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Abandoned As A Baby Due To Albinism, Xueli Grew Up To Become A Vogue Model (30 Pics)
1 in 20,000 people worldwide is born with a genetic condition called albinism, and you'd think people should be aware of it by now, given how easily accessible information is nowadays. However, there is still a lot of stigma around it which is especially prevalent in places where people with this condition stand out from the crowd and make heads turn for all the wrong reasons, such as Africa or Asia. In China, albinism is seen as a curse or a crippling social and economic burden, so many children never get to go to a loving home after coming into this world. A baby girl was left outside an orphanage in China around 16 years ago because she looked different and was predestined to have no future, or, at least, a very difficult one.
Luckily, when she was 3, Xueli was adopted by the Dutch Abbing family and moved to the Netherlands to live with her new mom and sister. Unique looks led Xueli to the modeling industry at the age of 11, where she got a platform to celebrate differences, raise awareness about albinism, and inspire others to embrace their natural beauty. As of today, she has been featured in Vogue and has worked with the world's greatest photographers and major brands in the fashion industry.
More info: Instagram
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Albinism is an inherited genetic condition caused by the lack of melanin, the pigment formed in the skin, hair, and eyes. It occurs in all ethnic and racial groups and the levels of pigmentation can vary depending on its type. It can include various skin and vision complications, so albinos have to be extremely cautious. Xueli only has eight to ten percent vision, so her eyes are extremely sensitive to bright light. Because she can't look at the light directly, you'll notice that she is photographed with her eyes closed in most photos. Along with one of her photos on Instagram, Xueli shares about her experience:
"I hardly ever open my eyes during photoshoots, because the light is almost always too bright. When I do open my eyes, I mostly squeeze them..."
Xueli's sister, Yara, who manages her social media and occasionally photographs Xueli, told Bored Panda:
"She works as a model in order to raise awareness around albinism and to show others that people with disabilities are 'normal' as well and can perfectly participate in society."
Xueli shared her own story with BBC. She opened up about how the modeling industry is changing:
"In modelling, looking different is a blessing not a curse and it gives me a platform to raise awareness of albinism.
There are still models who are like eight foot two and skinny but now people with disabilities or differences are featured more in the media and this is great—but it should be normal. Models with albinism often get stereotyped in shoots to depict angels or ghosts and it makes me sad. Especially because it perpetuates those beliefs that endanger the lives of children with albinism in countries such as Tanzania and Malawi."
Xueli is represented by a revolutionary talent agency, Zebedee Management, which focuses on people with disabilities and visible differences. The agency is trying to change the game in the fashion, advertising, and other media industries so that their campaigns are as diverse as our society.
Zebedee Management writes on their website: "Disability has often been left out of the diversity debate, and we often receive casting calls looking for 'diversity,' but with no mention of disability. Disability seems to be the last taboo—however, we want to change this. We want it to be the norm that advertising using people with disabilities becomes commonplace."
You can read more inspiring and thought-provoking stories about talents represented by Zebedee Management on Bored Panda here, here, here, here, and here.
Aside from the ridiculous outfit - I love this picture for her normal expression. She really is beautiful, but hard to see until she shows normal emotion.
When Xueli is not posing in front of a lens for world-class brands and photographers or conquering runways, she has many other activities to spend her time. Her sister named a few:
"Xueli mostly likes to fill her days with sports (such as climbing), crochet, and watching informative videos on YouTube. She knows many strange facts and loves to philosophize about life with other people."
Xueli is an empowering example that your differences and disabilities shouldn't cut you off from the possibilities this world can still offer.
I really will never understand why dressing respectfully and with modesty in the dress of another culture is frowned upon. I see if you are openly mocking it, but to interpret it with class and grace should be seen as a compliment and not disrespectful. I'm sure the SJW will down vote me for this
Xueli uses modeling to talk about albinism because she refuses to accept inequality and wants to "change the world." She said to BBC:
"I want other children with albinism—or any form of disability or difference—to know they can do and be anything they want. For me, I'm different in some ways but the same in others. I love sport and climbing and I can do it as well as anyone else. People might say you can't do things but you can, just try."
Can we talk about how magical her hair looks? It’s like the color of purest silver
She really is a beautiful girl. I hope she is happy in her new life.
Albinism often linked to poor eyesight. They are very sensitivity to bright lights or sunlight due to the iris doesn't have enough color to protect the retina.
