Moscow ( CNN ) -- In her previous life , Kseniya Sobchak bared her soul -- and a lot more -- as Russia 's version of Paris Hilton , a socialite with her own reality show . One installment of her 2008 production `` A Blonde in Chocolate '' featured her sprawled on the floor sporting white , stiletto-heeled boots , a slip and a fur wrap , looking as if she 'd had a tough night on the town . But even then , Sobchak tells CNN , she was a closet political junkie . `` During my Paris Hilton years , '' she says with a smile , `` I was always saying that I 'm better off in show business and better doing some stuff that people would call cheesy . But I would n't do something to betray my political tastes . '' And political tastes she had . The daughter of political icon Anatoly Sobchak -- the former mayor of St. Petersburg who helped to launch Vladimir Putin 's career in government back in the early 1990s -- is trying to transform herself into a political animal , a talking head , and an opponent of Putin . `` I was always feeling something , torn between my respect for the help of Mr. Putin for my father in early years and for their work together , '' she says . `` But I always was torn between ( my father 's ) work , because he was a democrat and I think would never have dreamt of living in a situation like this in Russia . '' Sobchak 's favorite look these days is a chic dark blouse , blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail , and a pair of oversized , black-framed glasses . It is a cool but serious image , befitting her new incarnation , which began at a key moment last year . It was September 24 , 2011 , when Vladimir Putin stunned his fellow Russians with the announcement that he , and not the current president , Dmitry Medvedev , would be running for election -- again . Putin had become prime minister after serving the maximum two consecutive terms as president . `` They decided to change Medvedev for Putin and Putin for Medevedev and then they give out the results , '' Sobchak says indignantly . `` That 's not how it should work and people feel offended . '' Sobchak exploits her fame and uses her well-honed media skills to get her message across . In one political video called `` I am voting for ... '' Sobchak , her hair disheveled , T-shirt falling off her shoulder , looking straight at the camera with a kind of dull , programmed expression , says she 's voting for `` the candidate '' ( no name mentioned ) who is `` benevolent '' and has helped Russians to live better . `` Especially now , '' she says , `` at this time of threat from an 'Orange Revolution of the Syrian and Libyan variety ' you ca n't rock the boat . You have to unite behind one candidate . '' One second after she announces that she is voting for that `` candidate '' a man tapes her mouth shut , she 's strapped to a chair and armed men carry her off screaming with tongue-in-cheek horror . Who is Sobchak really voting for ? Billionaire candidate Mikhail Prokhorov . `` I do n't think that Prokhorov would become the president , '' she laughs , `` but he 's handsome ! And I would vote for him . Why not ? '' Some question Sobchak 's new image and her political conversion . At one opposition rally where she spoke the crowd loudly booed her . Putin , she thinks , will be elected president again , but Russia is no longer the same . `` My forecast ? He will try to strengthen and tighten the system , '' she says . `` But now , with the protests on the streets , it 's not possible any longer . So it will take , I think , a couple of years of a real protest movement to change the situation . ''
Kseniya Sobchak says she was true to her political tastes even during her `` Paris Hilton years '' Though she has reason to back Putin , she opposes his run for re-election . Putin 's political manipulation is `` not how it should work and people feel offended , '' she says .