Everything About American Girl Doll Maritza Ochoa
Maritza Ochoa is one of three American Girl dolls in the new AG doll line World By Us. This post is all about Maritza!
According to the World By Us press release, Maritza is a caring, take-action kind of girl who loves celebrating her Latina heritage—from the delicious food to her community’s music-filled festivals. A leader on and off the soccer field, she finds her passion in advocating for others, especially helping to keep immigrant families together.
The Maritza doll has the Joss mold, medium skin, brown hair with auburn highlights, and brown eyes.
An expert that especially helped with Maritza's story is M. Lucero Ortiz. She is part of Kids In Need of Defense, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization devoted to the protection of unaccompanied and separated children. She also is a human rights lawyer.
Maritza's accessory set comes with a jacket, a fanny pack, and a water bottle. It costs $35.
Now, let's talk about Maritza's story! I've copied and pasted from the description too many times, but the story is about Maritza's struggle to help gain support for her friend Violeta, whose family member is currently being detained by immigration officials. I haven't read the book yet (even running this blog only gives me advance copies once in a blue moon), but it sounds interesting!
Maritza's name is pronounced mah-REET-zah, and her nickname is Itza.
She goes to DC Bilingual Middle School in Washington D.C and her birthday is on April 10, 2008.
Her mom is named Erika *screams*, her dad is named Enrique, and she has a brother named Javier and a pug named Surete.
Maritza is Bolivian-Mexican and she has two sets of grandparents. The ones from Bolivia are named Abuelo Joaquim and Abuela Silvana, and the ones from Mexico are named Abuelo Julias and Abuela Nora.
Maritza was named after her aunt Mari, and then, there it is.
THE PRIDE FLAG.
IN AN AMERICAN GIRL BOOK.
*screams again*
Okay, I'm done screaming.
Makena has many different favorite foods, and her current favorite is elotes, corn on the cob with queso fresco, which is white cheese in Spanish. She just met Makena and Evette, and she has two friends from school, one named Sierra (just like my sister!) and one named Violeta.
The Maritza: Lead With Your Heart book begins with Maritza at a Hispanic Heritage Month festival in Columbia Heights, Washington DC.
Do you like Maritza? Personally, I love her already!