Lupita Nyong'o Radiates Confidence in Lancôme Beauty Campaign (PHOTOS)

Lupita Nyong'o's stuns for Lancôme.

Lancôme unveiled it's heavily anticipated campaign photos starring the sensational Lupita Nyong'o. Lupita, 31, scored an endorsement deal with the beauty brand after becoming one of Hollywood's "It Girls." Her performance in 12 Years a Slave won her an Oscar, but her success is a story that inspires women of color everywhere.

Born in Mexico and raised in Kenya, the actress repeatedly prayed to God asking for lighter skin during her adolescence. Lupita has learned that beauty comes in shades and wishes to serve as an inspiration to other young girls who share the same concerns.

"I am truly honored to join the Maison Lancôme , a brand with such a prestigious history that I have always loved. I am particularly proud to represent its unique vision for women and the idea that beauty should not be dictated, but should instead be an expression of a woman's freedom to be herself," confided Lupita Nyong'o in a Lancôme press release.

The president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, chimed in with his support of the actress on his Twitter account by writing to the starlet, "You are the pride of Africa."

Congratulations @Lupita_Nyongo on your Oscars win. You are the Pride of Africa. pic.twitter.com/INkcynEDUG

— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) March 3, 2014

Leaders of nations are not the only ones bursting with joy over Lupita's success. According to the New York Post, Wanjira Maathai, the daughter of the late Kenyan Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maagari, said,"She (Nyong'o) attributes to her success to a lot of other black actresses who made her believe she could be something and that she could make it in film," Maathai said. "And I think it's so important to have role models, so important to have people who you can say, 'Ah, if she made it, maybe I can too.'"

Are you a fan of Lupita's work? Are you excited to see her future performances? Let us know in the comments below.