Nessa

Nessa, known as Rurina in Japanese, is a fictional character in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Designed by illustrator Take Oekaki, she was introduced in the 2019 video games Pokémon Sword and Shield. She is a model who also serves as a Gym Leader, specializing in Water-type Pokémon. Nessa has appeared in other media related to the franchise, including Pokémon Masters EX and the anime Pokémon: Twilight Wings. In the games, she is the second Gym Leader that players face in the Galar region, and she can be found near the Hulbury lighthouse waiting to be challenged. Her father is a fisherman, and her mother works in the marketplace, which may have influenced her love for Water-type Pokémon. Besides being a Gym Leader, Nessa is also a successful model and a close friend of Sonia. Nessa is known for her calm and composed demeanor, but she has a strong competitive spirit hidden beneath the surface. She has dark skin, blue eyes, and long black hair with blue streaks, and she wears unique fashion accessories. Nessa has received praise for her representation of diversity in the game, but also faced controversy due to some fan art depictions of her skin tone.