As an independent creator, there are moments that remind you why you keep going.
Yesterday was one of those moments.
While watching Keke Palmer’s Architectural Digest home tour, I had to do a double take. There, proudly displayed in her home, was the original Young Grandmaster Choi doll.
To say I was surprised would be an understatement.
When I started Shero Comics, my goal was simple: create heroes that inspire Black women and girls to see themselves as brave, capable, and worthy of being the main character in their own stories. Seeing someone like Keke Palmer—someone who has inspired so many young women throughout her career—make space for Young Grandmaster Choi in her home was incredibly meaningful.
I also couldn’t help but laugh. The original Young Grandmaster Choi doll is a bobblehead, and in the clip it looks like someone may have lifted Rayven’s head up but forgotten to pop it all the way back into place. 😂 Thankfully, she’s had quite the glow-up since then!
Since I first sent Keke that original doll, Young Grandmaster Choi has continued to grow in ways I could have only dreamed of. The updated museum edition of the doll has been archived by the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, and the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, South Korea—an incredible milestone for a Black female-led manhwa series in a genre where heroines who look like Rayven remain rare.
The series was also honored with the 2026 Zelda Award for Best Children’s Graphic Novel and is currently being piloted in schools as an anti-bullying and confidence-building resource, using storytelling and the core principles of martial arts—discipline, focus, respect, and resilience—to help students build self-confidence, resilience, and cultural pride.
On July 14, the Spanish-language digital edition of Young Grandmaster Choi: Chapter 1 will be released, bringing Rayven’s story to even more readers and classrooms around the world.
This moment with Keke reminded me that representation doesn’t stop on the page. When a Black girl can see a heroine who looks like her in a comic book, in a museum, in a classroom, and even in the home of someone she admires, it sends a powerful message that her stories belong everywhere.
To Keke, thank you for making space for Young Grandmaster Choi in your home. And to everyone who has supported Shero Comics over the years, thank you for believing in this little company with a big dream.
We’re just getting started. Check out the video below. Our doll shows up at 2:18.