Ghost of a flea

Even cynical journalists such as Village Voice gossip columnist Michael Musto, who traveled from New York to Los Angeles to interview Hilton for Out's cover story, begrudgingly admit to being won over by the international socialite and her music. "I've written a lot of negative stuff against her," Musto says. "I came to bury her and I've ended up praising her." Now listen to the praise: "Her fans are not responding to the concept of her fame for fame's sake," he says. "They're responding to her personality. The blankness. I'm not saying it as a diss. She has the quality of allowing any viewer to project whatever they want on her. That's why she transcends all media."