Chika Stacy Oriuwa is a 27-year-old Canadian physician, spoken word artist, and advocate against systemic racism in health care. In 2020, Oriuwa was the first black woman to become the sole valedictorian at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. In 2021, she was one of six frontline workers honored by the Barbie Role Model Program with a doll created in her likeness.
As a young girl, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa had been preparing for this moment. She remembers dressing up her Barbies as doctors, poets and performers when she was a young girl, but none of the dolls looked quite like the woman she aspired to be.
Now, the Canadian physician, spoken word poet and advocate is living out her childhood dream and also has a Barbie made in her image to show for it.
Oriuwa hopes the creation of a one-of-a-kind doll celebrating her success will show kids there aren’t any limits on their play or their potential.
“What is even more beautiful about this opportunity is that Barbie is a Black female doctor that is made in my image,” said Oriuwa, a psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto.
“That really speaks to my core value and my core belief that you can truly become anything and you can truly occupy any space and thrive.”
Chika Stacy Oriuwa, who was once the only black student in her class in 2016 has now become one of six globally who have received their very own, one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls, part of the Barbie Role Model Program.
This article was culled from CBC.com
