A woman was utterly surprised when her Uber driver offered her an unsolicited tip on how to care for her remarkable skin.
Celebrating her striking beauty, the fashion icon, famously known as the “Queen of the Dark,” responded with laughter, dismissing his remarks with ease.
Read on to discover what the Uber driver said and how she transformed the situation into a learning opportunity!
Having spent her early years in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, Nyakim Gatwech envisioned America as a “heaven on earth.”
However, upon arriving in Buffalo at the age of 14, Gatwech found herself often alone, crying over the harsh judgments she faced due to her deeply pigmented skin.
Based in Minnesota and originally from South Sudan, the model endured years of bullying for her radiant dark complexion, with comments like, “You don’t take showers. That’s why your skin is dirty,” or, “Smile so we can see you, Nyakim. We can’t see you.”
“In class, for example, the teacher would ask a question and say, ‘Oh, Nyakim, can you answer that?’ A kid would say, ‘Who are you talking to? We can’t see her. She’s not here.’ The whole class would start laughing, and I would just cry,” the now 31-year-old woman shares with Cosmopolitan.
As a young girl desperate to fit in, it was tough when random men would bet on whether she was wearing leggings or if her skin was genuinely that dark.
“At one point, I did consider [bleaching my skin]. When I came to America from a refugee camp in Africa [at age 14], I lived in Buffalo, New York. I would cry myself to sleep after being bullied [about my skin],” she says. “There are so many beautiful dark-skinned Sudanese women who bleach their skin.”
Gatwech revealed that her own sister was among those who bleached their skin. “My own sister did it. But when I told her I wanted to [after living in America for a few months], she told me no. ‘I’m not going to let my daughter do it, or you, nobody.’”
Queen of the Dark
Now hailed as the Queen of the Dark, this woman – who has faced discrimination from designers, makeup artists, and even fellow models – feels empowered by overcoming negativity.
Gatwech’s confidence and profound love for her deep chocolatey skin are supported by her 962,000 loyal Instagram followers.
“My chocolate is elegant. So is what I represent… A nation of warriors,” she writes in one post.
Fans are captivated by her striking beauty.
“Omgggggg I love your skin and melanin,” one fan comments, while another says, “love your beautiful skin tone so much! God makes beautiful creations such as you to remind us of His magnificence!”
Responding to the overwhelming support, Gatwech states, “I grew to learn to love myself… Now, I am not bothered by it [the negativity]. I accept my skin, I love myself, and I’m not insecure about my skin anymore. I don’t think I’m ugly anymore. I have confidence in myself.”
‘Stupidest questions’
A few years ago, Gatwech recounts an encounter with an Uber driver who asked if she’d ever consider bleaching her unique skin.
“He said, ‘Wow, you’re dark,’” Gatwech tells Cosmopolitan about her conversation with the driver. “I just laughed. I wanted to know why he thought I should. He said because life would be easier for me. It would be easier for me to be in a relationship, or guys would be more attracted to me if I was lighter. If I was going to a job interview, I would get the job opportunities because I’m lighter. I just said, ‘[Even if] being lighter would make my life easier, I’d rather take the [hard] road.’”
She adds, “I’m accustomed to people asking the most absurd questions about my skin.”
Gatwech then shared her story on Instagram, accompanied by a stunning photo of herself with three other dark-skinned Sudanese women.
She wrote, “A nation with people so dark you won’t believe your eyes… skin so rich and teeth so bright. Gosh, how I love my country, my people, and everything that comes with it.”
She detailed her encounter with the Uber driver: “[SIC] I was asked by my Uber driver the other day, he said, ‘Don’t take this offensively, but if you were given 10 thousand dollars, would you bleach your skin for that amount?’ I couldn’t even respond; I started laughing so hard. Then he said, ‘So that’s a no?’ and I was like, ‘Hell to the f*cking yeah, that’s a no. Why on earth would I ever bleach this beautiful melanin God blessed me with?’ Then he asked, ‘So you see it as a blessing?’”
Her followers quickly responded with praise and support.
“I guess he didn’t get the memo… black is beautiful,” one fan commented.
“I love you for loving you,” shared another. A third added, “Why would we ever want to mess up something so beautiful?”
When asked by Yahoo Beauty what advice she would give to young black girls facing similar challenges, she said, “You are beautiful, you are unique, and there are people who love you just the way you are. They say the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice. Embrace your darkness!”
Secrets of Ancient Alien Villages Revealed: What the Skeletons Are Really Hiding
In recent years, people have become very interested in finding out if ancient alien villages really existed. Scientists and enthusiasts are using new technology and discoveries to learn more about these mysterious places and the skeletons found there.
The term “ancient alien villages” is important in this search. It refers to the idea that extraterrestrial beings might have set up settlements on Earth thousands of years ago. This idea challenges what we usually think about history and human civilization.
The search for ancient alien villages has led to interesting discoveries all around the world. Archaeologists and UFO researchers have found bones and artifacts that suggest there might have been non-human beings in ancient times. This has sparked debate about whether these beings were from another planet or just advanced civilizations that we’ve lost track of.
One significant find was in a remote desert area, where several skeletons with strange features were uncovered. These skeletons had elongated skulls and unusual bone shapes that didn’t look human. Scientists are carefully studying these remains to figure out where they came from and how they lived.
Advanced technology has been crucial in the search for ancient alien villages. Tools like ground-penetrating radar and 3D imaging help researchers explore places they couldn’t access before. These tools have uncovered hidden chambers and structures that might be connected to ancient alien settlements. Researchers use the data from these tools to create detailed maps and reconstructions of these sites.
The search for ancient alien villages also extends beyond Earth. Space agencies and private companies are looking at the Moon and Mars for signs of past alien life. Recent missions to Mars, for example, are trying to find evidence of ancient life or possible civilizations that might have existed on the red planet.
Public interest in these discoveries has led to many documentaries and TV shows. These programs explore the mysteries of the skeletal remains and what they could mean. They often include interviews with experts and enthusiasts who share different theories and ideas about the evidence.
Despite the excitement and growing evidence, the search for ancient alien villages is still controversial. Skeptics believe that many of the findings might be due to natural causes or human activities. They urge for careful scientific investigation and warn against jumping to conclusions.
In summary, the quest for ancient alien villages is an intriguing journey that combines archaeology, science, and our search for our place in the universe. As researchers continue to study these mysterious skeletons, we might one day change our understanding of Earth’s history and learn more about the cosmos. This exploration not only expands our knowledge but also makes us think about the possibilities of life beyond our planet.
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