Paris Hilton is adding her voice to the chorus of women speaking out to reclaim their narrative from the media and the public.

This week she released sharing what it was like for her growing up a Hilton B次元官网网址� being sent away to programs for troubled teens but finding mental and physical abuse, a leaked sex tape, the crafting of a party girl image and high-pitched voice and co-starring in a reality show, B次元官网网址淭he Simple Life,B次元官网网址� with Nicole Richie.

In 2020, Hilton released a B次元官网网址淭his is Paris,B次元官网网址� addressing her experiences at the schools. B次元官网网址淭hat was the first time that I really became vulnerable and real and shared my story and what I went through,B次元官网网址� said Hilton.

Today, Hilton is involved in advocacy work and has welcomed a son with husband Carter Reum.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Hilton talks about speaking out, slowing down and what she thinks of being called a socialite.

Answers may have been edited for brevity and clarity.

AP: YouB次元官网网址檙e one of quite a few women who have taken control of their story in recent years. Was there anyone who inspired you to do the same or to consider doing this?

HILTON: I was at the premiere of Demi LovatoB次元官网网址檚 a couple of years ago, and I was just so blown away by her honesty and her vulnerability and talking about so many private moments in her life. That really inspired me just to be able to feel free, to be open and to be more honest about what I was going through, because especially in Hollywood, it can be very hard, especially on your mental health. A lot of people go through things, and we all try to project this perfect life, but life isnB次元官网网址檛 perfect.

AP: If you could map out how this , what would that look like?

HILTON: For so long IB次元官网网址檝e been misunderstood and underestimated, and thereB次元官网网址檚 just so much more to me than what people think. It all really started off with my documentary, B次元官网网址楾his Is Paris.B次元官网网址� That was the first time that I really became vulnerable and real and shared my story and what I went through.

AP: The public knows a lot about your ups and downs, but you shared things in your book like being sexually assaulted and having an abortion. Was that difficult?

HILTON: A lot of the things that I put in the book were very hard to write about, a lot of memories that I tried to not think about for so many years. But I think it was important to include them because itB次元官网网址檚 part of my story. I just know that thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of women out there who need to hear that story as well.

AP: Despite your many hats of being an entrepreneur, a DJ, having 30 fragrances and a billion-dollar business B次元官网网址� you still get labeled as a socialite. Does that bother you?

HILTON: I donB次元官网网址檛 really enjoy the term socialite because I feel that thereB次元官网网址檚 just so much more that I do, but I do feel that people are finally now recognizing and seeing me for the businesswoman that I am.

AP: How is your advocacy work against programs that allegedly reform so-called bad kids going?

HILTON: The past two years, weB次元官网网址檝e made so much impact, and IB次元官网网址檝e already changed laws in eight states and all the way in Ireland. IB次元官网网址檓 going back to Washington, D.C., in April to introduce a new bill and we already have bipartisan support. So, I am just praying that everybody does the right thing because there are over 150,000 children being sent to these facilities every single year. ItB次元官网网址檚 a multibillion-dollar industryB次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 not going to stop fighting until change is made.

AP: You do write about how it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been easy to communicate with your parents about what happened to you. Have you been able to really discuss this with them?

HILTON: My family and I have never been closer, and they had no idea what was happening in these places. They have deceptive marketing. My parents just thought I was going to a normal boarding school, and all the brochures have these pictures of children smiling with rainbows and riding horses. I completely understand now, especially as an adult, just everything. My parents and I have talked about everything, and itB次元官网网址檚 been extremely healing for us. My mom has been coming with me to Washington, D.C., and is there to support me.

AP: YouB次元官网网址檙e a new mom! (HiltonB次元官网网址檚 son was born via a surrogate.) Are you dialing it back on all your traveling and business responsibilities?

HILTON: I am saying no a lot just because I want to be there for all the moments, so IB次元官网网址檓 trying to do as much from home as possible, building my podcasting studio there, my recording studio for my music, a photo studio for photoshoots. I try to work from home as much as possible so I can pop in and out of his room because I am just so obsessed with my little baby boy.

AP: You also write in your book about how you have ADHD and your husband researched it when you were dating to understand you better.

HILTON: HeB次元官网网址檚 just so supportive. And he talks to my ADHD doctor and has just really done so much research. He basically knows more about it than I do and is teaching me these things every single day as well. So thatB次元官网网址檚 been really awesome.

AP: Even sharing that you have ADHD will help people feel seen.

HILTON: When people can harness it in the right way, it can actually be a superpower. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why I think in my career IB次元官网网址檝e always been ahead of my time and taking risks and being an innovator and someone who thinks outside the box. I really attribute that to my ADHD. People should watch the movie B次元官网网址� ,B次元官网网址� to understand more.

AP: Last question. In your book you share you have five cellphones. One is dedicated to prank phone calls. Do you have those on you today?

HILTON: Yeah. I only have a couple of them here. (Hilton holds up three phones.) I love doing prank phone calls with my mom.

B次元官网网址擜licia Rancilio, The Associated Press