Female celebrities are changing the pitch of their voices because they feel pressured to be liked and respected, a voice expert has revealed.
Paris Hilton stunned fans this week when she instantly switched on the trademark “girly” voice that's as much a part of her persona as pink glitter and Chihuahuas.
The hotel heir is known for her high-pitched “baby voice” but while serving on a parliamentary committee on improving young people's welfare, The mother of two has recently spoken publicly about the abuse she allegedly suffered as a child, and has opted for a deeper tone.
Ariana Grande made similar comments last month when she appeared on Podcrush with Penn Badgley and spoke about her childhood and her experiences working at Nickelodeon.
Dr Daniel Glaser, clinical psychologist and co-founder of the UK Therapy Room, told Femail: “Voice modulation is not exclusive to women, but it does seem to be more common among female entertainers.”
“This is partly due to societal pressures on women to strike a balance between being likable and being respected, and vocal modulation can be used to adjust that balance.”
“From an early age, many women are raised to prioritize a caring personality that exudes warmth and friendliness. Consciously or unconsciously modulating your voice to accentuate those qualities can extend from deep-rooted gender norms and expectations. It's a way to project femininity while still exuding authority when necessary.”
Similarly, psychologist Esmailpour said: “The phenomenon of voice changing appears to be more commonly reported among women, which may be expected given societal demands for femininity and perceptions of the female voice.”
“A higher voice connotes traditional notions of femininity, while a lower voice is similarly associated with authority and trustworthiness.”
“Women in public may feel the urge to change the tone of their voice to suit different situations, such as when they want to appear approachable or when they want their opinion to be heard in a serious discussion.”
Other voice experts and psychologists have suggested that higher-pitched female voices tend to be “more appealing” to fans.
Nilu Esmailpour, clinical director and registered clinical counsellor at Lotus Therapy and Counselling Centre, said: “A higher-pitched voice usually appears more youthful and energetic, which makes the celebrity more appealing to certain people.”
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“It makes sense that a higher-pitched voice would connect better with your fans because it signals excitement and interest in your content.”
Similarly, Dr Daniel Glaser, clinical psychologist and co-founder of UK Therapy Rooms, said:A high-pitched voice generally connotes youth, femininity and friendliness, and some celebrities use it to create a sense of familiarity among their fans.
But he added that when stars feel insecure, they often “end up playing characters with artificial, exaggerated voices that are nothing like their real voices”.
Ariana was quick to hit back at critics, saying she was used to speaking in a higher-pitched voice for her role in Wicked, where she starred as Galinda Upland, later known as Glinda the Good.
She posted on TikTok: “Habit (talking like this for 2 years) and vocal health :).”
“I often intentionally change my vocal placement (high/low) depending on how much I’m singing.
“That's what I've always done, bye,” she added, abruptly ending the conversation.
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“Having the habit of speaking at a pitch that's different from what's optimal for you can put strain on your vocal cords over time and create other problems,” says Anne Leatherland, an Intuitive Vocal Specialist.
“Especially when they are forced to continue to make their voices heard when they have already been challenged or compromised.”
Parris was asked by U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney to explain how mental health and counseling supports can be integrated into child welfare programs.
Their conversation began with the A-list actor complimenting Senator Tenney's jacket.
In her trademark “girly” voice, Paris said: “Thanks. I had a great time on the Zoom call. Love your jacket. Lots of sparkle.”
The US representative responded: “I brought a little accessory with me today.”
The mother of two replied: “I wanted to find out later who made it.”
However, as the conversation turned to more serious topics, the blonde beauty's voice changed.
“I think the most important thing is that there needs to be access to therapy, counseling, mentorship and other community-based programs,” she said in a commanding tone.
Commenting on the change, Dr Glaser said: “Paris Hilton's decision to lower her voice when speaking to Congress was likely prompted by a desire to convey authority and be taken seriously on such important issues. A lower voice tends to be perceived as more authoritative.”
And her goal of adding some dignity to her comments appears to have been successful, with some fans even suggesting she should go into politics.
Paris addressed her “dumb blonde” image, admitting that it was just a persona she used to gain popularity.
She said of Lorraine last year: “I've always been ahead of my time! Like I said, I'm not a dumb blonde, I'm just really good at acting dumb.”
The 42-year-old socialite rose to worldwide fame in the early 2000s when she starred in her first reality TV show, The Simple Life, alongside Nicole Richie.
She played a clueless rich girl on the show and kept the momentum going off screen too.
“It was really (groundbreaking). We're the OGs and we created a new genre of celebrity so it was amazing to see so many people being inspired by it,” she added.
This was seen when fans approached Paris at the Capitol, handed her books for her to sign and asked for selfies.
Similarly, during an appearance on This Morning, presenter Alison Hammond was surprised to hear Hilton speak in a deep voice.
“Is this the real Paris? This isn't the voice I remember,” she gasped.
“That's my real voice. That was a character,” Paris responded.
Noel Wolf, a teacher and linguistics expert at Babel, said: “Paris Hilton has spoken publicly about how the iconic 'Paris Hilton voice' was part of the character she created for her public appearances.”
“Paris seemed conscious of the image she wanted to present, and during public appearances and television appearances she would raise the pitch of her voice to match the overall impression she wanted to create.”
