Today we’d like to introduce you to Nyasunday Gatluak.
Hi Nyasunday, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been interested in Modeling from a young age. If you ask me I consider myself a shy and introvert until you know me personally. Modeling always gave me an outlet to be loud and command attention with my photos. I didn’t need to speak and that made me more comfortable. My mother was as supportive as any African Mother could be. Why her daughter wanted to stand in the middle of a room posing for strangers in front of a camera was beyond her. Nonetheless, my mother signed me up for modeling classes and allowed me to explore. We tried and failed and tried again, eventually, at 16, I put Modeling behind me.
Moving forward to 2017 I decided to take Modeling more seriously. I got with a local photographer named Husaya, who was doing free shoots at the time, and I decided to jump in at full throttle. I started shooting with him, as much as we could every month. Eventually, we were able to build some momentum and consistency. As I started to feel more comfortable in the Utah Modeling scene the work seemed to pay off. I got the opportunity to work with some wonderful businesses, photographers, MUA’s vendors the list goes on. I’ve had the opportunity to create beautiful art and am happy I have the option to continue.
Jumping to the beginning of 2020, I decided to take a break from my Modeling. The last 3 years moved fast and were amazing. But now, I really needed a real mental cleansing moment. I continued to work sporadically throughout 2020-2021 and I enjoyed modeling again.
Now fast forward to today. In August 2021, I run into Isaac Workman in an H&M. He approached me as a photographer and has quickly turned into so much more. Isaac helped me get excited for Modeling again, he reignited the hustle in me when it came to modeling. Everything from the concepts, the backdrops, the styling, and so on. But the most important to me the attention to detail Isaac shows in all his work. We’ve continued to work together and create and there is so much more to create.
Working with Isaac specifically has impacted me, as a dark-skinned woman, there was something always missing for me, working in this space in Utah. He took the time to edit my photos and so naturally, keeping my dark skin tones, actually highlighting my skin, instead of lightening my skin tones and taking away from me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Modeling is something that I love to consider an outlet, but to get to the height I want to, Social Media is a necessity.. When I began Modeling again in 2017 is when I first got onto Social Media, i.e.: IG .. and I did not think anything of it at the time. As time progressed it seemed I started to get a lot of anxiety from posting to Social Media. This is when I stopped modeling, I started to only shoot with photographers/businesses I considered friends, or friendly by specific request. Shoots that I could add to my portfolio but did not have an obligation to post online or have to interact or engage with online.
One other struggle was diversity and inclusion. Unfortunately, I was already used to this and did not expect any diversity. This did lead me to feel left out in a lot of my shoots. Sometimes, I would be booked and arrive and the Makeup Artist/Hairstylist have nothing at all in their chest that accommodates me, so they throw some bright red lipstick on me, a glitter gold eyelid and send me on. I felt ridiculous. I didn’t expect the diversity and inclusion but when I was met with it, it was such a different experience.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I plan to begin practicing Real Estate by 2023. I’ve always been drawn to real estate and am excited to see where this new venture takes me.
What are your plans for the future?
My plan for the future is to continue to build my personal brand as a model. I plan to move to a major city outside of Utah, within the next 6 months and my goal is to be signed by a major agency within the next 12 months. Also to continue to build a family business. My sisters and I are very interested in starting a Beauty Skin & Hair brand that we can expand into homemade clothing and jewelry.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sundayxthem/
Image Credits
Isaac Workman
Natalie Hopes
