Who Is Marijuana Pepsi? New Details On The Wisconsin Woman With An Unusual Name — Who Just Became A Doctor
That's Dr. Marijuana Pepsi to you.
getty She's a woman with an unusual name who refused to change it, even though plenty of detractors warned her that she would never be hired. But she defied all expectations — and her detractors — and became a doctor in her own right. Who is Marijuana Pepsi?
Those in the professional realm will often remark that those with “unusual” names — that is to say, those that are not of WASP origin — will often be looked down upon in favor of their more “traditionally-named” counterparts.
However, a woman named Marijuana Pepsi has proven that not only does your name not define you, it should indeed be a source of pride — no matter how “unusual” it may be.
Here’s what we know about this remarkable woman.
1. She first came into the spotlight when she got her master’s degree.
According to the Journal Sentinel, she first came into the spotlight after she’d received her master’s degree and subsequently began a teaching job in Beloit, Wisconsin, where she’d grown up. The outlet noted that despite her name suggesting a rather salacious side, she leads quite a low-key life: she’s married to a man she’d met through an online dating service and has a 16-year-old son, Isaac, from a previous marriage. They all live on a three-acre farms that includes pigs and chickens.
2. Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck (formerly Jackson) went through a lot of bullying for her name as a child.
According to Vibe, the now 46-year-old doctor said that she went through a lot of bullying as a child because of her name.
“People make such a big deal out of it, I couldn't get away from it," she said of her given name. Growing up, Vandyck (neé Jackson), was teased by classmates, bosses, teachers and many others. However, her mother wanted to give her a name that would “take her around the world,” and she refused to shorten or change it,” the outlet writes, adding that as a result of her name, she met other people of African-American descent that also had “unusual” names, and that led her to eventually write her doctoral dissertation on the very subject.
3. She’s also an entrepreneur — and credits her mother with her success.
According to Syracuse.com, Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck is also a successful entrepreneur who credits her mother with her success.
“In addition to working at Beloit and in real estate, Vandyck also owns Action as Empowerment, a performance coaching business for people looking to change their lives. She and her husband Fredrick Vandyck, who’s in the welding business, recently moved to northern Illinois and live on a hobby farm 30 miles from Beloit,” the outlet writes.
4. Despite her success, Marijuana Pepsi doesn’t recommend people name their children after drug products.
According to The New York Post, even though Marijuana Pepsi doesn’t regret her name — she doesn’t allow anyone to call her by anything else except her given name — she strongly advises parents against naming their children after drug products.
“Even though she credits her mom with making her a strong, balanced, entrepreneurial woman, Vandyck advises against naming kids after weed. Her sisters have comparatively tame names, Kimberly and Robin. “I’ve grown into my name because I am a strong woman. I’ve had to be,” she said to the outlet.
Congratulations are in order to Dr. Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck!
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Bernadette Giacomazzo is an editor, writer, and photographer whose work has appeared in People, Teen Vogue, Us Weekly, The Source, XXL, HipHopDX, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, and more. She is also the author of The Uprising series. For more information about Bernadette Giacomazzo, click here.