This 'Queen Of The Dark' Was Told To Bleach Her Skin By An Uber Driver, Now She's A Fashion Model

24-year-old South Sudanese model Nyakim Gatwech is challenging the status quo of the beauty standards in the fashion industry. She's beautiful, she's brave, and she's really, really dark skinned, which she celebrates to bits. A changing point in Gatwech's life happened a year ago, when an Uber driver suggested she bleach her skin. Instead of bursting into tears, she decided to embrace herself even more. Today people call her the 'queen of the dark', which she is very happy about. The model has 155k followers on Instagram - and counting. Her pictures are followed by inspiring captions that encourage people to love themselves for who they are and rock their looks. “My chocolate is elegant. So is what I represent… A nation of warriors,” writes Gatwech. She adds: “Black is bold, black is beautiful, black is gold… Don’t let American standards damage your African soul.” What a refreshing point of view in the fashion industry and a society so ridden with body image issues. You go girl! More info: instagram | twitter (h/t)

24-year-old Nyakim Gatwech is making waves in the fashion industry with her sumptuously dark skin

Before the South Sudanese model found success, though, her unique beauty wasn’t celebrated by all

In 2016, an Uber driver suggested she bleach her skin, implying that her deep complexion was nothing to love

She simply responded with laughter, and has fully embraced her striking appearance ever since

“My chocolate is elegant. So is what I represent… A nation of warriors,” she captioned an Instagram photo

Now living in Minneapolis, Nyakim is a voice of encouragement for the Black community

“You are beyond beautiful and the love I have for you is unconditional because you are me,” she wrote

“Let’s show the world how beautiful and intelligent we are apart from just being dark skinned”

The burgeoning fashion icon has now gone viral, with over 100 thousand followers on Instagram

Though she still receives discouraging messages now and then, she refuses to give up her radiant self-love

She has even been dubbed the “Queen of the Dark,” a title she happily accepts

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