Woman named Marijuana Pepsi who refused to change her name just received a PhD

A woman named Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck recently received her doctorate to the joy of nearly everyone on the internet.

Vandyck, whose official title is now doctor after she successfully completed her PhD in higher education leadership from Cardinal Stritch University, was teased about her name her entire life.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, some people even suggested she go to court to legally change it - or offered to call her Mary.

But rather than change the unique name, the 46-year-old embraced it, eventually using it as inspiration for her dissertation topic: “Black names in white classrooms: Teacher behaviours and student perceptions.”

Interestingly, Vandyck, who now works full time at Beloit College in Wisconsin, has never tried the drug for which she was named after, and she doesn’t drink Pepsi.

She does, however, credit the name and her mother for making her the strong woman she is today. She also enjoys using her new title Dr Marijuana Pepsi.

On social media, Vandyck’s achievement and name are going viral.

According to some people, their first thought upon seeing her name in headlines was Pepsi had entered the cannabis industry.

Others were simply proud of Vandyck for achieving her dreams and proving that nothing should stand in one's way.