Sunday Times 2
Paris Hilton’s in Mecca
Paris Hilton has come a long way from her not-so-humble beginnings as a hotel heiress, via an infamous sex tape to her current position as a ubiquitous media presence and ‘businesswoman’ hell bent on global domination.
Paris Hilton, pictured in Dubai in 2009, has just opened one of her handbags and accessories stores in Mecca
Nowhere is safe from Paris, not even the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia and the latest venue for one of Ms. Hilton’s fabulous handbags and accessories stores.
Of course Paris isn’t without her knockers and the idea that the notorious hard-partying socialite has opened a store in an Islamic holy place coveted by 1.2billion Muslims worldwide has proved a step too far for many.
Paris announced the opening of the store to her nine million Twitter followers on Thursday. ‘Loving my beautiful new store that just opened at Mecca Mall in Saudi Arabia!’ she tweeted.
Her announcement quickly prompted others to voice their displeasure and accuse her of ‘insulting Mecca’.
One person replied to her tweet saying, ‘R u kidding?’ Another comment, ‘Saudi claim there are other ways to allow for pilgrims, & if religiosity is of such importance, why is @ParisHilton being allowed a store in Makkah?’
Another tweet questioned Hilton’s style of products and remarked, ‘that’s it? That’s why ppl are not buying it? Not coz she is a “adult star” who happens to be rich enough to have her own brand and open it in Mecca?’
Others were more understanding: ‘Why the attack? This is a global brand found everywhere, whether it was in an Arab country or a European one.’
Another user said: ‘Simply put, those who see this is a Western invasion of the Arab world shouldn’t be buying nor marketing their products.
‘But to reject this concept and at the same time, buy all European and Western products is completely hypocritical.’
The store in the famous Mecca Mall, is Paris' fifth store in Saudi Arabia
Paris will certainly be hoping her new store becomes a ‘mecca’ for those willing to make a pilgrimage to the famous Mecca Mall, located in King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Road, in search of ‘affordable luxury fashion products.’
Her cause is not helped by her boyfriend, River Viiperi, who was last month arrested after a fight in a nightclub.
Paris has come a long way since her early days as one of New York’s leading It Girls in the early part of this century. She achieved international acclaim – and infamy – after a home sex movie she made with Shannon Doherty’s ex-husband Rick Salomon went viral in November 2003.
Since then, she has tried her hand at a wide variety of careers including acting, singing and being a fashion designer – not always to great success, but it has helped establish her as a very powerful global brand.
There are over 40 Paris Hilton Stores worldwide and her products include perfumes, handbags, watches and footwear.
She reputedly earns over $10 million a year from sales and charges $300,000 for personal appearances. Her net worth is estimated at $100 million.
© Daily Mail, London
Follow @timesonlinelk
Related Posts:
Greek PM gets support but no concessions from Paris, BerlinPARIS, Aug 25 (AFP) -France, following Germany's lead, insisted that Greece must stay in the eurozone but ignored its request ...
HITLER clothing store will change nameAHMEDABAD, India (AFP) - The owner of an Indian store called "Hitler" said Tuesday he had agreed to drop the ...
Former teen prostitute shows lingerie collection at Paris couture weekJust two years ago Zahia Dehar was a teenage prostitute embroiled in a scandal involving three French footballers who were ...
It was a feast on a streetTantalizing aromas tickled the taste buds of passers-by along BOC Mawatha, near the Dutch Hospital in Fort recently, when 60 ...
Chess players felicitated[caption id="attachment_19613" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Executive Director Marketing of Ceylon Business Appliances, Johanne De Zilva, hands over the felicitation trophy to ...