Khoudia Diop is a Senegalese model. Diop was teased as a child because of her dark skin tone, but after moving to Paris at age 15, she was repeatedly approached with the suggestion that she become a model.

She nicknamed herself the “Melanin Goddess” to express pride in her appearance. In 2016 she moved to New York City for college and was featured in a campaign for The Colored Girl Project, which led to her becoming popular on Instagram. In 2017 she appeared in an advertising campaign for French cosmetics brand Make Up For Ever.

In 2017 Africa Youth Awards named her among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans, an initiative instituted to promote African youth movements and achieving and also restoring excellence in the works of young people across Africa