Paris Hilton has claimed she "invented" Barbiecore.

The style trend - which features bold colours, in particular pink, high-heeled shoes and quirky accessories - peaked this summer around the release of the 'Barbie' movie, but the 42-year-old socialite insisted she has been ahead of the game for years because she has always idolised the Mattel doll.

Reflecting on one of her outfits from 2001, she told Britain's Vogue magazine: “I was going for the Barbiecore vibes before there was even the word Barbiecore.

"I invented it. Barbie is my idol, she is such an icon. I've looked up to her my entire life.

“I always loved that Barbie could be anything that she set her mind to, whether it was like a teacher or an astronaut, president, this woman did it all.

“And this was a pink Versace dress that Donatella had given me, and my pink Barbie bag that I got at FAO Schwarz in New York, the most epic toy store that I used to go to all the time when I was little.”

Paris' beloved pet pooch Tinkerbell - who passed away in 2015 - used to be a firm fixture by her side on the red carpet and the 'Stars Are Blind' singer used to love picking out outfits for the Chihuahua.

Looking at a picture of herself in a vibrant pink tracksuit accompanied by her “best friend” at the 2003 Golden Globes, Paris reflected on her time with the dog and how much she missed her after her death in 2015.

She said: “Aww, Tinkerbell.

“I am rocking my tracksuit in pink, of course. This was made by Kappa. I used to love wearing that brand.

“I love 2000's fashion, it was all about being original and fun, and just wearing whatever you wanted to wear.

“When I moved to New York, I didn't have a stylist, an agent, a publicist, none of that. I did it all on my own, and I used to love bringing my little Tinkerbell with me everywhere.

“It was just so much fun dressing her up, she was like my first daughter. She was my best friend, my sidekick, my other half, I miss her so much.”