Paris Jackson
Born into arguably the most famous musical family in the world, Paris Jackson's early life was lived largely in the shadow of her iconic father. Yet, she has steadily emerged as a multifaceted artist, model, and advocate, forging a unique path distinctly her own. Her story is one of navigating immense public scrutiny while defining a personal identity through creativity and profound candor. Paris Jackson's childhood was uniquely shaped by her father's global fame, leading to a life both sheltered and intensely scrutinized. She has successfully built an artistic career across music, modeling, and acting, establishing her own voice beyond her family's legendary legacy. Jackson openly addresses her struggles with mental health and advocates for important social causes, using her platform to connect and inspire.
AI Summary
Born into arguably the most famous musical family in the world, Paris Jackson's early life was lived largely in the shadow of her iconic father. Yet, she has steadily emerged as a multifaceted artist, model, and advocate, forging a unique path distinctly her own. Her story is one of navigating immense public scrutiny while defining a personal identity through creativity and profound candor.
- Paris Jackson's childhood was uniquely shaped by her father's global fame, leading to a life both sheltered and intensely scrutinized.
- She has successfully built an artistic career across music, modeling, and acting, establishing her own voice beyond her family's legendary legacy.
- Jackson openly addresses her struggles with mental health and advocates for important social causes, using her platform to connect and inspire.
The Daughter of a King
Born Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson on April 3, 1998, in Beverly Hills, California, her name holds a double significance. Not only was she named after the romantic French capital where her parents conceived her, but it also honored a long-held promise between her father, aunt La Toya, and Kathy Hilton.
As the middle child and only daughter of global superstar Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, Paris's upbringing was anything but ordinary. She spent her formative years at the legendary Neverland Ranch alongside her older brother, Prince, and younger half-brother, Bigi, formerly known as Blanket.
Her father, Michael, gained full custody after his divorce from Rowe in 2000, raising his children largely out of the spotlight. To shield their faces from relentless public and media attention, Paris and her siblings often wore masks during public outings—a poignant symbol of their unique, sheltered childhood.
Tragedy struck on June 25, 2009, when Michael Jackson unexpectedly passed away. At just 11 years old, Paris bravely stepped into the global spotlight during her father's televised memorial service, delivering a heartbreaking, unscripted tribute that touched millions around the world.
Stepping Into the Spotlight
Following her father's death, Paris and her siblings were placed in the care of their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, and cousin, TJ Jackson. This transition brought them more into the public eye, including an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2010 where they shared insights into their new lives.
Paris continued to represent her father's legacy, accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf at the 2010 Grammy Awards alongside her brother, Prince. Despite these high-profile appearances, she also experienced a relatively normal adolescence, attending the exclusive Buckley School where she participated in sports like flag football and cheerleading.
Forging Her Own Path
As she matured, Paris began to carve out her own identity in the entertainment industry. In January 2017, she graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, a significant moment that signaled her emergence as a formidable public figure in her own right.
March 2017 marked a pivotal turning point when she signed a modeling contract with IMG Models, one of the world's leading agencies. In the same month, she made her acting debut with a guest role on FOX's drama series 'Star,' quickly showcasing her diverse talents.
Her acting career continued to gain momentum with a feature film debut in 'Gringo' in 2018. But Paris also nurtured her passion for music, forming the folk duo 'The Soundflowers' with musician Gabriel Glenn, where she sang and played the ukulele.
Music, Acting, and Activism
The year 2020 was incredibly significant for Jackson's musical journey. She signed a deal with Republic Records and released her debut solo single, 'Let Down,' followed shortly by her highly anticipated debut album, 'Wilted,' showcasing her distinctive indie-folk sound.
She expanded her acting portfolio with diverse roles, including an appearance in VH1's 'Scream' and a notable portrayal of Jesus Christ in the film 'Habit.' She also joined the cast of FX's 'American Horror Story' and starred in its spin-off 'American Horror Stories,' solidifying her presence in the horror genre.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Paris remains deeply connected to her father's legacy. In 2022, she and her brother Prince attended the 75th Tony Awards to support 'MJ the Musical,' a Broadway show celebrating Michael Jackson's life, and introduced a performance from the acclaimed production.
Her musical output continued with releases like 'The Lost EP' and singles such as 'Lighthouse' and 'Just You,' demonstrating her evolving artistry. 'Lighthouse' notably paid homage to 1990s grunge rock, drawing parallels to bands like Nirvana and Kurt Cobain.
A Champion for Change
Paris Jackson is candid about her identity, describing herself as multiracial and embracing the African-American culture instilled by her father. She is also outspoken about her personal struggles and has become a powerful advocate for mental health.
