Paris Hilton Is a Major Art Collector Who Is Inventing the Ultimate Selfie Accessory

Paris Hilton at Jeremy Scott’s dinner at Art Basel Miami. Photo: Getty Images

Is Paris Hilton still famous?

The short answer is “yes.” The medium answer is “hell yes.” And the long answer is that when Hilton arrived at Jeremy Scott’s dinner on Wednesday night in Miami, the California native was alone for all of two seconds before being swarmed by the suntanned masses. Jaded fashion kids begged for selfies. Party photographers pulled their trigger fingers. And for a good 60 minutes, the entire back patio of Miami’s Surf Lodge pop-up breathed in desperate sync with the blond business mogul. (Estimated net worth: $100 million.)

We spoke with Hilton—now 34, still so fit and so blonde—just before her Art Basel DJ gig at the W Hotel in Miami Beach.

Yahoo Style: Easy question first—where did you get your dress?

Paris Hilton: It’s by For Love & Lemons. I love the crystals on it, and the color, but now in this heat with this dress, I’m melting. I hate it when people say “I’m going to die!” because obviously, they won’t! But I seriously feel that way now.

Are you at Art Basel Miami Beach to DJ, or do you actually collect art?

Oh no, I’m here to collect, absolutely. I love art. I have homes all over the world, so I want to find great pieces for them. I’m specifically looking for pieces for my home in Ibiza and for my new place in Switzerland.

Wait, you live in Switzerland?

I’ve been living there for about seven months now. And it’s great to go to a fair where you have so many artists in one place who are all so talented. It makes the process [of buying art] so much simpler.

What kinds of pieces have you bought?

In Ibiza, we have a lot of Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol pieces.

There’s an incredible Damien Hirst piece, The Incomplete Truth, in the fair this year.

I haven’t seen it yet, because I’m going to Basel tomorrow! But I’ve already heard about that piece, and I can’t wait to see it in person. Damien Hirst is so incredible because he’s talented but he’s also a really cool guy.

Shia Labeouf and James Franco have created “performance art pieces” that revolve around their celebrity. Do you consider yourself the original Hollywood conceptual artist?

Maybe! The Simple Life was the first of its kind, and it was so new to Nicole [Richie] and I; it was a whole new genre, I guess.

Can I ask you about Kim Kardashian?

Sure.

She seems to be the newest version of that idea. Are you two still friends?

Yeah! Kim and I, we’ve known each other since we were literally two years old, so we’re family. Nothing can change that.

Do you think selfies are art?

They can be, absolutely! Self portraits are certainly very respected in the art world…

What’s your secret to the best selfie?

I’m so glad you asked. It’s this. [Showing us her phone case.] I made it in China. It’s called “The Paris Selfie Light.” They’re coming out soon, because flash always looks really bad. If you’re in the dark, or you’re at a club, so often your camera just won’t focus on your face, or you have no control over the angle. So I would find myself always buying external light at photo equipment places. So I thought, “This is silly. Why not just put the lights directly on your phone case, surrounding your phone, almost like a vanity light?”

When can people get it?

In two months on ParisHilton.com. Because really it’s all about lighting. And finding your angles and practicing.

And after the light launches, what’s next for you?

I just released my 19th fragrance. It’s called Paris Hilton Limited Edition. I’m opening my own hotels around the world. I have seventeen product lines. I’m writing a new book and producing a new show. I’m a workaholic. I truly don’t stop. And my new single, High Off My Love, is number three on Billboard Charts. So I’m really excited about that.

Will you play Stars Are Blind during your upcoming DJ gig? It’s kind of a brilliant song…

I still love that song! I’m so glad other people do, too. It’s a classic! In its own way. [Laughing.]

Oh wait—what’s the best selfie filter on Instagram?

Valencia. Valencia can elevate a lot of selfie damage. Filter it out.

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