Paris Hilton is proudly sharing her lifelong passion for animals with her two young children.
"I've been an animal lover my entire life, and I think it's so important to really instill that into your children," the 44-year-old entrepreneur and entertainer tells People.
Hilton — mom to son Phoenix Barron and daughter London Marilyn with husband Carter Reum — says her little ones have "been around animals since they were born."
"They love them so much, and they're so gentle with them, and so kind and so loving," she says, noting that exposing kids to animals "really teaches them love, responsibility and empathy, as well as being kind and how to take care of something."
"I love that my kids love animals just as much as me," adds Hilton, who recently debuted her new children’s series, Paris & Pups.
The star has adored animals her whole life, particularly dogs. Her first pet, Tinkerbell — the teacup Chihuahua who joined her on The Simple Life — remains especially meaningful.
"Tinkerbell was my first love, and just my best friend, my sister, my sidekick, my family — my everything," Hilton says of the beloved dog, who passed away in 2015 at 14 years old.
Looking back, Hilton believes that caring for her pets gave her an early glimpse of motherhood. "My dogs are my first babies before I had kids," she explains. "They have brought so much happiness into my life, and they bring so much love to your life."
Hilton and Reum, both 44, welcomed their son Phoenix in January 2023, followed by daughter London that November. The mom of two says time feels like it’s moving quickly. "Oh my God, they're growing up so fast. They're both so tall and so smart," she tells the mag.
Hilton praises Phoenix as "the best big brother," sharing that "he loves his little sister so much and is so cute with her and so protective, always watching after her."
"And the feeling is mutual with London," she continues, noting that the toddler "adores him and looks up to him so much."
"They are best friends," Hilton says proudly, adding that the siblings are "inseparable" and "always together."