diff --git a/localized_fields/models.py b/localized_fields/models.py
index 5ab1b1b..1d94196 100644
--- a/localized_fields/models.py
+++ b/localized_fields/models.py
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ class LocalizedModel(models.Model):
                 continue
 
             value = getattr(self, field.name, None)
+
             if not isinstance(value, LocalizedValue):
-                value = LocalizedValue()
+                if isinstance(value, dict):
+                    value = LocalizedValue(value)
+                else:
+                    value = LocalizedValue()
 
             setattr(self, field.name, value)
diff --git a/tests/test_localized_model.py b/tests/test_localized_model.py
index d385984..962c41a 100644
--- a/tests/test_localized_model.py
+++ b/tests/test_localized_model.py
@@ -27,3 +27,23 @@ class LocalizedModelTestCase(TestCase):
         obj = cls.TestModel()
 
         assert isinstance(obj.title, LocalizedValue)
+
+
+    @classmethod
+    def test_model_init_kwargs(cls):
+        """Tests whether all :see:LocalizedField
+        fields are assigned an empty :see:LocalizedValue
+        instance when the model is instanitiated."""
+        data = {
+            'title': {
+                'en': 'english_title',
+                'ro': 'romanian_title',
+                'nl': 'dutch_title'
+            }
+        }
+        obj = cls.TestModel(**data)
+
+        assert isinstance(obj.title, LocalizedValue)
+        assert obj.title.en == 'english_title'
+        assert obj.title.ro == 'romanian_title'
+        assert obj.title.nl == 'dutch_title'
\ No newline at end of file