Kheris Rogers was forced to change schools last year after being endlessly bullied for her dark skin.
But the 11-year-old has turned the taunts into triumph, launching her own successful clothing fashion line that's even being endorsed by celebrities.
Her brand "Flexin' In My Complexion" aims to empower and inspire others to love the skin they are in.
Kheris, from Los Angeles, remembers the humiliation she faced when a teacher handed her a black crayon during a project where the students had to draw themselves.
"I was the darkest of all of them," Kheris recalls of her classmates. "But they were all African-American."
Even moving schools did not stop the bullying.
Before it became a brand, "Flexin' In My Complexion" were words of encouragement uttered by Kheris' grandmother.
It soon became a family phrase and when her sister Taylor Pollard posted a photograph of Kheris online using the motto as a hashtag, the post went viral.
They decided to emblazon the phrase on t-shirts and launched the business online in April 2017.
The fashion range also includes jackets and vest tops.
Ms Pollard said they have sold more than 10,000 shirts and made over $US100,000 to date.
Actress, producer and writer Lena Waithe, rapper Snoop Dog and singer Alicia Keys are among the celebrities who have praised Kheris' business and worn her clothing.
Kheris hopes that she has inspired other people to feel comfortable with themselves.
In a post on Instagram, she wrote: "A little over a year ago, I just wanted my voice to be heard. Being bullied in school for the way that I look really made me afraid to even look in the mirror and see what it is that they see.
"Never did I think that I would be in a position of inspiring people around the world to love their skin. But now, I’ve made it my mission to be a voice for the voiceless and to empower others to flex in their complexion as well."
