The bullies who dragged this model down are now asking her for advice

Khoudia Diop, better known for her internet nom de plumeMelaniin Goddess, has opened up about how she was bullied for her skin colour.

The 20-year-old Senegalese model said in an interview with Okay Africa that she first realised people were looking at her differently around the age of five.

She said:

I struggled a lot with my self-esteem. I hated myself for so many years.

I felt pressured to use skin bleaching products…at a point I felt so ashamed of my skin colour that I wanted to lose it.

Diop went viral late last year for her images in a photography campaign celebrating diversity, called The Coloured Girl: Rebirth.

Recounting how she was bullied and called names by her classmates, she admits that they caused her a lot of emotional pain.

I was bullied a lot when I was in school by my classmates and other friends. I would be on my way home and there would always be a group behind me yelling all kinds of names like ‘darkie,’ ‘daughter of the night,’ all kinds of horrible names.

They’ve had a change of tune since she became a model...

All those people bullying me are coming back to me asking me how I became a model or if I can help them.

I would tell those bullies that teased me that I loved them so much for making me realise how unique I am and how beautiful I am. 

You can see her full interview, below:

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