Uber Uncomfortable
As Nvakim Gatwech got into an Uber one day, she had no idea what was in store for her. If only she had known that getting into that car was like living the most awful nightmare. It was so like a terrible dream because she had never met anyone like this driver. And yet, once Nvakim discovered his true identity and how he had gotten this way, she thought she had lost her mind. Just when this model has lost all hope, she realized something that had her eagerly reaching for her phone.
Can you guess what she realized?
Hard Times
Unfortunately for Novak, she has faced hard times before. When she first set off in America, her life was far from easy. Originally from South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest countries, her family took refuge in Ethiopia before finally making their way to America. Nvakim was well versed in hardships by this point.
And she thought it couldn’t possibly get any worse…
Arrival in America
Nvakim arrived with her family in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2007, finally bringing them into a safe home, away from the difficulties that they have faced in Africa. Nvakim wrote on the subject, “America is education, food, hospitals, not feeling like your child will pass away because there’s no medical care.”
Little did she know her new country came with a new set of challenges.
Unhappy School Days
When Nvakim showed up to high school in Minneapolis, she had her first experiencing being bullied for the color of her skin. Other kids would sneer and taunt, saying things like, “You black as hell, take a shower.” Even when the teacher would ask Nvakim questions during class, students sometimes would jest, “Who are you talking to? We can’t see her. She’s not here.”
Tears were a constant companion during these unhappy school days. She was constantly told that she was ugly, and she even started to believe it sometimes.
Worst of all, she even began contemplating extreme measures…
Can you guess what she was thinking?
Nearing Rock Bottom
At the worst of it, Nvakim even started to internalize the racism that she confronted on a daily basis. There was even one time when two men that she didn’t know made a bet about whether she was wearing leggings or if her skin really was just that dark.
She said, “There was a time in my life where I considered bleaching myself to avoid the dirty looks, the laughter, and for boys to find me attractive.” Fortunately, there were people in her life who always supported her and never let her stop loving herself.
You Can Always Count on Your Family
Nvakim received a very important piece of advice from her older sister: “The most satisfying feeling is when you are comfortable in your own skin and when you accept your beautiful dark, dark melanin.” And it wasn’t only her sister who noticed her natural beauty.
Strangers would stop her around town, or even at the grocery store, to tell her that she should puruse modeling. But there was just one problem…
Nvakim didn’t even know what modeling was! After learning what it was, she didn’t think that it was something that she was capable of pursuing.
Couldn’t Believe It
This persistent bullying left a deep wound in Nvakim’s heart. She thought that, since her peers thought she was ugly, she couldn’t see herself on social media, in a magazine, or on TV. She never thought that she’d become a model.
Even when her sister tried to persuade her to give it a go, she retorted that modeling was exclusively for lighter-skinned girls.
Until one day, when chance smiled at her. A single spark set off an entire trail of dominos, launching Nvakim into the place where she is today.
Do you know what happened next?
Nvakim Tries Modeling
At a small school event, Nvakim got her first taste of modeling when she walked down the runway wearing a friend’s fashion. She quickly found out that she had a natural talent for it. After that, she moved to New work and all her free time in photo shoots.
Over the course of two long years, she endlessly labored to build a portfolio. It was difficult facing constant discrimination from makeup artists, designers, and even other models. However, she was determined to never give up.
The Road to Empowerment
As she broke into the modeling world, she began getting more photo shoots and signing more contracts. At this point, she finally overcame the notion that dark skin was detrimental. She realized it was actually an asset.
She had learned self-love. This empowered her to even more ferociously pursue her dreams in modeling.
Yet one interaction with a stranger took her right back to those dark days…
A Shocking Question
On that fateful day, Nvakim was riding in an Uber on a way to an interview in St. Paul, her driver, a “light-skinned black man,” said to her, “Wow, you’re dark.” When she replied by saying, “Yeah, I know,” he then asked her an awful question that brought a flood of painful memories to her mind.
He asked, “if you were given $10,000, would you bleach your skin for that amount?”
He could have never guessed her priceless response!
Unbroken Self-Esteem
Nvakim couldn’t help but to laugh. She asked, “Why would I ever bleach this beautiful melanin God blessed me with?” The man just couldn’t understand why Nvakim considered it to be some sort of blessing and conjectured that life may be less difficult with lighter skin.
“Even if being lighter would make my life easier, I’d rather take the hard road,” she nobly replied. Then, she took the story straight to social media, where it quickly spread.
Coronated “Queen of the Dark”
When Nvakim told people on Instagram about her interaction with this Uber driver, she was amazed at how much positive response she received. People even started to call her “Queen of the Dark”
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, she explained, “I’m used to people asking the stupidest questions ever about my skin. I was so surprised that people were moved by this story.”
It was her positive attitude and tenacious spirit that was truly inspiring.
Driving Change
This model, who is also an aspiring schoolteacher, has since grown her Instagram page from a modest 20,000 followers to a whopping 300,000! She has also gotten incredible modeling jobs, ranging from local mag covers to national campaigns for famous brands like Aldo and Calvin Klein.
Even more important than the recognition or the money—at least for her—is that she is not a role model for little girls searching for positive influence and self-love. Her bold message challenges the status quo. She is truly an inspiration to us all.