Julia Wendell’s story has been all over the internet in the past week, with one question on the tip of everyone’s tongue: is she telling the truth? 

Julia, a 21-year-old from Poland, is convinced that she is the missing Madeleine McCann, who would only now be 19. 

While highlighting the similarities between the two girls, Julia has also declared that she has been unable to source photographs from her childhood, and her own birth certificate. It has also been widely reported that Julia’s parents, who have denied her claims, have refused to partake in a DNA test. 

“For us as a family,” they said in a statement to a Polish missing persons website, “it is obvious that Julia is our daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, and step niece.

“We have memories, we have pictures. Julia also has these photos, because she took them from the family home with the birth certificate, as well as numerous hospital discharges.”

They spoke of how they tried to “get [Julia] back on her feet” after she left the family home, and opened up about how she sought fame when she was younger, with her eye on becoming something like a singer or a model. 

“What’s happening now is she has got 1 million followers,” her family said. “The internet won’t forget, and it’s obvious that Julia isn’t Maddie. We are devastated at this current situation.”

At this time, neither London’s Metropolitan Police nor the Find Madeleine campaign have issued statements about Julia’s claim. However, they have previously provided updates on other potential leads, suggesting that they don’t put much stock into Julia.

Regardless, the Polish woman is pressing forward, with reports that she intends to go to court over DNA testing with her parents. 

Dr Fia Johansson – who has been acting as Julia’s representative in a series of Instagram videos, and is a psychic medium and private investigator – announced the move. 

As Dr Johansson told 7News, “when I’m talking to her … she’s crying and saying ‘I just need to understand the truth, all I want is for my mum and dad to do the DNA test with me’.

“But basically her father said, ‘no, we are not going to’.”

She went on to explain that if her parents were going to refuse, then they would be forced to take legal action. And while speaking to The Sun, despite the media frenzy Julia has sparked across the globe, Dr Johansson claimed they want to “be very respectful” in their approach. 

“We want to be very respectful to the McCann family, and respect the privacy of them and their kids while we don’t know exactly who Julia is.

“My feeling is that we need to force the mother, or a member of Julia’s family, to take the DNA test rather than disrupt the peace of Kate and Garry, which is not necessary.

“If a current family member will take a DNA test we could solve this, but they are refusing to.

“I have been personally talking to Julia’s mother and told her we will make her safe and secure in any way she needs, but she is still refusing to take the test. She claims she has Julia’s birth certificate, but our worry is that you can easily forge this.”

Images: Instagram