Where is Rebecca Soteros now? Inside Paul Walker’s child’s mother’s life after his death, as daughter Meadow pays tribute on the 12th anniversary

Model and actress Meadow Walker, 27, paid tribute to her late father, Paul Walker, on his 12th death anniversary on November 30. The Instagram post, with three throwback pictures of herself and her dad from her childhood days, was captioned:

“12 years without you… I love you forever.”

Actor Paul Walker shared daughter Meadow Rain Walker with his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca Soteros. His mother and ex-fashion model, Cheryl Ann, shared in the 2024 CW documentary I Am Paul Walker that Rebecca moved to Hawaii to finish college and become a primary school teacher.

Walker died in a single-vehicle road accident in the Valencia area in Santa Clarita, California, in 2013. His manager and close friend, Roger Rodas, was driving his red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT when the car lost control due to speeding and crashed into a lamp post and several trees before going up in flames and killing them both. Paul was 40 at the time of his death.

All you need to know about Paul Walker’s ex, Rebecca Soteros

Paul Walker shared an on-and-off relationship with Rebecca Soteros, who also goes by the name McBrain. In the documentary, his sister Ashlie explained:

“You have to know that his relationship with Rebecca… they were kids together. And they were sweethearts, and then they were friends, and then they were sweethearts, and then they were friends.”

Meanwhile, his uncle Rhett claimed that Paul and Rebecca had a “push me, pull me relationship.” He added that despite the tumultuous equation between the couple, Soteros was a “big part” of the Walker family.

Cheryl also shared that her late son was “scared” about fatherhood as he wasn’t “ready” when Soteros got pregnant. However, she advised him to get married.

“I thought, they’re in love, they’re never gonna be apart anyway… Rebecca had been around so much that I treated her as if she were my daughter. [We] became a family that's a little different,” Cheryl stated.

As for Paul Walker, he was heard saying in an archived clip (from an interview with WENN):

“It was tough. The mom and I weren’t together, and I was raised Mormon. I was told 'Mommy and Daddy are supposed to be together.' And that was a hard one for me. I was so conflicted — I was thinking down the road.”

The Fast & Furious star added:

“I knew where I was at. I was with chicks, having fun — I was an animal. I want to be [a family man], my heart wants to be in it, but the mind just isn’t following it.”

Meadow Walker was born in November 1998. Until the age of 13, she was raised by her mother in Hawaii. For the next two years, Meadow moved in with her dad, until his tragic death, when she was 15.

Following the death, Paul’s mother and ex got involved in a custody battle over his daughter. Cheryl even claimed that Rebecca had a drinking problem and had two DUI arrests.

However, in 2014, PEOPLE reported that the mother was willing to attend rehab to regain the guardianship of her daughter, and the matter was settled out of court. Paul’s will reportedly had Cheryl as Meadow’s “dedicated guardian,” according to legal documents reviewed by E! News at the time.

Paul Walker’s close friend and co-star, Vin Diesel, is Meadow’s godfather, who walked her down the aisle when she married actor Louis Thornton-Allan in 2021. The marriage “amicably” ended in 2023. Meadow continues to be close to Diesel and his children, as well as actress Jordana Brewster.

Ahead of his demise, the Joy Ride actor told Entertainment Weekly in an interview:

"My heart was desperate for so many years with the situation with my daughter. She's living in Hawaii and she's there and I'm running here. My daughter lives with me full-time now and she's the best partner I've ever had. It's so nuts. I've never had anything like this in my life."

This is not the first time Meadow Walker has paid homage to her father. In 2023, she shared a heartfelt tribute on what would have been his 50th birthday. At the time, she wrote on Instagram alongside a throwback image of them:

“Happy birthday to my guardian angel. Thank you for your love, guidance, friendship, sunshine and for raising me to see all of the beauty in the world. You are the most kind, humble, generous and caring soul I know. You taught me at a young age to always treat everyone with respect, to do good and to take care of our planet. I love you and miss you every day.”

In a follow-up post, the daughter shared another picture of herself and her dad from the sets of Fast & Furious, calling it one of her “favorite photos,” which was both “timeless and iconic.” She shared that the picture would be printed on t-shirts and the proceeds would go to the Paul Walker Foundation.

Paul Walker’s brother Cody Walker told PEOPLE in 2018 that the late actor “loved being a dad” and was “proud” of his only child. Their father, Paul Walker III, shared a similar sentiment.

Trending

Besides her modelling and acting careers, Meadow Walker is also a philanthropist and runs the Paul Walker Foundation, which is dedicated to continuing his charity work and legacy.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback