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. — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
I wanted to bleach my skin so bad, but my sister always discouraged me. She'd say, 'This is a bad thing. Don't try it.' — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
I was so ashamed of it that I would spend hours in the shower crying and trying to wash my skin off. — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
In my country - even though we have a lot of dark-skinned people - people think the lighter you are, the better you are.… — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
My sister was the one person who told me not to change, that my skin was beautiful. She really helped me feel good about… — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
I was in Italy on vacation, and I saw my reflection in a mirror. I saw how unique my skin was and why people… — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
Kids used to tease me and call me 'fille des etoiles,' which translates to 'daughter of the stars.' — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
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… — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
I was born in Senegal in 1996. My mom moved to New York when I was two years old, so I was raised by… — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
There were times I wouldn't leave my room for weeks and sometimes missed school because I hated how people would look at me. But… — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
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… — Khoudia Diop Copy Share Image
