
Los Angeles was all abuzz this past Saturday, October 11, as Paris Jackson, the daughter of the iconic Michael Jackson, took center stage at the 35th annual Friendly House Awards Luncheon. Held right here in the heart of Tinseltown, the event celebrated women overcoming trauma and addiction, and Paris was there to soak in the love - and dish out some serious inspiration.
Rocking the red carpet with her signature cool-kid vibe, the 27-year-old accepted the Shining Star Award for her tireless work with Friendly House, a SoCal-based org that’s been a lifeline for women through sober-living programs and support networks. Paris, who’s been sober since January 2020, got real about how this community has been her anchor through stormy times.
It’s no secret that LA’s glitz can come with some heavy shadows, but Paris is proof that you can flip the script. Her journey from battling heroin and alcohol addiction to becoming a beacon of hope is straight-up Hollywood redemption story material.
During her acceptance speech, Paris kept it 100, sharing how her service work usually flies under the radar. “I don’t usually make a big deal outta helping others one-on-one - it’s just my vibe, ya know? It’s my spiritual foundation, and honestly, my life depends on it,” she said, getting nods from the crowd at the luncheon.
She didn’t stop there, though. Comparing sobriety to a wild car crash on the 405, Paris painted a vivid picture: “I didn’t just get my life back - I got a better one. It’s like everything I buried in the back seat came flying forward on impact, and now I’m learning to roll with life on its own terms.” That raw honesty? Pure LA energy - unfiltered and straight from the heart.
“Sobriety hit me like a wreck on the freeway - messy, chaotic, but ultimately the wake-up call I needed to rebuild stronger,” Paris shared, her words resonating with everyone in the room.
Paris wrapped her speech with a shout-out to the programs and foundations like Friendly House that help women reclaim their lives. “I’m all in for any org working to lift other women up - thank you for this moment, and for everything you do. Godspeed, we’re coming back!” she declared, her gratitude as warm as a Santa Monica sunset.
Her appearance at the awards wasn’t just a one-off flex. Paris has been quietly putting in the work, aligning her personal mission with a higher purpose to guide others toward healing - a true testament to her growth since stepping away from the chaos of addiction.
Flashback to January 2024, when Paris hit a major milestone - five years clean and sober. She celebrated the moment with an emotional Instagram post, sharing a video montage of her life’s brightest moments over the past half-decade. If that’s not a glow-up, we don’t know what is!
In her caption, she owned her story with pride: “Hi, I’m PK, and I’m an alcoholic and a heroin addict. Today marks five years clean from all drugs and alcohol. Gratitude doesn’t even cover it - I get to smile today because I’m sober.” That kind of raw reflection hits different, especially coming from someone who grew up under the Hollywood spotlight.
Paris Jackson’s journey is a reminder that even in a city as fast-paced and unforgiving as LA, there’s always room for a comeback. From the Friendly House stage to her Insta feed, she’s showing the world that sobriety isn’t just about surviving - it’s about thriving with that undeniable West Coast spirit.