The years after her father's death were devastating. Paris Jackson has been candid about her battles with addiction, mental health, and trauma. By age 15, she was already struggling with addiction and had attempted suicide several times. She was sent to a therapeutic school in Utah, where she later revealed that she and other students suffered extensive abuse.
She has since been diagnosed with PTSD, major depressive disorder, and OCD. Yet she has never hidden from these struggles—she has spoken about them with a raw honesty that has helped countless others feel less alone.
In January 2026, Paris celebrated six years of sobriety from heroin and alcohol. In an emotional post, she wrote: "Getting sober ain't always the indication that life is perfect... I didn't have the same survival skills I was used to having to cope. I had to learn to live life on life's terms."
She also revealed that her years of drug use left lasting damage, including a perforated septum that causes her to whistle when she breathes. She has shown the hole in her septum on social media, turning something that could be shameful into a testament to how far she has come.
## Finding Her Own Voice
Through all of this, Paris never stopped creating. She pursued music, modeling, and acting—not to live up to her father's name, but to find her own. She signed with IMG Models in 2017, walked in Jean Paul Gaultier's Haute Couture show, and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone.
But it is her music that seems to be her truest expression. She released her debut album, *Wilted*, in 2020—a project she wrote during her first year of sobriety. She described the experience as feeling like a baby, learning how to live again without numbing herself.
She has been working on her second album, co-written with '90s hitmaker Linda Perry, and has described finding her own musical voice as a "beautiful experience." She has also been touring with Queens of the Stone Age and opening for them, sharing her music on her own terms.
## Being a Jackson
Paris has always maintained a complicated relationship with her family's legacy. She has defended her father against abuse allegations and has been involved in legal battles over his estate. But she has also made it clear that she wants to be known for who she is, not just who her father was.
In 2025, she received $65 million from her father's estate after raising concerns about its management. But she has also said that she does not measure her worth by money or fame. When asked how she wants to be remembered, she responded: "I would like to be remembered by my loved ones as a person who was of service."
## Lessons for the Rest of Us
Paris Jackson's journey is a reminder that even those born into privilege can face unimaginable pain. Her story teaches us about resilience, about the courage to keep going when everything feels like it is falling apart, and about the power of finding your own voice, even when the world expects you to sound like someone else.
**Resilience is a choice.** Paris has faced addiction, mental illness, trauma, and public scrutiny, and she is still standing.
**Healing is not linear.** She has been sober for six years, but she still goes to therapy twice a week and continues to work on her mental health.
**Your past does not define you.** Paris could have let her trauma and her family's legacy dictate her life. Instead, she has built a career and identity that is uniquely her own.
**Vulnerability is strength.** She has shared some of her darkest moments with the world, and in doing so, she has helped others feel less alone.
**Find your own voice.** Like Paris, we all have to figure out who we are, independent of our families, our circumstances, and the expectations of others.
## Frequently Asked Questions
**What is Paris Jackson's relationship with her father's legacy?**
She has defended him against abuse allegations and has been involved in legal battles over his estate. But she has also said she does not want to be defined by him and that she wants to be known for her own talents.
**Has Paris Jackson struggled with addiction?**
Yes. She has been open about her addiction to heroin and alcohol. She celebrated six years of sobriety in January 2026.
**What is Paris Jackson's career?**
She is a singer, model, and actress. She has released an album, performed as a solo artist, acted in film and television, and modeled for major brands.
**Is Paris Jackson involved in activism?**
Yes. She has spoken out about environmental issues,
animal rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. She is also an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
**Is she connected to the Michael Jackson biopic?**
She has said she has "zero per cent involvement" in the upcoming biopic.
## A Final Thought
Paris Jackson's journey is far from over. She is still healing, still creating, still figuring out who she is and who she wants to become. But she is doing it on her own terms, with a courage that is nothing short of inspiring.
