Meet The “Queen Of The Dark” Who Was Told To Bleach Her Incredibly Dark Skin By Uber Driver

Meet Nyakim Gatwech, the South Sudanese model who’s teaching people not to be afraid of the dark. With her deeply pigmented skin and fierce determination, she’s breaking down the barriers of conventional beauty, and encouraging others to do exactly the same.

The 24-year-old burgeoning fashion icon, who now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has no shame about her melanin, and she makes sure the world is aware. “My chocolate is elegant. So is what I represent… A nation of warriors,” she captioned one of her many Instagram photos, which routinely exceed 10 thousand likes each. In another, she details an experience in which an Uber driver suggested she try ‘bleaching’ her skin – and her only response was laughter. “You won’t believe the kind of questions I get and the kind of looks I get for having this skin.”

Writing on Instagram, she said: Dear my moonshine dark skin, sun-kissed complexion, burn skin or whatever they might call you: You are beyond beautiful and the love I have for is unconditional because you are me.

'You represent me and I represent you and let show the world how beautiful and intelligent we are apart from just being dark skin.

'Because we are more than what this society thinks of our dark skin let stand up for those who can't. Let's speak up those who can't. And stay beautiful while doing it.'

In another post, she wrote: 'Black is bold, black is beautiful, black is gold.
'Don’t let American standards damage your African soul. Love the skin you live in, no matter what color or shade it may be.'

However, it's taken time for Nyakim to embrace the love she now has for her own skin after being bullied while she was growing up.

Cruel comments such as, 'You black as hell, take a shower', left her contemplating drastic action.
'There was a time in my life where I considered bleaching myself to avoid the dirty looks, the laughter, and for boys to find me attractive, she told Yahoo! Beauty.

But thanks to the support of her social media followers, who number 154,000 on Instagram alone, she's found her confidence.

And her sister also helped to boost her self-esteem by advising her: 'The most satisfying feeling is when you are comfortable in your own skin and when you accept your beautiful dark, dark melanin.'