She has bravely shared her past experiences with intravenous drug addiction, sexual assault, and multiple suicide attempts as a teenager. Critically, she has spoken out against the abuses she endured at a 'therapeutic school' for troubled youth, echoing the concerns of figures like Paris Hilton and shedding light on systemic issues in such institutions.
Despite facing intense public scrutiny and false reports, Jackson actively manages her mental health. She openly discusses coping with PTSD from incessant paparazzi attention, finding solace in music, practicing affirmations, and engaging in therapy.
On matters of sexuality, Paris prefers not to adhere to labels, stating, 'I just love people for people.' She has expressed having dated more women than men and clarified that her attractions extend beyond conventional binaries, embracing an inclusive view of love and relationships.
An ardent activist, Paris took to the streets in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement following George Floyd's murder. She serves as an ambassador for both the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the Heal Los Angeles Foundation, leveraging her growing platform to draw attention to causes close to her heart.
Article
Paris Jackson
Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (born April 3, 1998) is an American model, actress, and singer. The second child and daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, Jackson signed a deal with Republic Records in 2020. Her debut album, Wilted, was released that year.
Life and career
1998–2009: Early life
Paris with her father Michael, full-brother Prince, and half-brother Blanket in Disneyland Resort Paris in 2006.
Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson was born on April 3, 1998, at Spaulding Pain Medical Clinic in Beverly Hills, California, and was named after the French capital city in which she was conceived. Her name also comes from a promise that her father, aunt La Toya, and Kathy Hilton made when they were younger that if they had a daughter, they would name her Paris. She is the middle child and only daughter of singer Michael Jackson, and the younger child of Debbie Rowe. Rowe is Jewish, which makes Paris Jewish by birth according to Jewish law. She has an older brother, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. ("Prince"), and a younger half-brother, Prince Michael Jackson II ("Bigi", formerly known as "Blanket"). Paris was raised solely by her father, who received full custody after he and Rowe divorced in 2000; Rowe had said it was her intention and agreed upon with Michael that he would raise and have custody of the children. Reports alleged that the relationship was an "economic" transaction for Rowe, as Jackson wanted a baby. Paris grew up at Neverland Ranch with her siblings. Her father made Elizabeth Taylor and Macaulay Culkin the godparents of her and her brother Prince. During her childhood, she and her siblings often wore masks during public outings with their father to hide their faces from the public and press.
When Michael Jackson unexpectedly died on June 25, 2009, she and her siblings were taken into the care of their grandmother and their cousin Tito Joe Jackson ("TJ"). On July 7, 2009, during the televised memorial for Michael, then 11-year-old Jackson concluded the service saying, "I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine." Consoled by her aunts, uncles and grandmother, she continued, "And I just wanted to say I love him so much", before she burst into tears and threw herself into her aunt Janet Jackson's arms.
2010–2018: Career beginnings
In 2010, Jackson and her brothers gave an interview for Oprah Winfrey alongside their grandmother Katherine and their cousins about life after her father's death. She and her brother Prince also accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 Grammy Awards on their father's behalf. Jackson enrolled at the Buckley School, an exclusive private school in Sherman Oaks, California, along with her brother Prince. There, she participated in flag football, softball, and cheerleading.
In 2011, Jackson signed on to star in the children's fantasy film Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys, a story adapted from a book by Dennis Christen, but it was not produced.
Jackson, Prince, Bigi, and their grandmother Katherine made plans to put together a documentary film called Remembering Michael in remembrance of Michael. It had been hoped that costs associated with the making of the project would be paid by fans through the crowdfunding site FundAnything. But due to the uproar from the fans and media sparked by this method, Katherine shut the campaign down. In a sneak peek of the documentary, Paris remarked that her father had promised to teach her his famous dance move, the Moonwalk, but never had the chance. Since the shutdown of the online campaign, no updates have been reported about this project.
In January 2017, Jackson appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone.
In March 2017, Jackson signed a modeling contract with IMG Models. Also in March, she made her acting debut with a guest starring role on FOX's Star.
Jackson made her feature film debut in Gringo in 2018.
She and musician/singer Gabriel Glenn formed a musical duo called The Soundflowers and performed their first gig at Canyon Sessions on June 23, 2018, with original songs "Daisy" and "In the Blue". Jackson sings and plays the ukulele while Glenn also sings and plays acoustic guitar. The Soundflowers released their first self-titled EP on June 24, 2020.
