Amarachi's Truth
Tell me about yourself.
Amarachi: My name is Amarachi, but everyone calls me Chichi. I’m Nigerian from the Igbo tribe. I’m studying biology on a pre-med track. I’m the oldest of my family, so I try to set an example for my siblings. I’m a cheerleader and also a member of the illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. I am a big mental health advocate. People forget how important their mental health is and that it affects every part of their life.
What are your beauty struggles?
Amarachi: When I was younger, I used to have really really, really, really bad acne. I tried every product out there and nothing worked for my skin. There aren’t that many products that work for African American skin. Surprisingly, Proactive worked for me. It cleared up my skin tremendously.
I also used to get made fun of because I was also really skinny. People used to say I looked like a starving kid in Africa. The African community looks favorable on thicker women. Thicker women are seen as more desirable because they are “better for childbirth,” so I struggled so much with my body image. I would overeat to gain weight, but then I would get sick and throw up. I wanted to fit into what people wanted me to look like. Now, I remind myself that God made me like that. I tell myself, “I was made in God’s image and handcrafted just the way I am. There is no one like me.”
Are there things that you encounter that others do not?
Amarachi: I was recruited to cheer at my college. My freshman year there was only 4 black cheerleaders out of 40. We have since grown to 13. It's mostly indirect. People come off ignorant. They'll say, “OMG the little black girl is so cute; she’s so exotic.” When you change your hair, people will ask you, “How do you keep it on?”
I also won homecoming queen. I’m the 9th black homecoming queen in our school’s history. Other black girls come up to me when I’m out and say they look up to me. I will say that people at my school are eager to learn. My teammates have grown. They are willing to learn about cultures they aren't familiar with. We can’t change things overnight, but there are people willing to listen and change.
How has community been important for you?
Amarachi: Community has been very important for me. Birds of a feather flock together. I'm always around my line sisters, who care about me and know me, as well as my Christian community. They have helped me in times where I was overwhelmed and stressed. I don’t always try to lead in a social aspect, but as a disciple of Christ, I "bear the cross". I don’t ever want to be known as a surface person, I want to be real. I have to show people that I’m a real person who makes mistakes. That's why I surround myself with people who hold me accountable and let me know when I've messed up.
What does beauty mean to you?
Amarachi: Beauty is the reflection of who I see in the mirror and not the visible reflection, but the internal reflection of my heart. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. How you feel on the inside is how you look on the outside. If you have God-fidence, no one can tell you that you are not beautiful.
What’s your self-care routine?
Amarachi: So, I’m weird. I’m really goofy. I did it this morning. If I’m feeling stressed out, I journal and while I journal I put on some Disney music. It’s something about my childhood that makes me feel carefree. When I journal, I get a small break from adulthood with no judgments. I also love YouTube so I watch a bunch of videos. I only watch three shows on TV: WAGS, Grown-ish, and music shows like The Four. I work out every day because it calms me down and makes me feel good. I also love music so much! My favorite song right now is “While We Are Young” by Jhene Aiko.
Keep up with Amarachi on her journey:
Instagram: @Jasmineeokafor
Snapchat: Jaaazziieee