THE TOPIC OF SKIN BLEACHING LEADS THIS SUDANESE GIRL TO HAVE A LIFE-CHANGING INTERVENTION

Reaching Kenya

Nyakim Gatwech’s life has indeed been filled with ups and down. She has lived in South Sudan, to entering refugee camps in Ethiopia, Nyakim wound up in Minnesota in search of a better future. Because she looked so different, she had a very different experience after moving there as well. Since she was treated so bad, she decided to take drastic measures to change herself. Her story is one that will truly inspire anyone dealing with hardships in life and its unsolicited criticism…

Since the family was dealing with a lot of hardships, they decided to return to Kenya joining another refugee camp where they stayed up until Nyakim. Here in Kenya, Nyakim found her love and passion for fashion and beauty. She would constantly watch ‘America’s Next Top Model; with Tyra Banks as her idol, getting her hands on all of the fashion magazines she could read

The Land Of The Free

It was such a sigh of relief to know that they would not have to worry about their next meal or sleeping in tents. It was just like heaven in a way. The family was now going to get full access to a good education, clean hygienic water, and proper medical care. However, Nyakim would soon realize that America was a place where good and bad both collided. Language and her dark complexion were about to make her life a living hell…

The “Other”

Nyakim was deeply hurt knowing that the classmates and the people she lived with did not accept her as she was. It was a terrible feeling for the young girl who just wanted a chance in life. Even though she was made fun of, there were other who often told her that she should go for modeling. Even though she had always been interested, Nyakim was too insecure to start by herself…

Her True Destiny

“These people don’t accept me,” she confessed. “These kids think I’m ugly. I don’t see myself on social media, or TV, or in the magazines. I don’t think I’m meant to be a model,” Nyakim would often exclaim. She did not feel confident about it so she kept the possibilities of modeling on the side. However, when she least expected it, her destiny was about to come for her sooner than she expected…

Bleaching Her Mind

Nyakim begged her dear sister to help her do something common with Sudanese women, to bleach her skin. Nyakim’s sister had already done this and was thoroughly against it. Her sister explains “You would not just be bleaching your skin, you would be bleaching your mind. I did it and I regret it. I’m not going to let my daughter do it or you — nobody.” She also advised Nyakim, “The most satisfying feeling is when you are comfortable in your own skin and when you accept your beautiful dark, dark melanin.”

The Turnabout

So when Nyakim Gatwech joined junior year in high school, she was about to get a life-changing opportunity. Even though her sister advised Nyakim to do modeling, she always thought she was not light-skinned enough or for that matter, a blonde to get on the runway. But when her friend asked her to model her clothes for a fashion show at St. Cloud State University, things would change. Nyakim realized just how natural she was on the runway…

A Fresh Start

And ever so quickly, Nyakim’s beauty was slowly appreciated by more people. Some people would stop her in the streets, encouraging her to pursue modeling. She slowly started to believe that the world was her oyster, that she was capable of things. She often felt, “What’s modeling. Is that a job I can really apply for?” She quickly started to venture into modeling. She joined a college in New York and balanced her time trying to perfect her portfolio.