Paris Jackson - How She Found Her Voice

She was left reeling after her father, Michael, died when she was 11. But Paris Jackson fought through the pain to build an amazing new life.

It was a poignant, painful moment the world would never forget. When a trembling, sobbing Paris Jackson took the stage to pay tribute to her father, Michael Jackson, at his memorial service in Los Angeles in July 2009, the 11-year-old seemed so fragile it was as though she might break. And indeed, she nearly did. With her world upended, Paris soon fell into a downward spiral of depression, drug abuse and self-harm that brought her to the brink of death.

But now, eight years later, a resilient Paris has made it through the fog with flying colors. She’s conquered the demons that plagued her adolescence and, at 19, has blossomed into a confident young woman who’s on top of the world. She’s inked a contract with IMG Models (who also rep industry titans like Gisele Bündchen, as well as It Girls Gigi and Bella Hadid) and a reported seven-figure deal to be the new face of Calvin Klein. She’s also just started filming her first movie role, acting opposite Charlize Theron in Gringo.