Global Icon Paris Hilton Shares Her Passion for Pets with the World

Paris Hilton, the iconic media personality, businesswoman and socialite, needs no introduction. Born in New York City and raised there partially; shuttling between Los Angeles and New York; she is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the founder of Hilton Hotels.

She first attracted tabloid attention in the 1990s for her presence in New York City’s social scene, ventured into fashion modeling in 2000 and was proclaimed “New York’s leading It Girl” in 2001. The reality television series The Simple Life (2003 to 2007) cemented her status as a household name, but since then she’s become one of the most successful self-made entrepreneurs of her generation and easily one of the world’s most recognizable influencers.

Hilton’s reputation as a blonde airhead was eventually revealed to be a carefully crafted act that found significant credence among the general public, but it became detrimental to the advancement of her career. She once remarked: “People assume before they meet me that I’m a really ditzy dumb blonde. That’s the one thing that kind of annoys me sometimes. They just think because of the reality show that’s who I really am. But that was just a character that I created. I didn’t realize what a huge success [it would be.] With everything that’s happening, though, with my business, I think people can understand that you couldn’t possibly get this far being a dumb blonde.”

One thing that is certain is Hilton has always possessed a passion for pets, and she’s surrounded herself with such companion animals as dogs, cats, bunnies, ferrets, a miniature pig and pony, to name just a few. Her relatives have described her as being “very much a tomboy” as a child who dreamed about becoming a veterinarian. Her mother recalled her saving money to buy monkeys, snakes and goats, and once leaving “the snake out the cage … at the Waldorf.”

“My pets are my life,” Hilton said during my July phone call with her. “They’re my little angels. Ever since I was a little girl, my dad – he’s a huge animal lover – he really instilled that love of animals for me.”

“I remember going to my ranch and riding my horse and playing with our little chickies and then getting my first puppy; it was a little Pomeranian named Prince Teddy. He was my life. He was the most adorable thing on the planet. Ever since then, I’ve just been obsessed with Pomeranians.”

Indeed, Hilton has had several Pomeranians, including Prince Hilton, Marilyn Monroe, Baby Bear, Crypto and Ether. Some of her other notable pets have been Chihuahuas, such as Harajuku, Diamond Baby and Prince Tokyo Gizmo Hilton. And then there’s Tinkerbell.

“Tinkerbell was the most iconic dog to ever live,” recalled Hilton with a deep sincerity in her voice. “She was my best friend, my sister, my sidekick. My everything. I took her everywhere with me — all around the world.”

“She would sit front row with me during fashion week,” she continued before pausing to laugh. “During all the shows. Coming with me on all the talk shows, Leno and Letterman. She was such an icon. I miss her.”

Her love for her pups has been so strong that she received national attention when she tweeted about the two-story “doggy mansion” that she had made for her pups. The Italian-style mini-mansion, which was situated in Hilton’s backyard, was a replica of her own house and included air conditioning, designer furniture and a chandelier. Hilton had the home adorned by a real-life decorator and included a tile roof and wrought iron railings in the design, according to Architectural Digest.

What is it about dogs that has Hilton so enamored with them?

It’s simple, really, especially for a celebrity who lives her life under a magnifying glass.

“Dogs have the purest heart,” she explained. “They love unconditionally, they’re incredibly loyal, and they just know how to brighten your day without even trying. They don’t care who you are or what you do. They just want love and connection. That kind of energy to me is just so healing and brings me so much happiness.”

Hilton currently has four dogs but, in January, she was forced to pack them up to evacuate her Los Angeles home when the California wildfires devastated the region. She posted on X: “Evacuating our house with all our babies. Sending prayers to everyone and their pets.”

However, Hilton soon made more news when she fostered a dog named Zuzu that was surrendered during the wildfires despite her own home having burned down. She documented the event on Instagram, where she posted a video of herself volunteering at the Pasadena Humane Society, revealing that she was “going to be fostering another dog who was surrendered by his family who lost their home in the fire.”

She went on to upload photos of the pooch in a separate post, sharing that she and her family were “able to bring home Zuzu.”

In the end, Zuzu was reunited with her family, who had seen the celebrity’s social media posts.

“I was sad to see her go, but just seeing the little boy and mom – it melted my heart,” Hilton explained. “That made it worth it. I can’t wait to foster again, because I think it’s such a lovely thing to do for these animals.” Having such a love for pets, it should come as no surprise that Hilton would want to share her passion with other pet parents. She released her first pet line in 2004, but since then she’s created her own media company, 11:11 Media, so she could “take it to the next level.”

Hilton did just that in 2023, when she collaborated with a high-end lifestyle brand, called Moshiqa, to create a pet fashion collection called METAPINK. Described by Hilton as a high-end couture line, the METAPINK collection features deluxe harnesses, leashes and a wide assortment of other items for both dogs and cats that bring Hilton’s signature style to life in a high fashion collection of luxury pet products.

The eye-catching Meta Bed Carrier, for example, is a bold pink multipurpose accessory that is part pet carrier, part pet bed, part tote bag. And, for a touch of style to a pet’s daily wardrobe, there’s an entire Boss Babe line of pet apparel that includes a sweatshirt, gown, bandana, necklace and bathrobe.

“With this timeless collab, Meryem and I celebrate our infinite love for our pets as well as our passion for fashion,” noted Hilton. “My luxury pet accessories collection with Moshiqa is the perfect way to show your furry friends how much you love them.”

“This collaboration is an assemblage of fun, comfort and fashion for our furry companions and we have been working day and night for almost two years now to make this dream come true,” said Meryem Birsoz, who established Moshiqa in Los Angeles in 2017 with her life partner, Moshi, a shih tzu.

