As a child, Senegalese model Khoudia Diop was constantly teased for her dark complexion. Bullies would call her names like "daughter of the night." But today, Diop's deep chocolate skin is helping the 19-year-old New Yorker make a name for herself. She was recently featured in The "Colored" Girl Project, a diversity-centered campaign that went viral last summer. And that was only the beginning of her whirlwind success. A few weeks later, she went from having less than 100 followers on Instagram to more than 250,000 fans.
But it's not all about having a successful career or proving the haters wrong for Diop. She also wants to make sure other women feel as confident as she does. "I want to inspire young girls and let them know that we are all goddesses inside and out," Diop told The Daily Mail. Diop even nicknamed herself "melanin goddess" after the pigment that gives skin it's color. Her story is about finding beauty from within, and she explained it best by saying, "The message I have for my sisters is that how you look doesn't matter as long as you feel beautiful inside." Well, Diop, you are stunning all around.
@thecgirlinc @kailaboulware #blackgirlmagic #melanin #darkskin #melaninonfleek #beauty #melaninpoppin #black #glow #smile #blackgirlsrock #darkskinbeauty #hair #flawless #darkskinned
A photo posted by Khoudia diop (@melaniin.goddess) on
Sep 17, 2016 at 12:12pm PDT
Same love, same strengh, same inner beauty ,different shades @lipsticklawd @diandraforrest @thecgirlinc #blackgirlmagic #melanin #beauty #blackgirlsrock
A photo posted by Khoudia diop (@melaniin.goddess) on
Aug 24, 2016 at 6:33pm PDT
@islandboiphotography thank you Makeup artist: @moshoodat Hair by: @2envyhair #melanin #melaninpoppin #beauty #hair #makeup #darkskin #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlsrock
A photo posted by Khoudia diop (@melaniin.goddess) on
Sep 23, 2016 at 3:20pm PDT
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Photo Credit: Instagram/@melaniin.goddess