Albinism
is a rare inherited condition that persists throughout life and is found
globally among individuals of all races and ethnicities. It leads to reduced
production of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes, resulting in lighter
or no coloration. Unfortunately, individuals with this condition are often
perceived as different and face stigmatization, particularly in underdeveloped
countries.
About
16 years ago, a girl with albinism was born in China. Upon seeing her
snow-white skin, her parents made the heartbreaking decision not to take her
home. Consequently, the little one ended up at an orphanage just days after
birth. This situation was distressing, and the orphanage staff, who named her
Xueli, meaning "snow white and beautiful," felt deep sympathy for
her. However, they couldn't have known that she would eventually be adopted by
a caring family from the Netherlands, who would provide her with a wonderful
life.
At
the age of 11, Xueli was discovered by a renowned photographer from Hong Kong,
who invited her to participate in a campaign showcasing individuals, each
beautiful in their unique way.
"In
an interview with the BBC, Xueli Abbing shared, 'She called the campaign
'perfect imperfections' and asked if I wanted to join her fashion show in Hong
Kong. That was an amazing experience.'"
In
certain regions, there's a belief that the bones of individuals with albinism
possess medicinal properties. As a result, some of these individuals may face
disfigurement, with their fingers, arms, or legs being severed.
Knowing
this, Xueli says she’s lucky she was only abandoned.
After
her photos were shared on social media, a photographer from London took Xueli
under her wing, assisting her in securing a spot on the cover of Vogue Italia
magazine for its June 2019 issue.
"At
the time, I didn’t grasp the significance of the magazine, and it took me a
while to understand why people were so excited about it," she reflected.
"In
the interview, she expressed, 'There are still models who are incredibly tall
and skinny, but now individuals with disabilities or differences are being
showcased more in the media, and this is fantastic—though it should just be
considered normal,'" she remarked.
"In
an interview, she mentioned, 'Perhaps because I can't see everything properly,
I tend to focus more on people's voices and what they have to say. So, their
inner beauty holds greater importance to me,'" she shared.
Xueli
is doing all in her power to help raise awareness about the people with
albinism.
"I
aim to use modeling as a platform to discuss albinism and convey that it's a
genetic condition, not a curse," she asserts. "The proper terminology
is 'a person with albinism' because being labeled as 'an albino' makes it sound
like it defines your entire identity."
"I
refuse to accept that children are being murdered because of their albinism. I
aspire to change the world," she added.
We're
immensely grateful for individuals like this 16-year-old beauty who remind us
that it's our differences that make this world a wonderfully colorful place.
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