From stylish collars and leashes to sophisticated carriers, Moshiqa’s fine craftsmanship and unique designs create a range of super premium pet products, designed specifically for enhancing pet lovers’ and their best friends’ lives in a stylish and comfy way.

From stylish collars and leashes to sophisticated carriers, Moshiqa’s fine craftsmanship and unique designs create a range of super premium pet products, designed specifically for enhancing pet lovers’ and their best friends’ lives in a stylish and comfy way.

Since the successful launch of METAPINK, Hilton has gone on to unveil a pet grooming line, which she developed with Kira Labs. A pet grooming line should come as no surprise, as Hilton is a strong proponent of healthy lifestyle.

“I see so many other [pet grooming] products out there,” Hilton explained. “And I look at their ingredients, and it’s very upsetting to me that there are so many toxic ingredients in a lot of these other product lines. I wanted to create an option for people to use that was good for their pets.

The line, which was launched in 2024, is made up of various products that are vegan and vet-recommended, as well as paraben-free and sulfate-free. According to Kira Labs, the collection features odor control sprays that “keep pets fresh between washes with five deodorizing sprays in our signature scents” and no-rinse shampoos, which are “perfect for convenient, waterless cleaning.”

Also available is a shampoo line comprised of five signature scents — Lavender, Cucumber Melon, Apple Blossom, Bergamot and Sweet Pea & Vanilla — plus a fragrance-free option. Alongside the fragrance-free shampoo are more fragrance-free options for sensitive pets, including a Pre-Blowout Treatment, Paw Repair Cream, Silken Serum and No-Rinse Shampoo.

Hilton was deeply involved in every step of development, ensuring her collection meets the highest standards. All products are paraben-free, sulfate-free and vegan, made with pet-safe, quality ingredients. Produced in the U.S.A. with recyclable materials, the line reflects her commitment to responsible, sustainable pet care.

“Our pets deserve the same level of care that we give ourselves,” said Hilton. “I wanted to create a line that was clean and gentle and safe for their skin and their fur. Going paraben free and sulfate free was a non-negotiable to me. And plus, being earth friendly is how I live. I wanted to create these products for pets that are good for them and good for the planet.”

According to Kira Labs, these products set a new standard in pet grooming. With the Paris Hilton Pet Grooming Collection, Kira Labs and Hilton intend to help pet parents create loving memories through a safe, luxurious grooming experience.

The grooming line wasn’t the only Paris Hilton pet collection unveiled in 2024. Late in the year, a new pet food line called Pamper Like Paris was soft launched.

Developed by Hilton and Weruva, a family-owned pet company operated by David and Stacie Forman, Pamper Like Paris includes four dog food varieties, with feature flavors including shredded beef, chicken, duck and pumpkin. There are also eight cat food varieties, with premium protein sources that include wild-caught tuna, chicken breast and salmon.

Each recipe, which Weruva describes as having “been designed to bring a touch of luxury to every bite,” features essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and are free from grains, gluten, carrageenan, corn, soy, artificial colors and flavors, preservatives and animal byproducts.

Since the pet food company was founded in 2006, Weruva has gained a reputation for being a luxury — yet affordably priced — natural pet brand that is named after the founders’ three rescue cats; Webster, Rudi and Vanessa. Weruva’s production of its wet dog and cat food has been lauded for enabling its ingredients to maintain a natural, recognizable look and texture that allows consumers to see what they’re feeding their pets.

“There’s a lot of passion behind this,” said Jimmy Carney, Weruva’s vice president of ecommerce and digital strategy, who joined David Forman in the brand’s 2023 meeting with Hilton at her 11:11 Media Innovation Summit to discuss the collaboration. “She’s a very intelligent woman, and she has a great business sense about her.”

Carney, who was pleasantly surprised to learn that Hilton feed Weruva to her own dogs, goes on to explain what she was looking for in a pet food line that bears her name.

“She told us to make it as close to Weruva as you can,” he recalled. “High quality, all natural, none of that artificial preservatives, colorings or flavorings. That was probably one of the easiest conversations for us because she knew what we stood for. She wanted [her pet food collection] to be something genuine and authentic. And that’s what Paris was looking for — affordable luxury. I appreciate the fact that she wanted to work with someone like Weruva instead of the next conglomerate.”

“Our pets are family, and they deserve the best of everything,” Hilton said. “I love [Pamper Like Paris], my dogs love it, and I love the packaging — it’s so cute.”

“Each iconic food recipe provides complete and balanced nutrition and is crafted with premium ingredients, guaranteed to delight even the most finicky of pets,” she added.

It’s clear that Hilton isn’t going to settle for mediocrity, and she refuses to put her name on just any pet product line. After all, it’s a “Paris Hilton” pet product.

“I’m involved in every single one of the product lines that I do,” Hilton explained, adding that she pours her soul into each product that bears her name. “It’s glamorous, it’s fun, but it’s also functional. Whether it’s a crystal-encrusted leash or a nourishing shampoo, it’s all made with love and attention to detail. Coming up with the designs and the mood boards and exactly what I want every product to be — it’s one of my favorite things — creating beautiful products. For me, it’s all about style and quality and heart. Every product really reflects the world that I’ve built.”

When given the opportunity to speak directly to pet retailers and the rest of the pet industry, Hilton made her message clear.

“Your customers want something special, and these product lines deliver that,” she explained. “They’re high quality meets high style. These aren’t just products, they’re an experience. Every piece was created with real love and an understanding of what the modern pet parents are looking for, and everything was designed to stand out both on the shelves and in people’s lives.”

Does Hilton have anything exciting planned for the future?

“Oh yeah,” she said with confidence. “There’s going to be way more. This is something that I want to do for the rest of my life. So [the pet industry] can stay tuned for it. There will be more beautiful pet products coming out all the time.”

(All photos courtesy 11:11 Media/Paris Hilton)