At first glance, it seemed an odd assortment of adoring new fans were waiting to welcome Paris Hilton to Sydney for a New Year's Eve party.
But it turned out that most of them - elderly couples, family groups and children - were not at Sydney Airport to catch a glimpse of the blonde American heiress, but to collect delayed luggage.
Before Paris disembarked from the Qantas flight from Melbourne, an escalator almost dumped a number of baffled fellow passengers into the thick of a media scrum.
"Hey start taking my photo," said one holidaymaker to a photographer.
Another passenger was ready to give an exclusive interview.
"It was a very nice flight. I enjoyed it very much," he told a cameraman.
There were plenty of Paris decoys, with female passengers emulating her look - casual but fashionable travel wear, including oversized sunglasses, skin-tight jeans and carrying large handbags.
When the 27-year-old professional party girl finally appeared at the top of the escalators, dressed in a black singlet and her trademark sunglasses, she flicked her hair and waved at the waiting media and the crowd of curious passengers who had gathered.
Accompanied by her younger sister Nicky and Brittany Flickinger, who won the MTV reality show Paris Hilton's My New BFF (Best Friend Forever), the petite blonde jumped in a waiting silver Mercedes and sped off.
Swiss couple Heidi and Roland, waiting with their daughter Claudia for their luggage, said they would not have waited to see Hilton if their bags had not been delayed.
"No, not at all. The luggage is the only reason we are here," they told AAP.
Melbourne couple Glenda and Clinton followed the Hilton posse to their cars and took a few pictures, but said they weren't fans.
"We're on our way to the Central Coast. I'm off to ride my jet-ski," said Clinton.
Hilton will host a New Year's Eve party at the Sydney nightspot, Trademark, which will be streamed live over the internet via the social networking site The Bongo Virus.
Front page
RSS Feed