Khoudia Diop is a 19-year-old Senegalese model who was once bullied about her 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 now even online sometimes, people will make 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, who started modelling 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.

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

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

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

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“They nicknamed me darky, daughter of the night”

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

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

Go to Bored Panda to see more incredible images of this stunning young woman!