“Childbirth and death are the two things that scare me more than anything in the world,” Paris Hilton has confessed to Hindustan Times. The phobia, having been caused by an experience of trauma, led Hilton to opt for surrogacy with her two children, Phoenix and London. Far from the indulged media persona, Hilton’s path to motherhood was a one of highly individualized decisions and seeking secrecy.
Hilton and fiancé Carter Reum had their son, Phoenix, in January 2023. Hilton has a particular fondness for the name Phoenix. “Phoenix has a few good pop culture reference points, but more importantly it’s the bird that flames out and then rises from the ashes to fly again,” she said on This Is Paris, her podcast. The name is one of hope and resilience, which Hilton would be thrilled to give to her son.
Not keeping the fact that she had given birth to Phoenix a secret was a courageous act. “I’ve given my whole life to everyone for so long. It’s just been really important to me to keep this a secret,” Hilton revealed everything on her podcast. This was made possible so that she can have some peace of mind during the initial few weeks of motherhood without the scrutiny of the media. Even her relatives did not know until the day Phoenix was over a week old.
She also did not expect having her daughter London in November 2023. Hilton had informed her relatives as a surprise for Thanksgiving in a moment that she would remember forever. “I just walk in carrying a pink blanket with the baby and everybody is sitting there like, ‘What?!'” she told Page Six. The name London, which was named after Hilton’s favorite city whose name she took, is a dedication to her lifelong wish for a girl who adores one of her favorite places in the entire world.
Surrogacy was not an issue of privacy. Hilton’s past at Provo Canyon School left her with lingering phobias. “If I’m in a doctor’s office, I get a shot, anything, I will literally have a panic attack and I can’t breathe,” she said to DT Next. Giving birth was difficult because of the fear, so she did it elsewhere in order to be a mother.
Hilton’s own transition has been one of shedding the fears and adopting new personas. Her transformation from party girl celebrity to committed mother has been one of happiness and exploration. “It’s just how much love I could have for someone,” she said in an interview with People magazine. The children have been able to provide her with a feeling of wholeness, in a way to experience the type of love that she did not even know she deserved.
Hilton has also discovered how to say no and put her family first. “I’m constantly saying no to things, because I just want to spend as much time with him as possible,” she said in an interview with People. This putting family first has given her a sense of wholeness that she appreciates.
Hilton’s existence is one of confirmation of the strength of the spirit and redemption achieved through motherhood. She persists and inspires followers with inner strength and integrity. Her life is a reminder that in all the glitter and glamour, the best moments are still in the heart.
