A model with very dark skin is celebrated, showing that beauty is diverse and comes in all shades.

zacNovember 2023Last Updated: November 2023

2 minutes read

It can be tough to stand out from others, especially if your looks attract unwelcome attention. Khoudia Diop, a Senegalese fashion model, understands this struggle. She faced teasing as a child because of her very dark skin. Instead of letting negativity affect her, she turned it into inspiration and now offers valuable advice on self-love.

She experienced teasing.

Khoudia Diop had an unusual childhood in Senegal. Her mother left for New York when she was only 2 years old, and she was raised by her aunt. Despite pressure from her cousins to use skin-bleaching products, Diop consistently declined. She understood that while these products were easily available in her country, they could harm the skin.

Diop confessed, “I never tried it, but I won’t deny it, I wanted to be lighter.” The teasing led Diop to isolate herself at times, skipping school and feeling ashamed. Fortunately, her older sister played a vital role in helping her see the positive side of her uniqueness.

Diop has faced prejudice from a young age, with her deep, rich skin tone drawing taunts from other kids. She remembers they gave her nicknames like “Midnight” or “Mother of Stars”. But she found the strength to embrace both her inner and outer beauty and chose not to dwell on the criticism.

She transforms into the ‘melanin goddess.’

She proudly refers to herself as a ‘melanin goddess,’ explaining, “[I gave myself the nickname] because of my dark, melanin-rich complexion and because I want to inspire young girls and let them know that we are all goddesses inside and out.” Her message is straightforward yet impactful: “How you look doesn’t matter as long as you feel beautiful inside.”

Later, she joined Instagram with the @BlackBarbie handle, a name her friends used to call her during her childhood. However, she eventually chose to create something empowering for other dark-skinned girls. This led to the creation of @melaniin.goddess. Her objective is to demonstrate that having dark skin is not a negative attribute; being different is beautiful. She takes pride in helping girls understand that they don’t need to change who they are.

Her journey into the world of modeling.

At the age of 15, Diop moved to Paris, where her life took an unexpected turn. Photographers noticed her exceptional beauty and frequently inquired if she was interested in modeling. Initially uncertain, she chose to seize the opportunity to inspire other girls.

Diop recalled, “When I saw how my skin was popping, it hit me: This is why people look at me.” She added, “Every morning, I will look in the mirror and say, ‘Look at your skin. Look at your teeth and your smile. You are beautiful.'”

She became an internet sensation.

Diop’s choice to pursue modeling at the age of 17 thrust her into the spotlight. She was prominently featured in The Colored Girl project, a campaign celebrating black beauty that went viral in the summer of 2016. The outcome was remarkable—her Instagram followers surged from 300 to over 300,000 in just a few weeks.

Her distinctive skin tone has positively influenced social media. Today, with over 450,000 followers on Instagram, Diop utilizes her platform to champion the beauty of dark skin, emphasize the significance of self-esteem, and showcase the richness of African culture, captivating fans around the globe.

Khoudia Diop’s story highlights that unique beauty exists in everyone, regardless of color, size, or shape. Similar to Diop, who takes pride in her skin tone, this woman discovered her beauty strength in her beard.