Paris Jackson Defends Tattoos: My Scars and Past of Self-Hatred Have Been Covered by Loving Marks

The 18-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson reportedly has 23 pieces covering her body ... including the album art of her father's "Dangerous" album, an Eye of Horus, a lotus flower and a brand new tatt of the rabbit from Donnie Darko.

While some have expressed concern about her new addiction on social media, the teen herself took to Instagram today to explain why she's been covering her body with ink. All capitalization -- or lack thereof -- are her own.

"The craftsmanship of tattoos will always be a controversy. some people like them, some people absolutely hate them," she captioned a photo of her sporting a Motley Crue shirt and a smile. "i appreciate art, i always have. especially when that art means something to me. today i can look at my inner forearms and see art that has meaning for me, i don't see a dark past anymore."

Jackson has reportedly attempted suicide in the past and was a known cutter.

"My scars and past of self-hatred have been covered by loving marks, creativity, ingenuity.. and depth. sure i will always carry my past with me, but i see ink as a way of changing for the better, always improving," she writes. "They represent strength for me. i look back at my old self and then i look in the mirror, and i see a fighter looking back at me. i'll always keep fighting, and encouraging others to stay strong. we all go through hell every now and then but it makes us the warriors of love we were meant to be. so to anyone struggling, it gets better. you're not alone."

This aligns with the quote she shared from "Donnie Darko" yesterday, after getting her new tattoo.

Alongside a pic of the ink, she wrote, "What if you could go back in time and take all those hours of pain and darkness and replace them with something better - with things that remind you of how beautiful the world can be?", a line from Jena Malone's character in the film.