2019–present
Jackson in 2021
On June 24, 2019, the eve of the 10th anniversary of her father's death, it was confirmed that Jackson would appear in the third season of the VH1 television series Scream. She then appeared in Habit, portraying Jesus Christ. Jackson also signed a deal with Republic Records. Her first single, "Let Down", was released on October 29, 2020, with an accompanying video. Her debut album, Wilted, was released on November 13, 2020.
In 2021 the song "Notes on a ghost" performed by Paris Jackson and Gabriel Glenn won the Best Music award at the Top Indie Film Awards. The song was part of the soundtrack of the film The Passenger which was directed by Alexander Bruckner. On April 22, 2021, it was reported that Jackson joined the cast of the tenth season of the FX anthology horror series, American Horror Story in an undisclosed role. She starred as Maya in the first story of the American Horror Story spinoff series, American Horror Stories, which premiered July 15, 2021.
On June 12, 2022, Jackson attended the 75th Tony Awards with her brother Prince in support of the Broadway musical MJ the Musical and lead actor Myles Frost who won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Frost won the Tony Award for portraying Jackson's father Michael Jackson. MJ the Musical won a total of four awards that night. Jackson and Prince introduced a performance from the musical. Both siblings attended the opening night of the musical at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York along with cousin TJ, son of Tito of the Jackson 5.
Jackson performing in 2022
On February 18, 2022, Jackson shared the Lost EP. The EP includes a collaboration with Caamp called "Lost", and solo songs "Breathe Again" and "Never Going Back Again". In June 2022, Jackson released the single and the following music video to "Lighthouse". The video has a 1990s-rock grunge vibe that pays homage to Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. On October 28, 2022, Jackson released a single titled "Just You".
In September 2024, Jackson walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week S/S 2025 for Maison Yoshiki Paris, the high fashion brand created by Japanese rock star Yoshiki.
In July 2025, Paris Jackson formally objected to the Jackson estate's request for legal fees, raising concerns about "irregular payments", including so‑called "premium payments" for unrecorded attorney time, and urged the court to deny the request until full invoicing was provided.
Personal life
Paris Jackson
Jackson has said that she is multiracial, but considers herself Black and that she was immersed in African-American culture by her father Michael.
By the age of 15, Jackson was an intravenous drug addict, had been sexually assaulted by a stranger, and had attempted suicide multiple times. She was then sent to a therapeutic school in Utah, where she spent her sophomore and junior years of high school. In 2020, Jackson revealed that the school had extensively abused her and the other students. The revelation came in response to Paris Hilton's documentary This Is Paris, in which Hilton describes being verbally, physically, and sexually abused at Provo Canyon School, a therapeutic school in Provo, Utah. Jackson posted to her Instagram account, "As a girl who also went to a behavior modification 'boarding school' for almost two years as a teenager, and has since been diagnosed with PTSD because of it, and continue to have nightmares and trust issues, I stand with @ParisHilton and the other survivors. The other girls I'm still friends with to this day that went to the boarding school with me all have the same symptoms of PTSD and nightmares and trust issues. This is child abuse. ... Let's start with Provo and keep going from there."
In 2019, TMZ reported that Jackson had attempted suicide by cutting her wrists and had been placed on a psychiatric hold. The story was picked up by a number of other media outlets. Jackson denied the story, writing to TMZ on Twitter, "fuck you you fucking liars" and "lies lies lies omg and more lies." On June 16, 2021, Jackson appeared on the Facebook Watch show Red Table Talk, where she was interviewed by her friend Willow Smith. Jackson said she experienced PTSD as a result of being followed by paparazzi, but her mental health had improved, and she had found ways to cope, such as music, practicing affirmations, and therapy.
On July 13, 2018, in response to a question on her Instagram profile about whether she is bisexual, she wrote, "That's what you guys call it so i [sic] guess but who needs labels". She later wrote on Twitter, "Everyone has known for years I came out when I was 14, WTF." and "How many times have I publicly referred to the community as 'my fellow LGBTQ+'? Like, even on stage. I've been a part of the community for years. I even mentioned having crushes on girls when I was eight in a magazine before. I've been caught kissing girls in public." On her Instagram page, she wrote: "And I'm not bisexual, I just love people for people." In July 2020, Jackson discussed her sexuality in her docuseries Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn, saying, "Never thought I'd end up with a dude; thought I'd end up marrying a chick or [...]". She also said she had "dated more women than men" but "wouldn't consider myself bisexual because I've dated more than just men and women; I've dated a man that had a vagina." Jackson refuses to label her sexual orientation.
