The King of Pop Michael Jackson left behind 3 children - Prince, Paris, and Bigi. Growing up under the spotlight was not easy for them, but they've all turned out to be extraordinary, and modeling, acting, and college education are just a fraction of their achievements. Check out their unique upbringing and what they're up to now!
Michael Jackson married Debbie Rowe in 1996. They met each other when Debbie was his dermatologist assistant who helped treat his vitiligo. However, their marriage only lasted 2 years. Before they called it quits, the couple had 2 children together.
Their first child Michael Jackson Jr. was born on February 13, 1997. Considering his father was the "King of Pop," the pair came up with the perfect nickname for him: Prince. Later the firstborn was brought home to the heavenly Neverland Ranch, where he would experience a unique childhood.
Prince's childhood was filled with nothing but great memories. His father loved spending time with him and documenting his growth in photos. Here Prince looked cute as a button with a little bow tie! In Prince's eyes, Michael was a wonderful father who'd given him the childhood of his dreams. And that included having siblings to grow up together!
On April 3, 1998, the Jacksons welcomed a new member to their family - Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. She was conceived in Paris, hence the first name, and the middle name comes from Michael and his mother Katherine. Along with his big brother, Paris lived quite an unconventional childhood in Neverland.
Life for Prince and Paris in Neverland was a dream. They went on fun rides and even played with animals in their private petting zoo! Looking back on it, they were grateful for what their father had given them. More importantly, they were shown the importance of education and integrity, instead of the glitz and glam of Hollywood.
On February 21, 2002, Michael's 3rd child Prince Michael Jackson II was born via surrogacy. His unusual nickname "Blanket" caused a media frenzy, but later Michael revealed that a blanket was a blessing and a way of showing love and caring. Well, would it be the case with the little guy?
Blanket's arrival elated Prince and Paris. They were excited about having a little brother! And with their loving father by their side, the 3 had the best time together. Here they were reenacting scenes from the movie Neverland. Alas, if only things could've stayed this way forever!
As the kids grew older, media became something they couldn't run away from. Luckily, they had an amazing dad to protect them. Michael would often cover the children with masks to stop paparazzi's voracious quest to photograph them. But occasionally some photos of them without masks would surface, and that included the last time they went out with Michael...
In this photo, Prince was having a nice chat with his dad, not aware of the cameras pointed at him. No one at that time knew the kids' world would be turned upside down…
On June 25, 2009, the children lost their father. Understandably, they laid low for a period of time to deal with their grief. Later, they attended the Staples Center Memorial Service on July 7. There wasn't a dry eye in the room when Paris spoke on the kids' behalf, "Daddy's been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much."
Michael's death was devastating to the kids, but fortunately, they had the rest of their family rallying around them. The outpouring of support helped them pull through, and they decided to unmask themselves, ready to take on more challenges life would bestow upon them. Being a superstar's offspring has its perks, but the Jackson kids knew they had to find their own paths.
Paris found her passion in modeling. Her formidable look and elegant way of holding herself got her to sign with IMG models in 2017. Whisked into the fashion world, she never forgot about her purpose. "I really want to leave a positive imprint, mostly regarding the media and the stereotypical beauty standard that is blasted all over every magazine you see."
Apart from modeling, Paris has also stunned the world with her musical talent. In 2018, she formed a band called The Soundflowers with her then-boyfriend Gabriel Glenn. They co-wrote a series of hippie-folk songs and played many shows together.
Prince on the other hand aspired to get into show business too. He first made it to the screen as a correspondent on Entertainment Tonight in 2013. "I'm looking to become well-rounded as a producer, director, screenwriter, and actor." Over the years, he has participated in many other projects, including the one he started with his little brother!
In 2019, Prince and Blanket launched a movie review channel on YouTube. From their videos, you can truly tell that they've grown out to be intelligent young adults with a passion for filmmaking!
Speaking of Michael's third child, he changed his name "Blanket" to "Bigi" in 2015. He explained that the old nickname had left him at the mercy of unnecessary discussion. "Bigi" comes from German meaning sensitive, idealistic, and inspirational, which seems fitting for him! So, what's Bigi been up to these years?
Despite being born into a world-famous family, Bigi lived a normal teenage life due to his shy personality. On his 18th birthday, Prince posted on Instagram, "Proud of the handsome, intelligent, insightful, funny, and kind young man he has become." It's wonderful to see that the Jackson kids have all grown out to be extraordinary in their own ways!
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