Hilton’s enduring influence extends beyond the big screen. As reported by The Zoe Report, her style evolution has been a masterclass in reinvention. From her wispy bixie and butterfly clips at her 21st birthday in 2002 to the “waves for days” at the 2025 LACMA Art + Film Gala, Hilton’s looks have both reflected and shaped Y2K and post-Y2K aesthetics. Her trajectory from reality TV’s “dumb blonde” to fragrance mogul, DJ, and skincare entrepreneur is a testament to her adaptability and business acumen.

That adaptability—and her ability to stay ahead of the curve—hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Understanding the power of building a personal brand and doing you know what people are doing now, but many years ago, always being ahead of my time,” Hilton told Billboard. As James Charles put it, “She really started all of that.”

Hilton’s media tour for Infinite Icon includes a scheduled appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark on January 27, 2026, as reported by ABC. She’ll join a lineup of stars to discuss her documentary and the many chapters of her career.

For Paris Hilton, the journey from the pain of her youth to the heights of celebrity and the trenches of advocacy has been anything but linear. But as she stands on the cusp of her documentary’s release, it’s clear she’s determined to use her platform for more than just personal gain. As she told Sky News, her advocacy work is now a “huge focus”—one that she intends to continue “because this is not only happening in the States, it’s happening all around the world.”

Paris Hilton’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and the power of speaking out—even when it hurts. As Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir hits theaters, audiences will see not just a celebrity, but a survivor and a changemaker who’s redefining what it means to be an icon in the modern age.