Julia Faustyna, the Polish woman claiming to be missing British girl Madeleine McCann, is under fire from critics claiming she is making the whole thing up. Faustyna, who is living in Germany, started a firestorm online earlier this month on the Instagram account @iammadeleinemccann, where she posted several videos saying she believes she is the missing girl, who disappeared in Portugal while on vacation with her family in 2007.
Faustyna believes she shares physical similarities with Madeleine, like her eye shape and a freckle on her face. She claims to have limited, but strange memories from her childhood. She also posted a police sketch on her Instagram account saying she recognized the man, who she claimed to be an alleged abuser. According to one woman claiming to know Faustyna, this is all a ruse and she is just seeking attention.
It all started in mid-February.
Faustyna’s Instagram account, which now has more than 1 million followers, had its first post on February 14. It is a photo of herself and a man who was blocked out. The next post, is Faustyna as a child. In it, she claims that she believes that she is Madeleine McCann because she has few memories of her childhood, but does recall a vacation as a young girl that draws similarities to the Portuguese resort where the McCanns were vacationing on the night Madeleine went missing. From the beginning, commenters doubted that Faustyna was the missing girl.
She pleaded with Gerry and Kate McCann for a DNA test.
In many of her Instagram posts, Faustyna who currently lives in Germany, is asking the McCanns to contact her so that she can take a DNA test confirm she is their daughter. The couple has reportedly agreed to the test, which many feel is a waste of time.
According to the New York Post, Faustyna claims her boyfriend wants to leave her because of the case. She also claims that her grandmother gave her the idea that she may be Madeleine a few months ago, the NY Post reported.
Some say that she is mentally fragile.
Dr. Fia Johansson, @persianmedium, who is working the case with investigators, posted to Faustyna’s Instagram earlier this week to come to the woman’s defense. She explained that Faustyna is hurting from the negativity online and is in a fragile mental state.
While the investigation is ongoing and experts are trying to determine where Faustyna fits into the scenario, Johansson asked followers to respect Faustyna’s privacy as her background is “challenging and messy.”
“This is a vulnerable woman seeking answers about her identity and her life. Regardless of your opinions, she is a human being who deserves respect,” Johansson wrote.
Faustyna has reportedly sold pornographic material online.
Evie Magazine reported that Faustyna posted pornographic content to her since-deleted Twitter account, @lovelymiavi_, and that she reportedly has content on PornHub and maintains an OnlyFans account.
It is unclear why Faustyna would make what many believe to be outlandish claims of being Madeleine, but according to some, it may be to further her career.
A statement reportedly from Faustyna’s family appeared on social media.
Faustyna’s Polish family members released a statement translated into English and posted it on social media, debunking Faustyna’s claims. The family claims to have proper documentation that Fausytna is their daughter and plenty of pictures from her childhood to prove it. They say she is not Madeleine.
The post alleges that Faustyna, who claims she's never seen pictures of her mother pregnant, is not taking the proper medication or caring for her mental health. The family say she is currently refusing treatment, but has been under the care of psychologists and psychiatrists in the past.
The family reportedly feels that she wants to be a singer and model and is using this story to gain more followers.
“We are devastated by the current situation,” the post reads.
The family is declining to speak to the media and is directing all inquiries to the police in Poland.
Faustyna’s story has gone viral on social media.
Faustyna is trending on social media, with millions of views of the hashtag #juliafaustyna. Internet sleuths are debunking her claims, saying she looks nothing like the missing girl and is an opportunist taking advantage of a news story.
Evie Magazine reported Faustyna is posting under the surnames Wendelt and Wendell in some places. She also claims to be 21 years old, and Madeline would be 19 now. Many feel these details make it hard to believe and that only the DNA test will tell the truth.
The Daily Beast reported that Madeleine's parents agreed to the DNA test, but there has been no official word or statement released by the family.
