Name: Breaking racist stereotypes and barriers for Roma women
Uploaded: 2025-12-23T13:32:53.563Z
Duration: 3 min 39 s
Description: As a Romani woman, Isabela Stanescu fought racism and barriers for women to chase her dream. Now an acclaimed opera singer, she performs across Romania, smashing stereotypes and inspiring change.

As a Romani woman, Isabela Stanescu fought racism and barriers for women to chase her dream. Now an acclaimed opera singer, she performs across Romania, smashing stereotypes and inspiring change.

Boekarest

Izabela Stănescu, born in a Romani neighborhood in Romania, has faced racism and discouragement from a young age, including resistance from teachers. Despite these challenges, she became the first in her family to graduate from university and is now pursuing a master's degree while performing as an opera singer nationwide.

Stănescu, a finalist on Romania's Got Talent, finances her studies by teaching music and aims to perform on the world's leading opera stages. She encourages Romani women to leave their comfort zones and pursue their dreams, hoping her achievements will inspire others in her community.

Breaking racist stereotypes and barriers for Roma women

She never believed it was possible as a Romani woman, yet she proved everyone wrong. Breaking racist stereotypes for Roma and various for women. Many people in Romania know the opera singer Izabela Stănescu. She became a Romania's Got Talent finalist, is regularly featured in the media and performs nationwide. It's a big affirmation for me. Izabela's journey wasn't easy. She was born in a Romani neighborhood on the outskirts of Piatra Neamt, a small town in the mountains of Romania. She has faced racism from an early age, including from her teachers. They didn't want me to go to that school just because they called me Stănescu. In Southeastern Europe, less than 1% of people from Romani communities attend university. Despite the odds, Izabela became the first in her family to graduate from university and is currently doing her master's. She shows one of the hardest path, opera. Izabela Stănescu, opera singer I struggled a lot to get to the biggest Romanian music university, to make my name heard, to pave a path that no one has paved before me and that I hope other Romani young people will follow. Financially, it's a struggle. She teaches music to finance her studies while performing across Romania. Izabela's final goal after graduation, performing on the grandest opera stages across the globe. Yes, it's uncomfortable to leave a place where you haven't left for hundreds of years. I'm talking about the place of a woman in the Romani community and her role. Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to dream. Thank you.

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