Paris Hilton has opened up about her ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and how it has impacted her life.
The star candidly discussed how her neurodivergence is both her ‘superpower’ and the root of much childhood trauma.
Hilton has long spoken out about the Troubled Teen Industry, which she tells Teen Vogue stems from her experiences.
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“My constant need for stimulation, paired with a school system that failed to accommodate how I naturally learn, ultimately led to my time in the Troubled Teen Industry, which was apparently meant to ‘fix’ me,” she shares in an op ed for the publication.
“I wish someone had asked, ‘What’s really going on with her?’ Instead, I spent years feeling misunderstood, punished for the way my brain worked.
“It wasn’t until much later in life that I discovered what was really happening: I had ADHD.”
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Hilton went on to explain ADHD often goes undiagnosed in women: “A staggering 21 million women between the ages of 18 and 64 likely have ADHD or learning differences like dyslexia, and many of them are still undiagnosed.”
The singer and business mogul recalled how she felt when she was initially diagnosed.
“At first, being diagnosed felt like a label – something that boxed me in, defining me by what I couldn’t do, by what made me different,” she writes.
“It’s something I used to keep hidden, worried about how it might be perceived. Would people think I was too scattered, too unfocused, or incapable of success?
“But those challenges are just one side of the coin. The other side reveals something beautiful: creativity, passion, resilience, and a mind that thinks in bold, unexpected ways.
Hilton says ADHD is also her “superpower”, which has helped her build her multi-million-dollar empire.
“My brain doesn’t follow a straight line — it zigzags and explores uncharted territory, allowing me to break boundaries and stay ahead of the curve,” she said.
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“ADHD is the reason I’ve been able to anticipate trends, it’s given me the creativity to build an empire, the drive to keep pushing the limits, and the empathy to connect with people on a deeper level.”
Hilton says her ability to hyperfocus on projects has helped her career.
“This ability has been the driving force behind many of my successes because I throw myself into every detail and obsess over a project for hours, losing track of time,” she says.
“Because my brain thrives on newness, on bold ideas, and on innovation, I see the world as full of possibilities, and I’ve learned to embrace that energy.”
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