The twenty-four-year-old singer, musician, actor, and model is elegantly navigating her path as the daughter of pop culture icon Michael Jackson. The California native has a rock side to her eccentricities, and her captivating stare and love of folk and Radiohead music go hand in hand. Her advocacy and candor are right on target with the goals of her generation. Numéro conversed with a punk princess with her feet firmly planted in modern reality.
Paris Jackson, 24, is the quintessential Californian lady with blue lagoon eyes, messy blonde hair, mystic tattoos, and sexy, scruffy air. Her calm, bright, and slightly cosmic aura instantly captures the attention of anyone she encounters. She displays a certain spirituality on Instagram, praising the moon in front of a group of nude girl pals and engaging in a type of shamanic rite. The singer-songwriter, actor, and model made jokes about her stereotypical Californian accent when Numéro chatted to her over Zoom. “I thought I was special and unique, but I realized I’m a total Californian stereotype when I watched the second season of You on Netflix, where they make fun of people from LA,” she chuckled. She also strikes me as entirely laid-back and low-key, much like many trendy Californian gals. I occasionally perform in my pajamas on stage. Even when I get all dolled up for an occasion, I always choose comfort above style, and I love punk designers like Vivienne Westwood and Matthew Williams from Givenchy. Wearing cozy, oversized clothing that makes me feel like I’m curled up in a duvet is something I enjoy doing.
However, under the exterior of a well-bred, attractive young woman (born in Beverly Hills in 1998), with Elizabeth Taylor as her godmother and Macaulay Culkin as her godfather, is a depth and a spleen that add to her charm. It is by no means easy or a given that being the daughter of a monarch will provide pleasure. Paris-Malcolm There have been many challenges and uncertainties in Katherine Jackson’s life thus far. She was the child of Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop,” and Debbie Rowe, a nurse, who vanished from her life after their divorce when she was a teenager. Jackson raised Paris on his Neverland ranch in Santa Barbara, where she was shielded from the outside world and felt like she lived in an imaginary bubble. Jackson would even disguise his kids—Paris has two brothers, Prince and Blanket—when the family appeared publicly to prevent them from being overexposed to the media.
The world didn’t get to see Paris Jackson’s endearing face and poignant emotion during the highly publicized burial of one of the most prominent musicians in history until after her father passed away in 2009. When her idol died when she was just eleven years old, it had a profound effect on her. Her grandmother raised her and was under continual surveillance by the media; this caused her to develop PTSD, auditory hallucinations, and paranoia. Even in the comfort of her own house, she continued to see flashbulbs go off. She also experienced severe cyberbullying; as a result of all these challenges at such an early age, she frequented Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and a clinic in Utah throughout her teenage years. She made many attempts at suicide before deciding to start over, and much like her father, her love of music came to her rescue. “I picked up the guitar at thirteen but didn’t get into music until three years ago. I had a creative attitude before then, but of all my loves, music is the one that has truly started to seem crucial to me. Music is cathartic for me. When I compose a decent song, I feel better right away. Even if it’s not as effective when the song is awful,” she chuckles.
Interview with Paris Jackson, devoted grunge singer and daughter of the King of Pop
2020 saw Jackson release an EP under the name The Soundflowers with her then-boyfriend after she had already found fame as an actress (starring in Star, Scream, and Gringo alongside Charlize Theron) and model (posing for Calvin Klein and walking the catwalk for Jean Paul Gaultier). Subsequently, her album Wilted was released, achieving both creative and economic success. It showcased her gloomy, dreamy, and spiritual tone, akin to an “old soul,” juxtaposed against genuine and personal pop, rock, and folk music. Jackson says, “I don’t consider myself a singer.” “I can’t hit the notes like Whitney Houston or Mary J. Blige. I am more of a musician and songwriter. She describes herself as a “mediocre Thom Yorke impersonator” on Instagram with a mix of humor and modesty. Yorke is the singer of Radiohead.
The British band ranks highly among her influences, but she also likes hard rock vocalist Alice Cooper and heavy metal; she skipped her high school prom in favor of a Metallica performance. She acknowledges that she loves stage diving and has 50 tattoos, some of which honor her father, David Bowie, Prince, John Lennon, Van Halen, and the glam-metal band Mötley Crüe. She also had “Mötley” inked inside her mouth. “I enjoy rock, folk, and independent music. Every musician I listen to, including Kings of Leon from Nashville, has altered my life through their music. I have nothing against radio music, but when I’m at home, I need to hear songs that love me and make me feel somewheelsewhereon is now working on a new record that draws inspiration from Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and 90s grunge. She oddly reminded me of Frances Bean Cobain, the daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, as I viewed her over Zoom.
Jackson has not given up on her previous professions despite music being the art form that now draws her the most. She played a homosexual Jesus in the movie Habit, which was deemed blasphemous by 300,000 Americans who signed a petition against it. She also acted in the television series American Horror Stories last year. She just inked a deal to serve as the spokesperson for KVD Beauty, a cruelty-free, vegan business emphasizing diversity, freedom of expression, and animal welfare. “I’ve always been vocal about these issues. Every time I’ve worked on a fashion or film production, I’ve discussed significant issues to demonstrate my activism. I want to highlight the important things to me with my time and popularity. Goals just for financial gain or fame are a waste of time. I love posing for Stella McCartney because she advocates for animal rights and a more moral and ecological fashion industry.
Jackson has long been an activist, serving as an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the Heal Los Angeles Foundation, which provides aid to people experiencing homelessness. After coming out as bisexual in 2018 (it is said that she dated model Cara Delevingne), she is proud of her sexuality and doesn’t feel embarrassed to talk about the highs and lows of her mental health. She has broken the taboo and sparked a conversation, similar to Lady Gaga and Kanye West before her, especially about despair and self-mutilation. “I deal with mental health issues daily. Furthermore, I believe it will always be a part of who I am and my music—which draws inspiration from my experiences and life—to be. I find it impossible to avoid discussing it. Even though her father could not teach her how to moonwalk, this budding rock star is still determined to reach the moon and maintain her faith in the strength of optimism. It makes perfect sense to have the same name as the City of Light, which she deems her second home.
Conclusion
- Paris Jackson, daughter of Michael Jackson, has emerged as a multifaceted artist, blending her rock-inspired persona with a love for folk and Radiohead.
- Despite the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, including the media scrutiny and protective measures taken by her father, Paris has found solace and purpose in her music, releasing an EP and successful album with a gloomy, dreamy, and spiritual tone.
- Paris, who describes herself as a musician and songwriter rather than a traditional singer, draws influence from bands like Radiohead, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins, showcasing a diverse taste that includes hard rock and heavy metal.
- Beyond her music career, Paris is an advocate for various causes, including animal rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and mental health awareness, using her platform to spark important conversations and break taboos.
