Paris Jackson, daughter of the late Michael Jackson, has always faced public scrutiny, especially regarding her African-American heritage. Born in 1998, she has often been questioned about her parentage due to her fair skin, light eyes, and blonde hair, which don’t resemble her father’s features. Despite this, Paris has remained close to her siblings, Prince and Bigi, and her late father, who protected their privacy as much as possible from the public eye.
After Michael’s death in 2009, Paris and her brothers were thrust into the media spotlight, leading to intense pressure and struggles with PTSD, depression, and self-esteem. Paris has openly shared her experiences, including multiple suicide attempts in her youth and ongoing therapy to cope with the trauma, such as audio hallucinations triggered by camera clicks.
Today, Paris is a successful musician, following in her father’s footsteps while carving out her own path with her band, The Soundflowers. She has also modeled for major brands like Chanel. In 2017, she shared her identity as a Black woman, despite her appearance leading some to question her claim. Paris has explained that her father taught her to embrace her heritage, and she proudly identifies as Black.
While some, like Wendy Williams, have criticized her for her appearance not matching typical Black identity, Paris remains steadfast in her belief and commitment to her father’s lessons about pride in one’s background. She continues to advocate for mental health awareness and the acceptance of diverse identities, honoring her father’s legacy while forging her own.