The woman was surprised when her Uber driver gave unsolicited advice on how to take care of her beautiful skin. Known as the “Queen of the Dark,” the fashion diva laughed off his comments and confidently embraced her stunning beauty.
Keep reading to find out what the Uber driver said to her and how she turned it into a teaching moment!
Nyakim Gatwech, who spent her early years in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, hoped that living in America would be like “heaven.” But when she moved to Buffalo at 14, she often felt alone and cried over comments about her very dark skin tone.
“You don’t wash your hair, so your skin is dirty.” Or, “Nyakim, smile so we can see you. You’re invisible to us. Your skin looks dirty.”
For example, a teacher might ask, “Nyakim, can you answer this question?” or even a toddler might ask, “Who are you talking to? We can’t see her.” The now 31-year-old Nyakim says, “I would just cry, and then the whole class would start laughing,” as reported by Cosmopolitan.
The young girl just wanted to fit in, but it was hard when people questioned whether her dark skin was real and whether she was wearing leggings.
She did think about lightening her skin. When she was 14 and moved from an African refugee camp to Buffalo, New York, she was often teased about her skin and cried herself to sleep. Many beautiful Sudanese women with dark skin bleach their skin.
The model shared that even her own sister had bleached her skin. Her sister told her, “I won’t let you or anyone else do it.”
Dark Queen
Despite facing prejudice from makeup artists, designers, and other models, the woman is now known as the Queen of the Dark. She feels strong because she has overcome the criticism.
Nyakim Gatwech’s 962,000 Instagram followers support her confidence and love for her beautiful dark skin.
In one of her posts, she writes, “My chocolate skin is sophisticated. I stand for this. I’m from a country of fighters.”
Her fans are absolutely captivated by her.
One fan says, “Omgggggg I love your skin and melanin,” and another comments, “I love your beautiful skin tone so much! God creates stunning things like you to remind us of His greatness.”
In response to all the love, Gatwech says, “I’ve learned to love myself. The negativity doesn’t bother me anymore. I embrace my skin and feel confident about it. I no longer think I’m ugly.”
Talking about her unique skin, Gatwech remembers a few years ago when an Uber driver asked if she would ever consider lightening it. He said, “Oh, you’re dark,” and suggested that lightening her skin would make her life easier, help her get into relationships, and even improve her job prospects. Gatwech replied, “I’d rather take the harder path, even if being lighter might make things easier.”
The woman says, “I’m used to people asking the most ridiculous questions about my skin.”
Gatwech shared this story on Instagram along with a stunning photo of herself with three other beautiful dark-skinned Sudanese women. She wrote, “A country with people so dark you won’t believe your eyes. Teeth so bright, skin so rich. I love my nation, my people, and everything about it.”
She recalled a recent interaction with her Uber driver who asked if she would bleach her skin for ten thousand dollars. Gatwech laughed so hard she could barely respond. When the driver asked if that was a no, she answered, “Hell yes, that’s a no. Why would I ever bleach this beautiful melanin that God gave me?” The driver then asked if she saw it as a blessing, and her supporters quickly praised her and defended her.
One admirer says, “I guess he missed the memo: Black is gorgeous.”
Another person comments, “I appreciate you for appreciating me.” A third person asks, “Why would we ever want to change something so beautiful?”
In advice to young black girls facing similar struggles, she told Yahoo Beauty, “You are beautiful and unique, and there are people who love you just the way you are. The darker the cherry, the sweeter the juice. Embrace your darkness!”
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