Paris Jackson’s career is only just taking off, but the daughter of Michael Jackson recently sat down with Rolling Stone magazine for her first in-depth interview and revealed some very sad news.
Jackson says that she was sexually assaulted by a significantly older “complete stranger” when she was a younger teen. “I don’t wanna give too many details. But it was not a good experience at all, and it was really hard for me, and, at the time, I didn’t tell anybody.”
RELATED: Paris Jackson Just Made Her Modelling Debut
She also admitted she has struggled with depression and inner turmoil, so much so that she has experienced a suicide attempt. “It was just self-hatred,” the model explains of taking 20 Motrin tablets and slashing her wrist in June 2013 at age 15. “Low self-esteem, thinking that I couldn’t do anything right, not thinking I was worthy of living anymore.”
However, Jackson, now 18, believes the incident proved to be the turning point following a long battle with self-abuse, drug addiction and depression. The model admits that her attempt at suicide happened “multiple times”, but this final episode instigated a change, whereby she chose to attend a residential therapy program.
“It was great for me.” Now, she says, “I’m a completely different person.” But up to that point, I was actually crazy, I was going through a lot of, like, teen angst. And I was also dealing with my depression and my anxiety without any help.”
Paris, who recently made her modeling debut, says it has helped her to feel better about herself.
“I’ve had self-esteem issues for a really, really long time,” she admitted, “Plenty of people think I’m ugly, and plenty of people don’t. But there’s a moment when I’m modeling where I forget about my self-esteem issues and focus on what the photographer’s telling me – and I feel pretty.”
This article originally appeared on WHO
