She used to play with dolls... Now she wants to "play" with people?

For those of you that have not heard of Paris Hilton's new television show on MTV, Paris Hilton's My New BFF, the title is pretty much self-explanatory. Paris Hilton is now on a "search for her new BFF" to look for "that special someone to always be by her side". In a nutshell, Paris brings sixteen girls and two boys in to "jump through hoops" and "prove they can party and have taste, class and business sense." If you would like to read more about the show & the epidsodes, you can check out the summaries at mtv.com.

I will admit, I may be slightly biased in my analysis of this television show since I already have a bad taste in my mouth whenever I even think of Paris Hilton. I think she is probably one of the worst role models out there for young girls today and this television show is the epitomy of a bad example in almost every way. Grant it, I probably do not know everything there is to know about Paris Hilton, but what I DO know I am not very impressed with.

This show has so many bad messages in it for young people, especially young girls, that I don't know where to begin. First of all, Paris Hilton, like I said before, is not a suitable role model (in my opinion) from her partying problems, her superficiality, etc. The show takes place in Paris' dollhouse-themed house because she "used to play with dolls" when she was younger, and now that she is older she wants to "play with people," according to her commercial on MTV. She uses the word "play" and compares people to dolls. She is basically making the people in the television show "dolls", or objects, that she controls in her dollhouse-themed mansion. She wants to be in complete control of them and she is. They basically need to do everything she wants them to do in order to become her new BFF.

This is a bad example for young people today in encouraging the superficiality of friendship in order to follow commands just to be friends with someone famous. It shows that just being yourself is not enough; that you need to change who you are to impress someone like Paris Hilton. Both in your appearance and in your personality, beliefs, etc. For example, in the first episode, everyone needed to "seriously upgrade their looks" if they wanted to "hang with her." Instead of re-wording everything from the summary, this is what happened in part of the episode...

As Paris tells each person what they should change, she's met with little
resistance ... until she tells Michelle to go from blonde to black. When
Michelle refuses the advice, Paris quickly moves on. On the flipside, she tells
Sinsu to go from black to blonde, and Sinsu's not liking the idea. In another
harebrained move, Bryan refuses to shave his head. Saying that her new BFF must
totally trust her, Paris punishes the trio by revoking their right to a
makeover. They'll have to go to the party in the dirty clothes they've been
wearing for two days!

Because neither Michelle, Sinsu, nor Bryan chose not to change their appearance just because Paris asked them to, they were "punished". This teaches viewers that if you do not look a certain part, you will not be accepted and there will be consequences. Discouraging them to love the way they look and be confident in their own skin, despite what others may think or want them to look like. Which just so happened to be completely opposite of their natural appearance.

One of the girls, KiKi, who agreed to the makeover for the red carpet was unhappy with her short haircut. After talking about how much she hated the haircut without Paris around, she changed her mind after Paris told her how good it looked. Then, another contestant, Vanessa, talks to Paris "privately" and reveals KiKis original opinion on the haircut. Vanessa then becomes Paris' "favorite".

KiKi only likes her haircut after the approval and praise of Paris, changing her own opinion just because Paris has a different one. And Vanessa is rewarded for "ratting out" or gossiping about another contestant to Paris. What type of message is this sending out to the viewers of all different genders, races, ages, etc.

Since, in the end, Sinsu did decide to go along with Paris' makeover and cut her hair short and blond (conviently just like Paris' hairstyle), Michelle was actually the one sent home.

This entire show is based on appearances and impressing someone just so that you can be their "friend". There is already a huge issue with teenagers low self-esteem and confidence connected with their appearances and the expectation of beauty in society, and this television show is reinforcing that ideology and stereotype.

I could go on for hours, but I'll stop there. If there are any Paris Hilton fans that have an opposing argument about it, I would like to hear it. Like I said, I am biased because I do not like Paris Hilton to begin with. And there might be other things that I do not know about her or that I missed about the show.

But from what I have read/seen, I think this is one of the dumbest shows on the air right now and Paris Hilton should not have her own show.

We need more positive shows that reinforce viewers to be their own person, comfortable in their own skin, and stay away from stereotypical ideologies and expectations of society. If someone does not like the way you are/look, do not change yourself for someone else. Love yourself.

<3>