Paris Hilton feels 'extremely proud' of activism work
Paris Hilton is proud of what she's managed to achieve through her activism efforts.
Paris Hilton thinks there's a "power in being vulnerable".
The 44-year-old socialite was subjected to "a parent-approved kidnapping" at four different youth facilities as a child, and Paris now sees her campaigning efforts as the "most meaningful work" of her life.
The hotel heiress - who has campaigned to improve child welfare in the US - told Sky News: "These places, they really instil that shame in you where you are so ashamed that you don't even want to speak about or talk about or think about it, and that's such a powerful muzzle for abusers.
"I had no idea how the world would react but it was just like this outpouring of love and tens of thousands of survivors reaching out to me, coming up to me on the street and just saying, 'Thank you so much for telling your story. No one has ever believed me, I haven't spoken to my family in this many years and you know it's just affected my whole life and now since you told your story, now my family believes me'."
Paris doesn't have any regrets about sharing her personal experiences with the world.
She said: "It just showed me the power in being vulnerable and real, even when it's scary, even when it hurts, that if I can tell my story and make a difference in other people's lives and make them feel safe to be able to come and tell their story."
Paris also feels proud of what she's managed to achieve through her campaigning in recent years.
The TV star - who previously voiced her support for the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act in the US - said: "I've now changed 15 state laws and passed two federal bills to protect children so they don't have to go through the pain and abuse that myself and so many others have, and that is the most meaningful work of my life.
"I'm so extremely proud of that work."
