Sudanese Model Dubbed “Queen of the Dark” Refused $10,000 Offer to Bleach Her Skin

White flawless skin, long legs, big bust, full lips—these common perception of beauty forms an invisible cage around us. This however, is what a model in Sudan intends to break. Nyakim Gatwech hopes to show her beauty to the world and encourage everyone to love themselves regardless of their skin complexion.

Growing up, Nyakim Gatwech was always bullied due to her dark skin. Now she is taking the fashion industry with a storm, making waves internationally not only through modeling but with her advocacy for diversity and Black rights around the world.

She is dubbed the “Queen of the Dark,” and she loves it.

According to Huffington Post, the 24-year-old, first made headlines months ago sharing a story of how an Uber driver offered her $10,000 to bleach her skin. While, the offer was somehow self-depreciating, Gatwech simply laughed it off.

“Why on earth would I ever bleach this beautiful melanin God [blessed] me with… You won’t believe the kind of questions I get and the kind of looks I get for having this skin.”

Nyakim regularly posts a photo of herself on Instagram together with heartwarming messages on self-love, hoping to redefine the conventional beauty ideals with her stunning modelling shots.

“We are all beautiful in whatever shade of skin color God create us in.”

“Why should being dark be bad? Embrace and love who you are and world would as well!!”

“Black is bold, black is beautiful, black is gold… Don’t let American standards damage your African soul.”

“My skin absorbs the suns rays and my hair defies gravity. Now you can’t tell me I’m not magical!”

“My chocolate is elegant. So is what I represent… A nation of warriors.”

“It’s beautiful to be black. It is the color of strength and pride.”

“Black is not a color of sadness or death or evil its just the way it has been portray for so many years.

“I am the queen of the dark who bring light and love to those around me.”

Nyankim said she is previously tagged as ‘ugly’ and ‘undesirable’ due to his skin tone.

However, it does not change her love and appreciation to herself.

“Some people stay Snapping me asking me why am I so dark? How on earth they expect me to answer that question? Beside the fact that I’m bless with melanin and I love all this darkness”

Nyakim now has hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers.

While each of her posts usually gets more than 10 thousand likes.

She added ‘change’ can only happen once you start loving yourself for who you are.

“Stop comparing your skin to anyone. Change can only happen once you can truthfully look in the mirror and love that Deep Chocolate, Cinnamon, Mocha, or Caramel complexion.”