THURSDAY 9:48 PM SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 PARIS
On a rainy Thursday evening in Paris, Valérie Messika staged her fourth runway show for her namesake high jewelry brand, beloved by megastars like Beyonce, Rihanna, and Naomi Campbell. Walking in the show, called Midnight Sun Opus II, was none other than the glamorous Paris Jackson, who was coping with pre-runway nerves as anyone might: by reading Stephen King. But before taking to the catwalk, she gave our fashion correspondent Lyas a few minutes of her time to talk diamonds, dogs, and hippos.
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LYAS: Hello, Paris.
PARIS JACKSON: Hi.
LYAS: What are you wearing? This jewelry is amazing.
JACKSON: I’m wearing Messika. And I’m about to walk in the show.
LYAS: Is it your first time walking a show this season?
JACKSON: This season, yes.
LYAS: But you’ve done a couple of runways before?
JACKSON: Yeah. I’ve done a couple, like Alexander Wang and Jean Paul Gaultier, stuff like that.
LYAS: Oh, wow. That’s fun. Are you stressed when you go out on the catwalk?
JACKSON: Yes.
LYAS: How do you cope with stress?
JACKSON: I read.
LYAS: Oh, what are you reading?
JACKSON: I’m reading this [shows Fairy Tale by Stephen King].
LYAS: Oh, Stephen King! So you love a little darkness?
JACKSON: Yes, I do.
LYAS: It contrasts nicely with the jewelry.
JACKSON: Yeah, right? Because this is so bright and sparkly.
LYAS: Do you think diamonds are a girl’s best friend?
JACKSON: Yeah. What else? Other than dogs.
LYAS: Oh, dogs. Do you have a dog?
JACKSON: I do. The first one’s name is Koa, and I’m about to get another one. I’m going to name him Cow.
LYAS: Cow? Like a cow?
JACKSON: Uh-huh.
LYAS: Okay. Why?
JACKSON: Because he’s got spots. He’s dappled.
LYAS: Okay, that’s actually cute. Who was the last person you blocked?
JACKSON: Why are you asking me that? My last ex-boyfriend.
LYAS: I’ve been there.
JACKSON: It’s reasonable.
LYAS: What place is definitely haunted?
JACKSON: My house.
LYAS: That’s why you’re in Paris. You wanted to escape?
JACKSON: There’s even more ghosts in Paris.
LYAS: What’s the most French thing about you?
JACKSON: I don’t really wear makeup. I think that’s pretty French.
LYAS: Do you shave, though?
JACKSON: I don’t shave my armpits.
LYAS: That’s very French. Do you know Moo Deng?
JACKSON: Oh, I’ve seen that like once or twice.
LYAS: What do we think about Moo Deng? What do you think she represents in our age?
JACKSON: Oh, I don’t know. She’s cute.
LYAS: Do you relate to Moo Deng?
JACKSON: In that I’m cute and I just lay there?
LYAS: Yeah.
JACKSON: I mean, yeah. Sometimes I’ll just be cute and lay there. I’m a bit of a pillow princess in that way.
