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Mario Lavandeira, best known as Perez Hilton, is a man who knows what he wants. In little more than five years, he has built himself from a fresh-faced New York University graduate, to the mastermind behind one of the Internet’s most popular celebrity blogging Web sites.
“It really just started as a hobby, and through luck and a lot of hard work, it grew into something a lot bigger,” Hilton said.
“Now I’m at a point where I’m getting 10 1/2 million readers a day … Crazy.”
On his Web site, www.perezhilton.com, Hilton has created a veritable smorgasbord for celebrity gossip-hounds. Combining paparazzi photos, delicious gossip streaked with wit and utilizing his trademark white pen to add custom comments and illustrations, Hilton’s site truly is “Hollywood’s Most-Hated Web site.”
“(It’s) because I work harder than everybody else,” Hilton said when asked why his site continues to garner millions of hits per day.
“They know that every time they go to my Web site, they will always have something new to look at.
“I post more than anyone else,” Hilton added. “It depends on the day, but minimum at least 60 times. It’s kind of ridiculous.”
But Hilton definitely isn’t complaining about his grueling schedule. Instead, he finds time to realize just how lucky he has been throughout all of his blogging experiences.
“I love working, I love what I do,” he said. “I feel really lucky that I’m one of those precious few who genuinely love what they do for a living.”
Despite his genuine affection for his blog occupation — a hobby that has turned exceedingly fruitful as, according to www.ambiente.us, Hilton’s blog is now one of the top 150 most- viewed Web sites in America — Hilton is quick to point out both the pros and the cons of his almost-instantaneous stardom.
“I’m pretty much a hermit during the week,” he said about his minute opportunities for spare time afforded to him by his insane blogging schedule. “I don’t leave my house unless I have to and if I have to have any meetings, I always have people come to me.
“But I love it. I love that,” Hilton quickly corrects himself. “Because having it be so stressful lets me be that much more productive and do all the things that I’m working on as well.”
Personal and professional gains aren’t the only positive achievements he has recently had however. According to Hilton, one of his greatest honors has been his ability to extend his success and good fortune to his family.
“It’s made it so much better because the ability to be my own boss has allowed me to employ my family, which is the best thing I’ve ever done,” Hilton said. “I moved my mom and my sister out to Los Angeles and they live with me and work with me and it was the best thing I ever did.”
When asked about the effects of his blog’s popularity and subsequent fame, Hilton is surprisingly candid, demurring at the idea that the lenses have now turned, only to include him in the paparazzi spotlight that his blog ‘victims’ are thrust into.
“I’m too boring. All I do is work,” Hilton said regarding his involvement with the paparazzi. “If I was going out clubbing and partying, or dating a celebrity, or doing drugs or getting arrested, not being such a workaholic and never leaving my apartment, then sure. But nobody is going to wait outside of my apartment complex for me because I never leave.
“I would like to date a celebrity,” Hilton said, hypothesizing on the idea of furthering his chances at paparazzi coverage.
“That would take me up a notch. Zac Efron won’t return my calls, it’s so frustrating,” he joked.
With the personal questions out of the way, Hilton is ready to tackle new outlets for his creativity. Hilton’s Web site is only the tip of his growing media empire. His blog faithfuls may be surprised to find that the man behind the gossip’s real passion lies in music.
On Oct. 2, Hilton will be putting on an event at the House of Blues in San Diego featuring music artists Ladyhawke, Ida Maria, Semi Precious Weapons and Julian Perretta.
“It’s a Perez Hilton Presents and it’s a natural evolution of what I’ve already been doing. I’ve been fortunate enough to create this series of events called One Night In, which I’ve had all over the world from New York to Boston to Toronto,” Hilton said of his concert series.
“I’ve had such amazing people perform such as Lady GaGa, Kanye West, Katy Perry, N.E.R.D. … I’m taking that concept, I’m putting it on the road and opening it up to people.”
Until now however, Hilton’s music events have been invitation only. This time around, the gossip mogul-turned-music guru’s goal is to create an exciting auditory experience that everyone can enjoy.
“I want as many people to go as possible,” Hilton said. “I want everyone to go. I think it is an amazing evening of music that people might not ordinarily have had access to.”
Hilton, himself, will be on hand at the San Diego event to meet and greet fans. He also had a little jesting gesture for the former-Miss California Carrie Prejean.
“I invited Carrie Prejean to my show in San Diego,” Hilton said jokingly. “We could finally have a truce … she could thank me for giving her a career.”
Another new addition to his music arsenal is the recent creation of his record company, Perezcious Music. Surfacing in the summer this year, the label already boasts a signed international recording artist who goes by the name of Sliimy.
“My first artist is this French singer who sings in English named Sliimy,” Hilton said. “He makes really quirky, adult pop. But I just love his songs because they just make me feel happy. It’s so colorful, and visually he’s such a great artist as well.
“It’s definitely a project that’s going to take a lot of building and working; it’s going to take a lot of time in America but I’m very patient with it and confident that there is an audience for him here.”
It’s undeniable that Hilton is unstoppable. With a major Web site, past TV shows on VH1, and a syndicated radio show called Radio Perez that airs on more than 100 stations, it’s a wonder Hilton even has time to breathe let alone be involved in anything else. But he is.
Hilton doesn’t campaign for any one specific social cause, though he has been touted as a spokesperson for causes such as Latino rights and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues.
“I definitely consider myself an advocate for causes I believe in,” he said. “Whether it be for LGBT causes, Latino causes, health care issues or education. I have a platform that I’m going to take advantage of because it’s mine. Because I’ve built it and because I can.”
To check out what Hilton has to say, visit www.perezhilton.com.
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