The Traitors star Meryl Williams has opened up about the bullying and harassment she's faced when going about day-to-day life.
Meryl, 26, made it to the final of the popular BBC show, winning the prize pot along with her fellow faithfuls Aaron Evans and Hannah Bychowski.
Since her win, Meryl, who has achondroplasia, has opened up about her condition and how she's faced public harassment over this.
Speaking about her decision to appear on the show, she told PA Media: "I think a lot of the times with my condition a lot of people perceive and doubt me so the whole reason why I wanted to go on the show and complete all the tasks, especially the physical ones, was to show people watching back at home that I can do the exact same as everyone else."
Opening up to the Scottish Daily Express, Meryl has now discussed some of the horrific experiences she’s faced while doing everyday things such as her weekly shop, or just going for a walk.
She told the publication: "Throughout school I was lucky and I was treated the same as everyone else, but in public I face discrimination on an every day basic.
"There’s not enough awareness of my condition. I think people often see some sort of hilarity in it because often dwarfs are in pantomimes and because of the Oompa-Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
"A lot of people are taken aback – they point and laugh. I’ve had people film me and hysterically laugh when I’m doing a weekly shop."
She continued: "I feel on edge when I walk past a group of teenage boys, and don’t leave the house on my own. People sometimes mistake me for a child and ask where my mum is."
Since winning the show Meryl has quit her call centre job as well and is hoping to become a TV presenter and plans to get tips from the show’s host Claudia Winkleman.
The Traitors has already been renewed for another series, and BBC bosses are said to be planning a celebrity edition of the show.
The celeb edition would act as a fundraiser for Children in Need or Comic Relief, with host Claudia already having picked out the stars she'd love to see taking part.
Sharing her potential picks Claudia told the Mirror: “Victoria Coren, Kirsty Young, Adam Woodyatt, Stephen Fry, Alison Hammond… let’s do that.”
Other stars she'd love to see on board include presenter Rylan Clark, Loose Women’s Judi Love, DJ Greg James and Corrie’s Sally Ann Matthews.
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