When BRITNEY SPEARS was snapped last week with former partner in crotch-flashing crime PARIS HILTON at the MTV VMAs, bystanders had to do a double-take. Gone were the scantily-clad party girls of 2006. In their place stood two delicately dressed bright-eyed blondes flashing gleaming smiles. That evening – almost two years after the pair were first pictured stumbling out of LA clubs – marked the culmination of months of hard image reinvention to turn their hedonistic lives around. Meet the new – and much improved – Britney and Paris.

Paris
Domestic goddess
Paris has publicly blasted her former party lifestyle – which landed her a 22-day jail term for DUI in 2006 – explaining that bar-hopping left her feeling “empty.” “I don’t want to go to clubs now,” she vowed. “I was caught up in a lifestyle that seemed fun at the time but ultimately left me feeling empty.” Instead, she prefers to spend cosy nights in with boyfriend Benji Madden, who she credits with turning her life around. “My boyfriend is my best friend. I stay at home a lot and just enjoy my time with Benji. I’m a different person today,” she gushed.

Reality check
Now that she’s not wasting her days sleeping off hangovers, Paris can concentrate on reviving her career. The reality TV star – who has had hits with The Simple Life and Paris Hilton’s My New BFF – is teaming up with RYAN SEACREST for a new scripted TV series. She’s keen to expand on her acting resume, which includes guest spots on Veronica Mars and Las Vegas. A documentary about Paris was also screened at the Toronto Film Festival last week. “Right now I’m just focusing on my business and travelling around the world,” said Paris.

Pop aspirations
Paris is also hard at work on a follow-up to her 2006 debut album, and has announced she plans to team up with former bestie Britney Spears for a duet. “My new album’s out soon and it would be hot if I could do a duet with Britney. It’s really poppy and sounds a bit like Kylie Minogue,” she says. She’s also collaborating with her Good Charlotte rocker boyfriend BENJI, recording duets about their relationship. “I’ve got a recording studio in my house in Los Angeles, so we’ve been working there every night. It’s been fun. Our songs are just happy and fun dance music,” she explained.

Will it last?
Insiders are concerned that if Paris bores of boyfriend Benji Madden, she will slip back into her old partying ways. The heiress has a rep for being fickle when it comes to men, and has had a series of high profile failed relationships – including an engagement to shipping heir Paris Latsis – that have ended almost as quickly as they began. Benji has been by far the most calming influence on Paris to date, but while she is content playing house with him for now, questions have been raised about how long Paris can cope with quiet nights in.

Britney
Support from her peers
Britney’s much-lauded appearance at this year’s VMAs came exactly a year after her disastrous comeback attempt in 2007. Fast forward a year and a slim Britney skipped to collect the first of three awards, wearing a tight sliver dress and wide grin that spelled out what the star-studded audience was thinking. She’s back. And the celeb-packed crowd were queueing on the red carpet to offer supportive words. “Britney can do what she wants and still be queen of all this,” said rapper NE-YO.

The past forgotten
Just two months after she was first snapped partying hard with Paris, Brit had a public breakdown and was placed on 72-hour lockdown, deemed a danger to herself and others. But as Paris and Brit bonded on stage, everyone seemed to have forgotten the Brit of old.

Music plans
Fresh from her success at the VMAs – voted the most successful comeback of all time – Brit’s record company is keen to rush-release her new album in December, to capitalise on all the positive publicity. Brit’s last album Blackout was released amid Brit’s personal problems and record chiefs are keen to avoid the same mistake. “Blackout was released in the middle of Britney’s breakdown, but she’s managed to piece her life back together,” spilled an industry insider.

Family ties
After publicly thanking her father for “saving her life,” Britney has been concentrating on strengthening things with her family. She dedicated her VMA wins to her “two beautiful boys,” and last week she planned a lavish truck-themed joint birthday bash for PRESTON, 3, and JAYDEN, 2. JAMIE LYNN flew in from Louisiana with daughter MADDIE for the occasion. A spy said, “Britney and her family made the party special for the boys.”

Will it last?
With dad JAMIE recently quitting his job as conservator of Britney’s financial and personal matters, concerns are being raised that Britney could relapse. She was recently spotted dining with unpredictable TV host RUSSELL BRAND, and Britney’s taste in men – including two ill-fated marriages to KEVIN FEDERLINE and JASON ALEXANDER, and a relationship with paparazzo Adam Ghalib – has often been blamed for her problems. But insiders are adamant that Britney should not be underestimated. “So many people have no idea that Britney is fully aware of what’s going on,” assured a source.