The daughter of ex England football star Lan Walker has hit back at cruel online trolls who have slammed her after she spoke out about her loneliness and Mental Health Issues. Sophie Walker, 18, daughter of the former Spurs goalkeeper, retaliated saying she would "stand up for anyone who has ever felt wrong for being different".After being a contestant in the Miss London competition this month, Sophie revealed how growing up she only wanted a normal life and how she struggled with not knowing basic details about her dad because he was away so much.She said she had struggled with anxiety and depression over having a famous parent.But the 18-year-old was trolled online with people posting sarcastic comments calling her an "attention seeker" and dismissing the idea someone privileged could suffer with mental health.
One man wrote: "Yeah I think there quite a few who would shop for a privileged life love. Stop moaning until you have lived it."Another said: "You are taking attention away from ppl with actual mental illnesses. (sic)"And another added: "Poor little rich girl, let me get out the world's smallest violin."
Defending herself, Sophie wrote: "Just because I feel like I have to stick up for myself; I never said I wasn't extremely lucky to have had experienced that life as a child."Having a parent gone and having that unique childhood was difficult for an eight-year-old girl to understand, a lot of self blame."Was is because I wasn't enough? Or because I'd spilt that glass of milk on the carpet last week?"I love my dad, and I'm so proud of him. You don't see behind the scenes, the pressure of being in the public eye."
She went on to say that she is not a model, nor did she ever claim to be one.She said she has been diagnosed by a doctor for having social anxiety disorder and minor depression as a direct result of being bullied at college because she wanted to talk about "interesting things like literature, history, art, and the news."Sophie added: "I love learning, I love education. I am just different because I have had to mature very quickly."I didn't want to talk about what drugs they took last week. I was an easy target. I isolated myself and the ability to get my education and go to my favourite class - English literature - was taken away from me by that group of people."All I want to do is to stand up for anyone who has ever felt wrong for being different. That is it."
Sophie said that she believes that loneliness is very underrated."So, you can be ignorant - one of the ugliest traits a human can have - and say horrible things (and yes I know people are and can be in worse situations than what I have been through) but you are a prime example of the bullies that I want to stop, " she continued."I have a platform now to speak up and be an example to young people."