BIZARRE SURGERY OBSESSION: I spent pounds 35,000 to look like Paris

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Apr 17, 2005 | by Words

People are fascinated by socialite Paris Hilton her clothes, her spoilt little rich girl behaviour, her sex videos. But Vanessa Kalezki is so obsessed with the American millionaire hotel heiress, shes had drastic plastic surgery to look like her.

I love Paris, her glamorous lifestyle and the clothes she wears, says the 31-year-old transsexual, whos had more than pounds 35,000 worth of surgery. Now, with her blonde hair, slim body and long legs, Vanessa is told she looks like Paris so often, shes starting to believe it and she couldnt be happier. Im obsessed, she admits. When shes on TV or in a magazine, I just have to copy what she does. I love trying to perfect her pose.

Paris may not have the DD breasts Vanessas bought herself, but at first sight theres an uncanny resemblance. Ill be in a club or walking down the street and people will say, She looks like Paris Hilton. It gives me such a confidence boost. Its great to be likened to a gorgeous, famous girl.

And its not just Pariss looks Vanessa loves to copy its her lifestyle too. Like her idol, Vanessa is a real party animal and, just like Paris, she also has a chihuahua, called Timmy but nicknamed Tinkerbell, the name of Pariss pet pooch.

However, before becoming infatuated with Paris, Vanessa was trying to look like another famous American blonde Barbie. I used to think Barbie was the most beautiful woman in the world and thats who I was originally moulding myself on. But now its Paris.

Vanessa became fascinated with Paris after seeing the heiress on reality TV show The Simple Life. Despite already having had thousands of pounds worth of surgery to look like Barbie, Vanessa decided to make herself look more like Paris by losing a few kilos, and having her lips and cheekbones done.

Paris is the perfect woman, she gushes. Id love to meet her. Itd be a dream come true. Id have to spend a day and night with her to take her shopping, then wed go clubbing and cause a huge racket. Im thinking of writing a letter to Oprah to see if shed like me on her show to talk about my sex change, and perhaps Oprah would surprise me with a visit from Paris. That would be the best.

Her obsession might seem like light-hearted fun, but for Vanessa, it means finally achieving her dream of becoming a woman a dream shes had since she was eight years old. Born a boy called Sandy, as a child shed walk around in high heels, wear make-up and get sent home from school for dressing up.

Id take girls clothes in my school bag and put them on in the girls toilets once I got there. Ive never seen myself as a boy, ever. I was trapped in the wrong body, Vanessa explains. Im all woman and always have been. I never had thoughts of suicide growing up, but I used to get sad and think, Whats wrong with me? I knew in my heart I wanted to be a girl, she adds.

The boys in school used to tease me, but it didnt bother me Id hang around with the girls, and talk about fashion and make-up with them.

At 14, Vanessa packed her bags and left home, with a mission to find a job and a doctor who could turn her into a woman at last.

I started female hormones to help my breasts grow, and at 16 had my first breast implants. Surgery was the next step. I was underage, but the doctors never questioned me. Deciding to have the operation was one of the hardest things Ive ever done, but I was happy with the results. Even as a young boy, I always sat on the toilet, never stood, and felt sick every time I looked at my penis. Id try to block it out, so I wasnt bothered when it was removed.

Over the years, Vanessa has had extensive surgery, including her sex change operation, two lots of breast implants, a nose job, her jaw chiselled, cheek implants, two ribs removed, her eye sockets deepened and her lips done three times. But she claims shes still not satisfied.

A bit of a lift to my face would be nice because Im getting on a bit, and Id like bigger breasts. Plastic surgerys addictive because you just want to look better but you have to stop before you start looking scary. Some people just dont know when to stop.

Now Vanessa has hopes of following in her A-list heroines footsteps.

Id love to do my version of The Simple Life. I have a transsexual friend, Kelly-Anne, and we could be two beautiful transsexual women travelling, going on an adventure. Were just the trannies to do it.

VANESSAS OBSESSION EXPLAINED

Psychologist and author Evelyn Field says Vanessas desire to be Paris Hilton stems from confusion as a child

Transsexuals are probably born with the wrong cocktail of hormones. Vanessas personality development may have been affected by bullying in school, limited counselling, the ignorance of society and family who dont know how to help, Evelyn says.

But there could be a plus side to Vanessas obsession. Shes gone from Barbie to Paris. This is perhaps a good sign in that shes identifying with a real person. Obsessions begin when we have predispositions to deal with anxieties, Evelyn explains. While shes becoming Paris, she doesnt have to deal with her complex situation.