From the archives: This story was last updated in March 2019
Meadow Rain Walker was only 13 years old when her father, Fast & Furious star Paul Walker, was killed in a fatal car accident. In the almost seven years that have followed, Meadow has grown up, and she’s barely recognizable. The stunning 20-year-old (who was also adorable as a little girl, we should add!) is now a model.Meadow occasionally shares snippets from her life on social media, and we can’t get enough.
The death of a parent at a young age can be a devastating event for a child. But only child Meadow, who grew close to her father before his passing, has harnessed an amazing inner strength for such a young woman and has put her talent and ambition to extremely good use. Meadow lived with her mother in Hawaii as a child but moved to California to live with Walker in 2011, two years before his death. The father and daughter developed a wonderful relationship.
Meadow is now causing a stir on Instagram with her ethereal good looks, and in the fashion industry with a burgeoning modeling career.
But the achievements don’t stop there. In 2015, Meadow started
The Paul Walker Foundation in honor of one of her father’s greatest passions: marine biology. And it wasn’t just a passive interest. Walker joined the board of directors of
The Billfish Foundation in 2006 and even starred in a National Geographic Channel series called
Expedition Great White four years later. Walker spent a week and a half as part of the boat’s crew, who caught and tagged seven great white sharks off the coast of Mexico. It was a dream fulfilled for the young actor.
Walker was also part of a humanitarian aid team,
Reach Out Worldwide. Incidentally, it was this charity’s fundraiser that Walker attended immediately before driving away in his Carrera GT Porsche and suffering the now-infamous car accident that killed him. Walker was very active with ROWW, even traveling to Haiti after the earthquake of 2010 to help victims of the devastating aftermath.
The Paul Walker Foundation’s manifesto
claims to “serve as an enduring light of Paul’s unique spirit.” Meadow herself
explained on Instagram: “I found myself reflecting on his passions. His passion for the ocean, his passion for rescuing animals, his passion for helping people and his passion for spontaneous goodwill.” Among other projects, the foundation offers grants and scholarships to researchers working on advancements in the field of marine conservation.
Walker’s loyal daughter went on to explain that she wanted to share her father’s passion with the world: “I want to share that part of him with others,” she
wrote.
In a documentary about Walker’s life,
I Am Paul Walker, Walker’s brother Cody recognized the tight father-daughter bond between Walker and Meadow: “He loved being a dad. He was so proud of her,” Cody
said.
Meadow is making a name for herself not only with her stunning good looks but also with her huge heart and loyalty to her beloved late father. She wears the Walker name as a badge of pride, and she certainly wears it well.
The ties that bind us together are stronger than those that would tear us apart. Show your enduring love for Paul Walker by sharing this article!
