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
Even though I was very young, it was traumatizing seeing someone try weird things on their skin all for the sake of being lighter. It's as common as relaxing your hair or maybe even brushing your teeth. I had friends… — 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
