The modeling and fashion industry has been around for a long time, in the past very few people made it, the number of requirements or beauty standards were unlikely to be met, but gradually inclusivity and representation on catwalks and covers has been more present.
The model Nyakim Gatwech has drawn the attention of the media and social networks for her striking and unusual skin tone. Now everyone knows about her but during her childhood she had to go through many difficulties in order to get to where she is now.
Instagram @queennyakimofficial
Nyakim Gatwech was born on January 27, 1993 in Gambela, Ethiopia. She is an American model of Sudanese descent. Her parents lived in Maiwut but had to leave their home due to the South Sudan Civil War and ended up living in Gambela.
Until the age of 14, Nyakim’s family lived in a refugee camp in Kenya, after which they emigrated to Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States. Since she was a child, the color of her skin, so dark, surprised the inhabitants of the fields and that made her an object of ridicule, which was going to increase in the United States.
Instagram @queennyakimofficial
They called her “ugly duckling” and did not consider her attractive. At one point in her life, the young woman wanted to lighten her skin, her sister had already done it for her but she convinced her not to because she was going to regret it. Deciding to accept her appearance and the color of her skin took time but she eventually made it.
Her foray into fashion began when one of her designer friends asked her to pose with her creations, she accepted and in 2017, an opportunity came to her door to star in the part of the thriller ‘Saw’.
Instagram @queennyakimofficial
Model agencies approached her to offer her work, between advertising campaigns, covers of fashion magazines or catwalks, the young model gradually made a name for herself in the industry.
Currently collaborates with some brands of clothing and cosmetics. She has 976 thousand followers on her Instagram account and we have no doubt that she will continue to add more as they continue to get to know her.
Instagram @queennyakimofficial
As an anecdote, Nyakim recounted that a taxi driver once asked her if she was willing to change her skin tone for $10,000. But she said that even if a lighter color made her life easier, she would still choose the difficult path she is going through in life.
Instagram @queennyakimofficial
Although she has not returned to her country, she honors African traditions and often chooses outfits decorated with Ethiopian ornaments.
