Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o, best supporting actress nominee for her role in "12 Years a Slave" and wearing a Prada gown, arrives at the 86th Academy Awards in Hollywood Reuters

Face of beauty brand, "Lancome," Lupita Nyong'o said she did not feel pretty growing up. She grew up thinking darker skin is associated with being "not beautiful" and "not acceptable," because of what others and the TV were saying.

"European standards of beauty are something that plague the entire world, the idea that darker skin is not beautiful, that light skin is the key to success and love. Africa is no exception," the actress shares in the Glamour's December issue. "When I was in the second grade, one of my teachers said, 'Where are you going to find a husband? How are you going to find someone darker than you?' I was mortified."

To add to her mortification when she was growing up, The "12 Years a Slave" star shared that she was constantly exposed to television commercials that says dark skin is ugly and unacceptable. The Oscar winner recounted one commercial that drove the message through. The commercial showed a young woman going into an interview but did not get the job. However, a whitening cream was all it took to make her acceptable to the job.

She said that even though her immediate family did not share the same opinion, the media was enough to make her feel the unacceptability of dark skin. "The voices from the television are usually much louder than the voices of your parents," shared the 31-year-old, who has now become a style icon in the eyes of many.

Still, she shared that she was able to overcome these voices through her family. Her family was supportive and loving. Her mother in particular, thought her that beauty is not achieved by primping up or doing things that would enhance her external features. Rather, her mother taught her to be compassionate and respectful, because these are the things that ended up being beautiful. For Lupita, being beautiful have many benefits, but being friendly gives the same. For her, "beauty is an expression of love."

Her mantra must be working for her because she was just named as People Magazine's "Most Beautiful Person." She shared that this was a major compliment to her, claiming she's happy other girls would be able to see this award and feel a "little more seen." Currently, the actress is working on the upcoming movie, "Star Wars: Episode VII."