Hotel heiress Paris Hilton walked out of a Los Angeles-area jail early Tuesday with a big smile on her face after serving 23 days for violating her probation on a reckless driving conviction.

The 26-year-old multimillionaire was sentenced to 45 days for the 2006 probation violation, but only served about half the term, gaining credit for good behavior.

"This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done," she said in a statement. "I have had a lot of time to reflect, and have already learned a bitter, but important lesson from this experience."

Hilton has said in interviews that her time behind bars has renewed her appreciation for life's simple pleasures.

via cnn.com