On May 31, 2020, Jackson joined the protests after George Floyd's murder in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. She posted a photo of herself on Instagram holding a sign that read "Peace Love Justice". Jackson is an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and Heal Los Angeles Foundation. She has said she began modeling to grow her platform and draw more attention to activism.
From 2024 to July 2025, Jackson was engaged to music producer Justin Long.
Discography
Studio albums
<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Album details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th>Wilted</th><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Extended plays
<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>EP details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th>The Soundflowers (As part of The Soundflowers)</th><td></td></tr><tr><th>The Lost EP</th><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Singles
<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Year</th><th>Album</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th>"Let Down"</th><td>2020</td><td>Wilted</td></tr><tr><th>"Lighthouse"</th><td rowspan="2">2022</td><td rowspan="3">Non-album singles</td></tr><tr><th>"Just You"</th></tr><tr><th>"Bandaid"</th><td>2023</td></tr></tbody></table>
Guest appearances
<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Year</th><th>Other performer(s)</th><th>Album</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th>"Running for So Long (House a Home)"</th><td>2019</td><td>Parker Ainsworth, Butch Walker, Jessie Payo</td><td>The Peanut Butter Falcon</td></tr><tr><th>"Low Key in Love"</th><td>2021</td><td>The Struts</td><td>Non-album single</td></tr></tbody></table>
Filmography
Film
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Refs.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2018</td><td>Gringo</td><td>Nelly</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2021</td><td>The Space Between</td><td>Cory</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Habit</td><td>Jesus</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Sex Appeal</td><td>Danica McCollum</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>One Spoon of Chocolate</td><td>Darla</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Street Smart</td><td>Lil Rocky</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Television
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Refs.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2">2003</td><td>Living with Michael Jackson</td><td rowspan="9">Herself</td><td rowspan="2">Television special documentary</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Michael Jackson memorial service</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2010</td><td>The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards</td><td>Television special</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Oprah Winfrey Show</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2011</td><td>The X Factor</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Ellen DeGeneres Show</td><td>Episode dated: "December 15, 2011"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Oprah Prime</td><td>Episode dated: "June 11, 2012"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="5">2017</td><td>59th Annual Grammy Awards</td><td>Television special</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Star</td><td>Rachel Wallace</td><td>4 episodes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>28th GLAAD Media Awards</td><td rowspan="3">Herself</td><td>Television special</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon</td><td>Episode dated: "March 20, 2017"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017 MTV Video Music Awards</td><td>Television special</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2019</td><td>Scream</td><td>Becky</td><td>Episode: "The Deadfast Club"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vogue</td><td rowspan="2">Herself</td><td>"Paris and Prince Jackson Get Ready Together"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Jimmy Kimmel Live!</td><td>Episode dated: "December 3, 2020"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>American Horror Stories</td><td>Maya</td><td>3 episodes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2022</td><td>75th Tony Awards</td><td rowspan="2">Herself</td><td>Television special</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon</td><td>Episode dated: "June 21, 2022"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Swarm</td><td>Hailey</td><td>Episode: "Honey"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Doctor Odyssey</td><td>Vanessa</td><td>Episode: "Spring Break"</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Music videos
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Artist</th><th>Role</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2016</td><td>"She's Tight"</td><td>Steel Panther</td><td>Herself</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2017</td><td>"I Dare You"</td><td>The xx</td><td>Teenager</td></tr><tr><td>"Dragonfly"</td><td>Nahko and Medicine for the People</td><td rowspan="7">Herself</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>"Rescue Me"</td><td>Thirty Seconds to Mars</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2020</td><td>"Your look (Glorious)"</td><td>The Soundflowers</td></tr><tr><td>"Let Down"</td><td>Paris Jackson</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2021</td><td>"Eyelids"</td><td>Paris Jackson & Andy Hull</td></tr><tr><td>"Low Key in Love"</td><td>The Struts & Paris Jackson</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>"Lighthouse"</td><td>Paris Jackson</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>"Ur A Stranger"</td><td>Willow Smith</td><td>Love Interest</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>"Crack Cocaine"</td><td>Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne & Steve Stevens</td><td>Herself</td></tr></tbody></table>
Awards and nominations
Paris Jackson
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Award</th><th>Category</th><th>Work</th><th>Result</th><th>Refs.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="3">2017</td><td>Daily Front Row</td><td>Emerging Talent Award</td><td rowspan="3">Herself</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Teen Choice Awards</td><td>Choice Model</td><td>Nominated</td><td rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td>Choice Female Hottie</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Top Indie Film Awards</td><td>Best Music</td><td>The Soundflowers</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>