In an interview with NPR, Sophia explained how the outpouring of support on Twitter encouraged her not to give up on bugs, whatever the bullies might say.

“I really thought loving bugs wasn’t the best hobby,” she said. “But after I realized bugs are for girls I thought to myself, ‘Well, I think I should start loving bugs again, because just because people say they’re weird and gross doesn't mean I shouldn't like them.’”

Sophia added that since #BugsR4Girls went viral, many of her classmates now ask look to her as an insect expert.

“Kids now, after I told them the whole story, they’re like, ‘Oh, well – could you teach me more about bugs?’” Sophia says. “And I'm like, ‘Sure.’”

“And a lot of the kids stopped bullying me about it,” she continued. “I feel really good.”

Images: twitter.com/BioInFocus / twitter.com/sigalmummy775

Eight-year-old bug enthusiast defies bullies to co-author scientific paper