We all know that the fashion industry can be a pretty harsh environment for work. Many girls just cannot take the pressure of looking their best at all times and turn away from the modeling possibilities. And though the industry has rigorous beauty standards, more and more unconventionally beautiful girls become the next superstars.

Khoudia Diop is a 19-year-old Senegalese fashion model who was once bullied about her dark skin color. But now the self-proclaimed “Melanin Goddess” is taking the internet by storm with her beautifully rich skin tone.”I was teased a lot growing up, because of my skin tone,” Khoudia, who is based in Paris, told the Daily Mail. “And even now sometimes, people will make racist comments. Growing up, I faced it by confronting the bullies. As I grew, I learned to love myself more every day, and not pay attention to the negative people.”

Since then Khoudia, now a famous model, who started modeling when she was 17, has won the internet with her beautiful pictures that have earned her a following of over 235k on Instagram. She’s also inspiring people to embrace their differences, writing that “If you’re lucky enough to be different, don’t ever change.” We couldn’t agree more.

More info: Instagram | Facebook (h/t: designyoutrust, dm)

“I was teased a lot growing up, because of my skin tone,” says 19-year-old model Khoudia Diop

“And now even online sometimes, people will make comments”

“Growing up, I faced it by confronting the bullies”

“They nicknamed me darky, daughter of the night”

“As I grew, I learned to love myself more every day, and not pay attention to the negative people”

“The message I have for my sisters is that how you look doesn’t matter, as long as you feel beautiful inside”

“One of my goals is to make all my dark-skinned sisters out there laugh at those with their “beauty standards””

Khoudia only started modelling 2 years ago when she was just 17, but she already has over 235k followers on Instagram

“If you’re lucky enough to be different, don’t ever change”