Khoudia Diop christened the “Melanin Goddess,” is a young, energetic 26yrs old model born on December 31st, 1996, in Senegal. Black in complexion with wide round eyes sitting on her beautiful face. She was born and raised in Senegal until she was taken to Paris at age 15.
During her formative years, her parents left her, and her aunt took charge of her welfare. Growing up in Senegal, she faced discrimination because of her dark skin.
Different names described her, and her life became unpleasant due to racism. Skin toning or bleaching is typical in her environment, and she was pressured to do the same. As a result, she was generally referred to as “born different,” someone born with different features, including skin tone and abnormal physical appearance. She couldn’t handle being caught up in low self-esteem along the line. It got to a time she stopped schooling due to unpleasant treatment by her colleagues. She attended Lycèe Suger High School in France.
She was seen as weird among her peers. Khoudia was ashamed of her skin color to the extent that she sometimes spent hours washing her skin in the shower. The frustrated little Diop always complained to her aunty about the stigma. She was 3years old when her mother left Senegal.
At age 15, she was moved to Paris to start a new life. In Paris, she was advised not to bleach her skin because her creator wonderfully and uniquely made her. She started modelling in Paris and was quite stressed at that young age. However, she buried her fears and decided to face the world with what she possessed as a lady. According to her, no amount of stigmatisation or racism could stop her from unleashing her potential as a model.
She started modelling at the age of 17 and came up with the modelling name “Melanin Goddess,” alluding to her dark black skin to express her uniqueness. She moved to New York to live with her immediate family (mother and other siblings). The family inspired her to believe in herself and start something new.
Growing up, she aimed to redefine beauty in her way as a black woman, brimming with ideas. She escaped pressure from friends and colleagues, sustained by her intuition and advice from close relatives, and decided to defy the odds and shatter the glass ceiling. Khoudia accepted who she was and planned to set up a brand. Her dream is to use her skin tone to prove that the dark colour doesn’t represent poverty but rather a beauty.
She surprised friends by posting her photographs and short videos on social media, specifically on Instagram. This showcased how beautiful dark skin is and how cute the person wearing that skin can look. However, her dreams weren’t shattered.
The co-founder of Colored girl contacted Diop to start a juicy deal in modelling. Afterward, her picture went viral and attracted thousands of people from different walks of life to follow her on her Instagram account. She became the people’s favourite and advocated for black beauty.
Appearing on such big platforms means freedom because she is on herself. She always feels like helping dark-skinned girls overcome low self-esteem and feel better about themselves.
Her life as a model has been exemplary for young girls facing similar discrimination in their environment. Diop has won different ambassadorial deals to help project what she has as a young girl and fashion model. As a result, people have accepted her beliefs and understanding of her dark skin.
She has gained a lot, including fame. She is one of the young, most influential people in the discipline she finds herself. But, of course, breaking numbers on the Internet wasn’t the ultimate goal. Still, she achieved that through her constant advocacy for dark, beautiful skin and by helping people embrace their differences. Khoudia is represented by, The coloured Girl Project, Electric Republic, and Wilhelmina Models.
As a model and brand ambassador for Lancôme (Paris), she is now receiving fat cheques, MAKE UP FOR EVER in the U.S., and Aveeno.
Beauty, they say, lies in the eyes of the beholder.
GCBM Contributor: Adjei Boakye
