The Real Story Behind The Bold And The Beautiful's Buckingham Sisters
Family has always been at the heart of "The Bold and the Beautiful." Sure, fashion is a key player, and the dresses created through the show's run have been stunning. However, it goes deeper than fashion. At its crux, family connections (and the drama that follows) are what power this CBS soap opera. Without those deep-rooted relationships, it would merely be fashion house employees creating dresses. It's cute to watch, but the family drama is what draws viewers in.
Many families have come and gone over the last 35 years on "The Bold and the Beautiful." While the Forresters, Logans, and Spencers are still front and center, other families have emerged as power players in Los Angeles over the years. Some faded away rather quickly, like the Avants (via TVLine), while others like the Buckinghams are still (somewhat) thriving. Zoe Buckingham, portrayed by Kiara Barnes, was the first to arrive — in a showstopping manner — and her sister Paris Buckingham, portrayed by Diamond White, came shortly after. Both sisters left an indelible mark on the show.
Let's take a look at how the Buckingham sisters have impacted "The Bold and the Beautiful."
Zoe was willing to do whatever it took to get Xander back
Zoe Buckingham made her entrance on "The Bold and the Beautiful" in 2018. She first appeared as the mysterious ex-girlfriend of Xander Avant, played by Adain Bradley. It didn't take long for viewers to recognize the extreme measures Zoe was willing to take to get Xander back. There was no rule Zoe wasn't willing to break to reclaim her lost love. Her antics went as far as hacking into Sally Spectra's (Courtney Hope) computer to post social media threats against Xander's current girlfriend. Xander eventually caught Zoe, but she charmed her way out of it and no longer posed — or so he thought — a threat (via Soap Central).
Zoe and Xander managed to get on good terms, but that didn't last long. Zoe feigned innocence for a while, but she made her most significant mark on Xander at the Forrester fashion show. Zoe took things a step further in her pursuit of Xander by inserting herself as a model in Steffy Forrester's (Jacqueline MacInnes Woods) big show. Her appearance was a shock to everyone, especially Xander. He ultimately gave into temptation, they kissed, and resumed their relationship (via Soaps.com).
In the time that followed, Zoe dialed back her evil girl persona and tried to reform. According to Entertainment Weekly, the appearance of her father, Reese Buckingham, played by Wayne Brady, changed her life forever. No matter how hard she tried, Zoe couldn't escape the drama.
Zoe's life got complicated thanks to her father's crimes
A classic trope in daytime television is the "baby switch." Every soap has done it. The climax of "The Bold and the Beautiful" aired in 2018, and it was a doozy of a story. The arrival of Zoe's father in Los Angeles seemed innocent on the surface, but eventually, his actions destroyed so many lives. Reese was seemingly trying to reconnect with Zoe, but his gambling debts were racking up. With the walls closing in around him, Reese made a horrifying decision. He faked the death of Hope Spencer's (Annika Noelle) baby and sold her to Steffy, who was looking to adopt at the time. Unfortunately for Zoe, she got caught in the mix of it all, and once the truth came out, everyone at Forrester Creations ostracized her (via Soap Central).
It was difficult for Zoe to get back in the good graces of her friends and coworkers. However, Thomas Forrester, portrayed by Matthew Atkinson, helped Zoe reclaim her former life. Zoe and Thomas became romantically involved, and it looked like Zoe finally found her happily ever after (via Soap Dirt). Sadly for Zoe, her nightmare was just starting. She thought she had found happiness with Thomas, but his obsession with Hope was still bubbling beneath the surface, and her fate looked grim.
Zoe's love life tanked, and Paris came to town
Getting involved with Thomas was one of the worst mistakes of Zoe's time on "The Bold and the Beautiful." He didn't truly love her the way she deserved because he was still obsessed with his ex-wife Hope. Despite the numerous red flags in front of her, Zoe agreed to marry Thomas. But, she came to her senses before the wedding and teamed up with Hope to expose Thomas as a liar (via Soaps.com).
After her engagement to Thomas ended, Zoe entered a new relationship with the Forrester family lawyer and family friend, Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor). This was another love connection for Zoe that moved quickly and came crashing down just as fast. Although this time, the end of the relationship resulted from her actions. When Zende Forrester Dominguez (Delon de Metz) returned to town, Zoe was smitten and wanted to see if they had a chance. At the same time, Zoe's sister Paris arrived, much to her older sister's dismay. Zende immediately took an interest in Paris which drove Zoe wild (via Showbiz CheatSheet).
Zoe didn't end up with either man because not only did Zende rebuff her advances, but Carter dumped her, took her back, and then cheated on her. Carter's affair with Quinn Forrester, played by Rena Sofer, devastated Zoe, and she packed up her things and left town for good (via Soap Opera Spy). Paris remained in Los Angeles, and she found herself entangled with three out of four men tied to her sister.
Paris has struggled to find her footing in Los Angeles
Paris often feels like an afterthought on the "Bold and the Beautiful" canvas. However, since Zoe's departure from Los Angeles (via Soaps.com), she's been involved in some steamy storylines with some of the show's leading men. Paris briefly lived with Steffy and Finn, played by Tanner Novlan, but things got complicated when she fantasized about the hunky doctor. Not only that, but Paris also helped Finn deceive Steffy about receiving texts from his murderous mother, Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown). When the situation became too much for Paris, she moved out and couch surfed until a new offer from a different Forrester emerged (via Showbiz Cheatsheet).
Thomas Forrester (Zoe's ex-fiance) offered Paris his apartment after learning of her living situation. However, they had to share the space when his plans to move fell through. This arrangement didn't sit well with Paris' boyfriend (and Thomas' cousin) Zende, so Paris politely moved out (via Soap Hub). Things between Paris and Zende were fine until another one of her sister's exes caught her eye — Carter.
Due to her growing attraction for Carter, Paris chose to alter her current relationship with Zende. She no longer wished for them to be in an exclusive relationship, but that wouldn't last long. Paris' mother, Grace (Cassandra Creech), arrived in town and put the kibosh on any nonexclusivity in Paris and Zende's relationship. By this time, Paris had slept with Carter to explore the spark between them, but sadly for Paris, Carter sided with her mother (via Soap Central).