Let the competition begin, Paris Hilton needs a new look-alike.
Natalie Reid, considered the world’s most famous Paris Hilton look-alike, is stepping out of the role of socialite back-up.
Let the competition begin, Paris Hilton needs a new look-alike.
Natalie Reid, considered the world’s most famous Paris Hilton look-alike, is stepping out of the role of socialite back-up.
“I enjoyed all of the perks,” the 22-year-old Reid said of her time in the limelight as Paris’ double. “I had a lot of luxurious trips around the world and met so many amazing people, but inside it has always been an identity issue.”
Born and raised in the Transcona neighborhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Reid is a graduate of the Collége Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau. Several photographers began telling her during photo shoots that she looked like Paris Hilton after she moved to New York City in 2005. It was from there that Reid decided to cash in on her newfound fame as the “faux” Paris.
Reid first busted onto the scene in February, 2006 when she took New York Fashion Week by storm, fooling paparazzi and scoring a front row seat at the Nicole Miller fashion show next to David Lee Roth, among others. Her appearance was arranged by TMZ.
Although some celebrities would not be flattered at having someone else posing as them, Reid received a seal of approval from the real Paris, who seemed impressed by her convincing performances.
In a July 2006 installment of the reality-based series, “The Simple Life,” Paris hired Natalie to pose for her on an assignment to play a “Wife” for a couple — on the wrong day. It turned out that Nicole Richie was supposed to have that assignment. When Richie confronted Natalie, she told her that if she did not follow her rules, Natalie would be exposed as a fraud to their guest hosts. Richie also used this advantage to get back at Paris by having an Australian journalist conduct an interview with her and the “faux” Paris. That was until the real Paris got wind of it and went to the couple’s home to confront Nicole and Natalie.
“At the very beginning, it was an interesting challenge for me to pull off being someone else,” Reid explained. “But then later on, I had to hide being recognized as myself. I guess I really don’t like to stand out in my everyday life. I just didn’t like all the attention, because even though I am Paris’ biggest fan, I never felt like people were praising me for my work.”
Reid’s first order of business in starting anew was her recent decision to become a brunette again.
“Me being blonde and looking like Paris has always conflicted with my modeling career,” she explained. “I truly wanted to go back to being myself. I never thought that being blonde would become so conflicting for my identity, my self-esteem and my confidence.”
