Paris Buckingham is a social worker and sister of Forrester Creations model Zoe Buckingham, who was complicit in the fact that their father, Reese Buckingham, kidnapped a baby and arranged for its illegal adoption to pay gambling debts. Paris encouraged Zoe to forgive herself for her part in it and be grateful she had been given a second chance by friends and colleagues. Paris teasingly needled Zoe for keeping her new man, Carter Walton, a secret, but immediately humiliated herself by gushing over the physical attributes of Zende Forrester Dominguez, whom Paris did not know was in earshot. At a dinner hosted by Carter and Zoe, Paris got to know Zende more and was thrilled to learn that Zoe had accepted Carter's proposal of marriage.

Paris received a job offer by the Forrester Foundation and was dismayed by Zoe's annoyance and demands that Paris not accept the position. Paris took the job anyway and was surprised when she found out Zoe had been trying to gauge Zende as a romantic option even while stalling on setting a wedding date with Carter. Paris had doubts about both Zoe and Zende after they got caught and Carter dumped Zoe. Paris refused to accept the blame that Zoe tried to lay on her for the calling off of Zoe's engagement.

Reassured by Zende's interest in her, Paris started growing closer to him but was horrified when she experienced loud gastrointestinal distress in front of him. Paris was happy when the event only endeared her to Zende further, and Paris received a happy surprise when Zoe wanted to make up and even endorsed Paris' burgeoning relationship with Zende. (Paris never knew that Zoe had spiked her smoothie with herbs to cause her the stomach trouble.) Paris tried to convince Carter to take Zoe back, but was dubious to hear Zoe had also recruited jeweler Quinn Fuller for the task. Paris had heard stories about Quinn's manipulative, even criminal, past, and worried that Quinn might do Zoe more harm than good.

Paris supported Zoe when it was revealed that Carter had had a fling with Quinn's best friend, Shauna Fulton. But when Paris overheard Quinn and Shauna arguing, Paris learned that it had been Quinn who slept with Carter, not Shauna. Paris was rattled when Quinn threatened Paris into staying quiet, but Paris eventually told Quinn's nemesis, Brooke Logan, about the affair when confronted by Brooke, which led to the truth coming out during Quinn's vow renewal ceremony with her estranged husband, Eric Forrester. Before Zoe left for Paris on business, Paris revealed Carter's betrayal to Zoe, who had agreed to take Carter back.

Finding herself living in a hotel with Zoe gone, Paris thrilled when Forrester Creations' co-CEO, Steffy Forrester, invited Paris to stay with her and her fiancé, John "Finn" Finnegan. At Steffy and Finn's wedding, Paris shared the other guests' shock when Finn introduced a woman claiming to be his biological mother, Sheila Carter, who had committed numerous crimes against the Forrester family. Paris later listened as Finn confessed he had replied to a text from Sheila and reluctantly agreed to keep that fact from Steffy. Paris began fantasizing about Finn to the point that even Zende sensed she had a crush on Finn, so Paris chose to move out of Finn's house before it got worse. Paris slept on a friend's couch until she was offered an apartment being vacated by Zoe's ex, Thomas Forrester, who was buying a house. But when the sale fell through, Paris suggested that she and Thomas share the apartment, which didn't sit particularly well with Zende. Paris gently turned Thomas down when he made a move on her, insisting that she already had a boyfriend.

However, Paris noticed a spark with Carter, who warned her that Zende was planning to propose. Heading him off at the pass, Paris announced to Zende that she wanted to transition to a non-exclusive relationship and later shared a kiss with Carter. It was awkward for Paris when Zende accepted a date with a Forrester model, but she soon saw his move as a green light to further pursue Carter, which confused her arriving mother, Grace Buckingham. Paris tried to explain her lack of exclusivity to her mother and worked to convince Carter that they weren't betraying Zende by exploring their attraction. Paris professed her love for Carter when Grace caught them together in the afterglow of lovemaking and balked when Grace demanded that Paris accept a proposal from Zende, should he actually make one. Paris was dismayed when Carter agreed with Grace and pushed Paris toward Zende instead of continuing their relationship; as a result, Paris made the move to break things off with Zende completely and pursue Carter full-tilt.

Paris was surprised when Carter wanted to get married so quickly, but jumped right in despite Grace's disapproval. However, Paris was left at the altar when Quinn interrupted the ceremony to inform Carter that she had left her husband, Eric Forrester, to be with Carter. Paris received comfort from Grace and also an understanding Zende.