United Kingdom, Jan. 25 -- Paris Hilton thinks there's a "power in being vulnerable".

The 44-year-old socialite was subjected to "a parent-approved kidnapping" at four different youth facilities as a child, and Paris now sees her campaigning efforts as the "most meaningful work" of her life.

The hotel heiress - who has campaigned to improve child welfare in the US - told Sky News: "These places, they really instil that shame in you where you are so ashamed that you don't even want to speak about or talk about or think about it, and that's such a powerful muzzle for abusers.

"I had no idea how the world would react but it was just like this outpouring of love and tens of thousands of survivors reaching out to me, coming up to me on the ...