Coming from a country that’s home to part of the Amazon river, it’s always shocked me that the first thing that pops up when Googling “Amazon” is… well, amazon.com.

So, right when I saw WWF’s brief for the Young Lions Live Award searching for an idea to spread climate awareness, the first thing that popped in my head was the source of 20% of our world’s fresh water: The Other Amazon.

Parallel to working on the previous idea, I was also developing Dope, an original cartoon character turned art toy.

As a Latin American woman, I grew up surrounded by strict norms around femininity, gender expression, and expectations placed on the female body.

Dope was born out of a personal journey, an exploration of what it means to be a woman. It’s a reflection on identity, self-expression, and body diversity.

All wrapped up in that never-ending hug Dope gives themself.