Model Paris Jackson Celebrates Major Sobriety Milestone

Singer-songwriter Paris Jackson is celebrating a milestone achievement in her sobriety journey.

The 26-year-old musician and model took to social media on Tuesday to mark five years of being drug and alcohol-free. Widely regarded as “Michael Jackson’s daughter,” Paris’ admirable goal solidifies who she truly is without the need to connect her to her famous family.

Posting from her personal Instagram, Jackson shared a montage of images and videos from her past while honoring who she is in the present day with a touching caption.

“Today marks 5 years clean & sober from all drugs and alcohol. To say that I’m thankful would be a poor euphemism,” she writes, “[as] gratitude hardly scratches the surface. It’s because I’m sober that I get to smile today.”

In the montage, which plays over the song “Don’t Wake Me Up I’m Not Dreaming” by Past Lives, several clips display the young entertainer drinking and smoking with friends. At multiple points, Jackson appears to cry while continuing her unhealthy spiral into substance abuse.

The visual then shifts to snapshots of Jackson holding various keychains and coins from substance abuse recovery, marking her upward accomplishments of becoming and staying sober.

As the video continues, we see a much happier Jackson dancing with friends and spending time with her fiancé, music producer Justin Long, all while taking in life sober and clearheaded.

In her own words, Jackson notes how grateful she is to experience the natural high of living – even when she’s at a low point.

“I get to make music. I get to experience the joy of loving my dogs and cat,” she explains.

“I get to feel heartbreak in all [of its] glory. I get to grieve. I get to laugh. I get to dance. I get to trust. I feel the sun on my skin and it’s warm,” Jackson continues, adding, “I’ve found that life keeps happening regardless of whether I’m sober or not, but today, I get to show up for it.”

The starlet then closes out her post with a description of the reel – “a little snapshot of what has been possible because of my sobriety.”

“And my God,” she affirms, “I can’t believe I almost missed it all.”

See Jackson’s moving words and video above.

In a Rolling Stone interview from 2017, Jackson bravely spoke of the beginning of her addiction to alcohol and drugs, which she says started at age 15. However, the pain that led to her addiction started much sooner – when she lost her superstar father at age 11.

“They always say, ‘Time heals,’” Jackson told the music outlet, “but it really doesn’t. You just get used to it. I live life with the mentality of ‘OK, I lost the only thing that has ever been important to me.’”

Incidentally, Paris’ oldest brother, Prince Michael Jackson, noted that his sister closely resembles the “Heal the World” singer internally.

“The only thing that’s different would be her age and her gender,” he told RS. “[She’s like him] in all of her strengths, and almost all of her weaknesses as well. She’s very passionate. She is very emotional to the point where she can let emotion cloud her judgment.”

By age 15, Jackson, then clinically depressed and self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, attempted to end her life.

“It was just self-hatred, low self-esteem, thinking that I couldn’t do anything right, [and] not thinking I was worthy of living anymore,” she explained of her choice to swallow 20 Motrin pills and cut her wrists.

Jackson was subsequently hospitalized and then transferred to a residential therapy program after it was discovered it wasn’t her first attempt.

“[They had a] three-strike rule,” the young woman shared. “It was just once that it went public.”

In much happier life news, Jackson recently revealed she was engaged to fellow music-maker Justin Long after two years of dating.

Via a sweet Instagram post to celebrate Long’s birthday in December, the bride-to-be shared several photos of herself with Long, including when he got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage.

“Happy birthday my sweet blue. Doing life with you these last years has been an indescribable whirlwind,” she penned, “and I couldn’t dream of anyone more perfect for me to do it all with. Thank you for letting me be yours. I love you.”

Long is notable for working with 5 Seconds of Summer, Grace Potter, and other musical acts – including Jackson herself on “The Lost EP” in 2022.

Being raised by a Black father from a notable Black family, the white-appearing Jackson has always claimed herself to be a Black woman – despite critics who say otherwise.

In a 2017 sit-down with Straits Times, Jackson explained that she’s constantly dealt with questions about her racial identity, but she will never back down from her truth.

“I consider myself Black. [My dad] would look me in the eyes, point his finger at me and he’d be like, ‘You’re Black. Be proud of your roots,” Jackson shared. “And I’d be like, ‘Okay, he’s my dad, why would he lie to me?’”