More than 85,000 people have applied to become Paris Hilton's new "best friend forever" in a reality TV search.

The socialite said she was looking for "someone who cares about me" and who is "not going to screw me over".

Would-be companions must post videos on the website for the MTV show Paris Hilton's My New BFF, with 20 finalists to be chosen by an online vote.

They will then move into a house with Hilton, learning "normal girl stuff" like fashion and shopping.

The 27-year-old heiress, who found fame on the reality show The Simple Life, told the Associated Press news agency she was currently working on the challenges to set the contestants.