Below are photos of Nyakim Gatwech, a South Sudanese model who is gaining attention after being told to bleach her very dark skin by an Uber driver.

She is being praised for her determination, breaking down the barriers of what people call conventional beauty and encouraging other people to appreciate the way people are, for who they are.

Currently a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, she is a 25 year old melanin proud emerging fashion icon, who lets her presence be known.

A photo from her Instagram reads “My chocolate is elegant. So is what I represent… A nation of warriors,” and the photos often receive over 10,000 likes each.

It is from these Instagram photos that it was revealed how she had an experience in which an Uber driver actually told her she should try bleaching her skin. She laughed in response. “You won’t believe the kind of questions I get and the kind of looks I get for having this skin,” she said.

The woman is aspiring to be a voice for the rights of black people around the world. Given the title “Queen of the Dark,” she says “Black is bold, black is beautiful, black is gold… Don’t let American standards damage your African soul.”

(Image credit: Bored Panda/Instagram)