Poppy Ward is the daughter of Sun Valley's living legend Judith Ward. Unknown to most, she did not have the amazing glamorous life everyone assumed she must have had. Growing up the daughter of a mean, materialistic snob of a woman, one who did not think twice about dragging her by the hair as a kid because she sat down on her precious white velvet European designed sofa was not the easiest thing to bear, let along survive. She was also constantly bullied in school because she did not fit the petite and skinny princessy mold of Sun Valley school for the kids of the rich and famous. Her classmates would harass and traumatize her further, as they mocked her and called her Poopie Ward.
She took comfort and peace in her writing, music and sketching, but as soon as she was able to save enough money, she emancipated herself from mommie dearest and went to live in Amsterdam with her deceased dad's sister. Judith was able to keep the emancipation process away from the news and the ever present paparazzo lenses because Poppy used evidence of her abuse as leverage to ease the court process whilst promising she would not go public with Judith's story as an abusive, bipolar, alcoholic mother. As long as Judith didn't fight her in court, her dark secret could be easily locked away. The judge shamelessly plugged his son's dreams of Sun Valley stardom as he called Judith to his chambers with her lawyer and just like that, the court records of the proceedings and ruling were closed and made confidential.
Poppy was finally free of her mother and of those vain, superficial and cruel classmates and began a new life with a new outlook in life, society and rules. The life in Amsterdam was almost dreamlike, but she would still have many nightmares courtesy of the permanent damage caused by a toxic mother. Her aunt Sophie had been unable to keep more direct contact with Poppy after her brother died. Poppy was only seven when her father died. Judith did her best to isolate Poppy of her father's side of the family from the moment his will was read. When he was alive, Edward was not even aware of Poppy's abuse, as he traveled a lot from Sun Valley to the Netherlands where his main company was located and also because of Judith's undeniable talent as an actress, made her very proficient at flawlessly masquerading her alcoholism, mood swings and abuses. Never once would have he imagined the bruises in Poppy's face, legs and arms were nothing other than a result of a clumsy, hyperactive, nosy little girl, as Judith would put it.
Judith, for her image's sake first and foremost of course, kept Poppy enrolled in several extracurricular activities and classes. Even with a staff of butlers, maids, assistants and nannies, Judith never once turned down a movie offer to spend time with the family. Regardless of emergency surgeries, like when Poppy's appendix ruptured, special events or even Judith's own mother's funeral. Her career was always first. Poppy at least got to learn from the best in the Arts. You name it, whether it was painting classes, singing coaches, piano lessons, Photography Summer Camp... Poppy was there. Girl Scouts, Science Club, whatever it took to make mom happy by simply not been there, in her presence. Sadly Absence never made Judith's heart grow fonder.
Now it's all seemingly behind her and the path she now embarked upon led her to stardom stratosphere. In her story you will learn about more details of the struggles she still faced, her survival and the decisions and changes she took on her road to become the ultimate POP PRINCESS.
