If the purpose of personal fashion is to set yourself apart from the crowd, Paris Hilton has succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. According to media experts, the famous-for-nothing fashion icon is the defining image of American culture around the world, and -- especially given the international fervor surrounding her recent stint in prison -- she may just be the most recognizable person on the planet.

She's obnoxious, she's completely self-centered, and, above all else, she's really, really dumb -- so how does this person get the world's undivided attention? The short theory is, that stories about Hilton are dominate American media, and -- even in countries where the majority of news from the US is banned -- coverage of Paris Hilton still airs, making her the one consistently-seen person anywhere.

Because, like it or not, people love to watch and read about Paris Hilton -- more than anything else.

I'm sure this says all sorts of horrible things about our celebrity-obsessed culture, the declining moral standards in our society, blah blah blah. But to be honest, I don't mind the Paris Hilton fixation. I'm certainly not a fan, but you can't deny that she's incredibly entertaining -- even if we're laughing at her, not with her.