Lupita Nyong'o is on a roll.

Adding to her fantastic year, in which she won an Oscar, she has just been named People Magazine's most beautiful person. The 31-year-old "12 Years a Slave" actress shines on the cover with minimal makeup. A big necklace adorns her neck, and she wears a pink outfit.

"It was exciting and just a major, major compliment," Nyong'o said on scoring the cover. "I was happy for all the girls who would see me on (it) and feel a little more seen."

Nyong'o, who was born in Mexico but raised in Kenya, said she struggled with beauty as a child.

"Light skin and long, flowing straight hair," she said she was associated with beauty. "Subconsciously you start to appreciate those things more than what you possess."

Her mother always told her she was beautiful, and eventually, Nyong'o believed it, too. She also shared that, except for blonde, she has dyed her hair every color and even went bald, which she described as a cold and odd experience.

The best compliments now come when she is fresh-faced and natural.

Nyong'o has gained attention recently for being so inspirational and a role model to those that are not typically represented in the media. Here are five of her best quotes:

1. In an interview with IndieWire, she explained that her future plans include making a bigger difference in the film industry. She said, "I definitely intend to create my own work in the future so that we don't have to keep saying we don't have work for black women. But right now I don't know what's next. I hope that there are more opportunities to come my way."

2. She delivered a powerful speech during the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon, saying, "I remember a time when I too felt unbeautiful...And my one prayer to God, the miracle worker, was that I would wake up lighter-skinned. The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself until I was in front of a mirror because I wanted to see my fair face first. And every day I experienced the same disappointment of being just as dark as I was the day before. I tried to negotiate with God...But I guess God was unimpressed with my bargaining chips because He never listened."

3. During her Oscar acceptance speech, she said, "When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you're from, your dreams are valid."

4. In an interview with the Associated Press, she realized how she may influence the life of others. "I feel privileged that people are looking up to me and perhaps a dream will be born because of my presence," she said. "But my responsibility is to just keep on pursuing my dreams and goals and the admiration will take care of itself."

5. And she told Interview, "I discovered that joy is not the negation of pain, but rather acknowledging the presence of pain and feeling happiness in spite of it."

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