First known to the tabloids as "Paris the Heiress," Hilton went from party-hopping socialite to self-made entertainment brand early in the 21st century. She is the great-granddaughter of hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, granddaughter of Barron Hilton, grand-niece of Nicholas Conrad "Nicky" Hilton (the one-time husband of Elizabeth Taylor) and daughter of real estate magnate Rick Hilton.

She has a younger sister, Ashlee, who launched her own music career in mid-2004. Jessica Simpson started singing at the age of twelve as a part of her Baptist church choir. At t he same age, she made an unsuccessful application for The New Mickey Mouse Club, which starred fellow pop singers Christina Aguilera , Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, among other future stars.