From the moment I entered this world, my father has embodied the epitome of an extraordinary parent. Today, I wish to express my profound love for him.” These heartfelt words echoed through the funeral of Paris Jackson’s beloved father, a man who held an irreplaceable position in her world.
The loss of a father at the tender age of 11 is a heart-wrenching experience. For Paris and her siblings, it marked the beginning of a life thrust into the limelight. Suddenly, every magazine sought a piece of Michael Jackson through them, subjecting them to relentless media scrutiny. Michael, a staunch protector of their privacy, had unwittingly bequeathed them to the unforgiving gaze of the public eye.
Following his demise, the legal guardianship of his children fell into the caring hands of their grandmother, Katherine Jackson. Paris resided with her until the age of 19, at which point she relocated to her father’s personal studio within the family compound, transforming it into a dorm-style haven.
Recently, Paris Jackson opened up about her father in an exclusive YouTube interview with supermodel Naomi Campbell. Amid discussions about her modeling career, her latest album, and her upbringing, Paris shared intimate details of her life.
As a budding model and musician, Paris released her debut album, Wilted, an indie-folk masterpiece narrating tales of heartbreak and love. In an interview with Paper, she revealed: “It’s mainly just a story of heartbreak and love, in general, and the thoughts and feelings that come after it doesn’t work out”, crediting her late father’s musical influence.
Paris acknowledges the invaluable lessons imparted by Michael Jackson, who ensured his children were well-rounded individuals. “My dad was really good about making sure we were cultured, making sure we were educated, and not just showing us the glitz and glam”, she recounted. The King of Pop instilled a work ethic in his children, emphasizing the importance of earning their desires rather than having everything handed to them on a silver platter.
“Even growing up, it was about earning stuff”, Paris affirmed. “If we wanted five toys from FAO Schwarz or Toys ‘R’ Us, we had to read five books. It’s earning it, not just being entitled to certain things or thinking: ‘Oh, I got this.'”
In a candid moment during a 2010 interview with Oprah, young Paris highlighted her father’s qualities as a normal dad, emphasizing his culinary prowess in making the best French toast in the world.
However, Paris faced challenges during her adolescent years, succumbing to the pressures of growing up too fast and making unwise choices. Reflecting on this period in a Rolling Stone interview, she confessed: “I tried to grow up too fast, and I wasn’t really that nice of a person.”
Today, Paris has undergone a transformative journey. Successfully navigating both music and modeling, she graduated from high school in 2015 and is carving her own path, following in her father’s illustrious footsteps.
While she graces the covers of influential magazines, Paris remains candid about her self-esteem struggles. In a revealing statement to Rolling Stone, she shared: “I’ve had self-esteem issues for a really, really long time”. Yet, in the realm of modeling, she finds moments of empowerment and self-appreciation.
Despite the passage of time since Michael Jackson’s departure, Paris continues to carry his memory in her heart every day. Her tattoos serve as poignant tributes, and she attests to feeling his presence in her life. “I live life with the mentality of ‘OK, I lost the only thing that has ever been important to me'”, she disclosed to Rolling Stone. “So going forward, anything bad that happens can’t be nearly as bad as what happened before. So I can handle it.”
In witnessing Paris Jackson’s journey, we celebrate her resilience and artistic achievements, confident that she is forging her own remarkable legacy.