Paris Jackson was only 12 years old when her godmother, Elizabeth Taylor, died in 2011.
But the “Cleopatra” actress’ passion for fighting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has stuck with Jackson, now 23.
The “Star” actress — the daughter of the late great Michael Jackson — has been an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) since 2017.
To mark World AIDS Day as well as the 30th anniversary of the creation of ETAF on Dec. 1, Jackson reflected on her godmother and her lasting impact.
Jackson recalled to People how she remembered Taylor and her father talking at his home in Encino, Calif.
“They would sit in the living room and have conversations alone. She was very pretty and wore sparkling necklaces and rings,” Jackson said.
“Most of the time when I would walk into the living room to say ‘Goodnight,’ I was aware of the fact that most of the people who came to see my father looked like business people and they were almost always men,” she continued. “Elizabeth was an exception.”
The model then spoke about her involvement with the AIDS cause and when she started getting involved with the organization.
“When I grew older and started getting involved in activism myself, I learned of her tireless efforts to end HIV. I surmised that was a major reason for [Elizabeth] coming to see my dad,” Jackson explained. “She enlisted his help and neither of them ever wavered from that goal. In recent years, I’ve learned that he supported Elizabeth and the cause with his time, celebrity and donations.”
“I felt a compelling need to be part of that effort and always will. I do what I can in my own way to continue my godmother’s commitment to the cause. In my heart, I know someday her greatest wish will be granted,” she added.
Jackson appeared on Naomi Campbell’s YouTube series “No Filter” earlier this year and gave some very rare insight into her famous musician father’s parenting. Jackson was only 11 when her dad died in June 2009.
“My dad was really good about making sure we were cultured, making sure we were educated, and not just showing us like the glitz and glam, like hotel hopping, five-star places,” she said, adding that she remembers growing up “kind of everywhere.”
“It was also like, we saw everything. We saw Third World countries. We saw every part of the spectrum,” the “American Horror Stories” actress revealed.