Quotes from Khoudia Diop

In my family, only my brother has a similar skin color. But in Senegal, the color is common.

My mom was the only one who didn't bleach her skin. She was the one who kept her natural complexion. So yes, I consider her a role model. All of her other family members would say to us, 'Oh, your mom is so beautiful. She's lucky she kept her skin.' Those comments stayed with me.

I was born in Senegal in 1996. My mom moved to New York when I was two years old, so I was raised by my aunt back home.

To this day, the first thing that I do every morning is look in the mirror. I'll tell myself, 'Look at your skin. Look at your teeth and your smile. You are beautiful.'

I want to inspire young girls and let them know that we are all goddesses inside and out.

I want to inspire other young women of color and empower them. I want them to know that they can do and be anything they dream of.

When I was younger, I didn't have any inspiration to like the skin I was in.

Celebrate yourself... and stay positive!

I've always had trouble finding makeup in darker shades.

I use Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion for my body and Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer for my face. I love how it smooths my skin and keeps it soft and shiny all day.

People have made comments, calling me names like 'midnight' or 'mother of stars.' At first I confronted the bullies, but eventually I learned to tune out the negativity and just love myself more.

Where I grew up, we had light-skinned models but not dark. Every time I would talk about being a model with my friends, they would start laughing out loud.

There are so many types of beauty that all deserve to be celebrated.

I let my life, and success, speak for itself.

I was bullied a lot, being a kid, so I feel like I'm standing out because I realize who I really am.

I've learned to ignore the negative people and just be a living example of confidence and self-love.

I was mostly bullied by my classmates. People would come up to me and say, 'You're so dark.' I'd always fight back by calling out one of their insecurities, like, 'Well, you have a big nose.' Today, I'd tell them that I really love them. I'd thank them because they made me realize how unique I am.

I don't know why. I'm fascinated with stars and space. I just love them.

I didn't have to listen to nobody or look how anybody wanted me to look. I just wanted to be myself and look however I want.

You are OK however you are, and you are very beautiful.

Self-love is not something that you get in one day or two days. It's an ongoing process, and I go through it every day.

I grew up in Senegal, where more than 50 percent of the women bleach their skin, and skin bleaching is a huge deal. I grew up seeing my cousins and my aunts using it.

I was in Italy on vacation, and I saw my reflection in a mirror. I saw how unique my skin was and why people stop me on the street to ask about it. I started falling in love with it.

While in Paris, I got into modeling - photographers would literally stop me on the street.