Nyakim Gatwech
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About Nyakim Gatwech
Nyakim Gatwech: Rising from Adversity to Define Beauty on Her Own Terms
Born on January 27, 1993, in a refugee camp in Ethiopia, Nyakim Gatwech’s journey to becoming a renowned model and advocate is one of triumph, self-discovery, and resilience. Known as the “Queen of the Dark,” Nyakim has become a beacon of hope to many, breaking boundaries and redefining beauty standards. Her story begins in the vibrant yet challenging backdrop of Buffalo, NY, where she lived after immigrating to the United States.
From Ethiopia to Buffalo
Nyakim’s story is deeply rooted in perseverance. Her parents fled South Sudan due to the Second Sudanese Civil War, seeking safety in Ethiopia’s Gambela region, where Nyakim was born. From there, the family moved to Kenya, living in refugee camps for nine years before immigrating to the United States. At 14, Nyakim’s new life began in Buffalo, NY.
The transition wasn’t easy. Buffalo became a place of both struggle and growth for Nyakim. Not only did she have to learn a new language, but she also faced relentless bullying about her skin tone. On top of this, many of the racist remarks came from her peers, including other Black students. Taunts about her dark complexion and isolating comments in the classroom left a lasting impact. The cruel teasing nearly drove her to consider altering her skin tone through bleaching, but her older sister played a crucial role in steering her toward self-acceptance. Together, they practiced daily affirmations, reminding themselves of the sacrifices their mother had made to give them a better life and the importance of loving their unique identities.
Navigating Life in Buffalo
Despite the adversity she faced, Buffalo provided Nyakim with opportunities that helped shape her future. Between working part-time jobs and pursuing an education degree, she honed her resilience and found her voice. Nyakim split her time between being a daycare worker and hustling a job at a local Panera Bread while also pushing forward with creative collaborations. These small but significant moments became stepping stones toward her dream of becoming a model.
Finding Her Place in the Fashion Industry
Nyakim’s modeling career began humbly, inspired by binge-watching episodes of America’s Next Top Model after long days at school. While studying in Minneapolis after her family relocated, she participated in a small fashion show at St. Cloud State University. That single event sparked her career aspirations.
Through improvising her own photoshoots with friends and leveraging social media to showcase her work, Nyakim began gaining attention. Instagram became her runway, where she boldly displayed her dark skin and unyielding confidence. Over time, her images spread far and wide, earning her the flattering nickname “Queen of the Dark.”
Still, her rise was not without challenges. Colorism—the discrimination against darker skin tones—permeated the modeling industry. Agency after agency rejected her, insisting they already had one Sudanese dark-skinned model on their roster. Yet, Nyakim remained undeterred, staying independent and even pretending to be her own manager when negotiating her first big campaigns.
Advocacy for Self-Love and Diversity
Nyakim’s unwavering self-confidence and advocacy for diversity have made her a role model. Her personal experiences with bullying, colorism, and self-doubt have fueled her mission to inspire others to love themselves as they are. Nyakim speaks openly about the challenges of being a dark-skinned woman in an industry that has long catered to narrow beauty standards.
One of her most iconic moments came during a photoshoot where she posed side-by-side with a fair-skinned model. The powerful image captured the beauty in diverse skin tones and became a viral sensation, helping to launch her global prominence.
Nyakim’s social media presence isn’t just about beauty—it’s a platform for empowerment. She continually speaks out on the importance of representation, using her voice to ensure that future generations don’t experience the same prejudices she faced. Her advocacy extends beyond fashion, as she engages with issues of racial equality, cultural awareness, and mental health.
Impact and Inspiration
Today, Nyakim splits her time between Los Angeles and New York, lending her image to powerful campaigns that challenge societal norms while advancing her career. Despite her success, she hasn’t forgotten her roots in Buffalo, where she first began her self-discovery and resilience.
Nyakim Gatwech’s story resonates because it’s about more than breaking into the fashion industry—it’s about rewriting the rules entirely. She’s proved that mainstream beauty standards are ripe for expansion, uplifting countless others who feel unseen and underappreciated.
Through her struggles and triumphs, Nyakim has become an icon of self-love and empowerment. Her radiant confidence reminds us all to celebrate our uniqueness and to defy the limits imposed by others. Buffalo may be the city where her American story began, but her legacy is one that reaches across the world.