Nyakim Gatwech, the South Sudanese model who challenged Beauty Standards
Growing up, she was bullied for her dark skin, but has now become an international sensation thanks to her stunning look and teachings about self-love. She is nicknamed the queen of darkness and yet she shines on the podiums of the whole world. Portrait of a black queen who illuminates the world of fashion.
Nyakim Gatwech is a young South Sudanese model who made headlines after she revealed an Uber driver offered her $10,000 to bleach her skin, insinuating that her complexion was something to be ashamed of. Her story went viral on social media, and ever since, she has been nicknamed the “Queen of the Dark”. She has become a woman that little girls look up to when, they too, are in search of self-love.
Born in Gambella, a border town of Ethiopia, her family comes from a South Sudanese village named Mawut. She is a descendant of nilotics, indigenous peoples of the Nile Valley, characterized by very dark skin. She fled the civil war in South Sudan with her family at the age of 14 to seek refuge in the United States. She lost two siblings along the way, but never gave up hope.
It wasn’t until her Junior year of high school when Nyakim felt she could really pursue modeling. She started to build her portfolio, taking two years in New York and countless weekends during college to have photo shoots. Today, not only has Nyakim taken the internet by storm with her modelling, but she has started a movement of self-love and female empowerment.
Nyakim now wants young women everywhere to know that they can reach out to her to be that person. After all, self-love is contagious.
Source: Teenvogue