Can confirm. I have albinism and I have to wear strong sunglasses and a hat to add shade and I still get sick to my stomach if I'm out in the sun too long. I also have much better night vision than the average person.
Load More Replies...I have vitiligo and have to use precautions to protect my skin since places where I have no pigment burn very quickly in the sun. Years before I had it I never was a sun worshipper. I know people that absolutely have to get as dark as they can each summer and their skin looks like leather.
When I was a kid, sunscreen at spf15 was a prescription and I wasn't allowed to spend long periods of time in the sun. If we went to a pool, I could swim for about 15 minutes and then had to go sit in shade for a period of time before I could go back in the pool. I burned pretty quickly if we weren't very careful. Nowadays, I wear long-sleeve rashguards to go swimming, but I still can't be in the sun for long. I don't envy the "sun worshipers" as they will be likely to have carcinomas later in life.
She wears sunglasses in the pics on her Instagram seemingly to counteract that.
She was put in the modelling industry at 11. It's child labour. I wish people wouldn't do this to their children.
What an opportunity to make something that may be regarded as a negative into a positive. To be regarded as beautiful after being rejected at birth. A way to have money in the bank for what may be an uncertain future, and gain experience in a competitive field.
Load More Replies...The best photos are the ones with her smiling and her eyes open. To me the ones with her eyes closed make it look like she has a pained expression.
My unsolicited advice to you: When you see something like this and notice "so many pictures have closed eyes". It would be better if your next thought was "I wonder if there is a reason why. Maybe I should look into it and learn something new about albinism", rather than going straight to judging and criticisms.
Load More Replies...Everyone has something unique and that should be embraced! It is what makes you you that is beautiful! Love yourself and others. Celebrate differences! Do not fear them. A world without ignorance would be amazing! Behind all hate is ignorance.
It described albinism as a disability in the article, I know that albinism makes people look different but is there a part to it I missed besides just social pressure because you look different? Is there some kind of physical condition albino people had? It's a serious question, I'm not here criticizing the writing or citing or anything, I've just never heard of anything like that. Can someone help me out?
Albinism gives skin a high risk of skin cancer, my albinic friend goes to check ups every year, gets full body surface photographed as part of it to watch for developments in any spots. And lack of pigment in eyes cause poor eyesight, strabismus etc.
Load More Replies...Major issues with vision. Some are visually impaired as well as hyper sensitive to light.
Beautiful girl!! Her face reminds me of Renee Zellweger, with the same sad looking. And regarding the problem with the light I can say that yes, is a big problem. I myself, being blond, suffered my whole life from photophobia, and many time it really hurts.
Too many pics with her eyes closed and dry lips, not a fan of whoever took these shots, just too many odd ones, sorry.
the eyes closed is possibly due to the harshness of the lights and flashes.....due to the lack of melanin their eyes are extremely sensitive and of ten suffer visual difficulties
Load More Replies...Albinism can lead to pink/red irises, which are VERY light-sensitive. A flash or bright light is he** on their eyes.
She submits to it because she refused to surrender to it (There is a difference). I have a severe disability that causes me intense pain when I do certain activities. I do them anyway. Why? Because I refuse to allow that pain to stop me from doing what I love. She loves modeling, so if that means submitting to the painfully bright lights rather than surrendering to the pain and missing out, she does it.
I am personally glad that in some shots, we can see her dry lips. Models shouldn't be perfect. We're all imperfect human beings and to constantly look at women who're pure perfection based on our society's conception of beauty is damaging for our minds, believe it or not. I love it when models are shown as normal human beings with normal physical imperfections.
People with albinism have extremely sensitive eyes. That's why they often can't look directly at a camera flashing.
She is so beautiful. She has such an etheric quality about her because of her coloring. She will be a powerful champion for others. God has blest her with this amazing beauty and given her the courage to change the world,
Africa, Asia, China? How about the US? I know a pair of African American twins (fraternal), one of whom has albinism. The albinism twin has suffered many ignorant comments such as, "you're not black," "you're dad has to be white," "you can't really be siblings," etc. The twin is a child, and people think they have the right to say these things out loud TO A CHILD.
Albinism often linked to poor eyesight. They are very sensitivity to bright lights or sunlight due to the iris doesn't have enough color to protect the retina.
Can confirm. I have albinism and I have to wear strong sunglasses and a hat to add shade and I still get sick to my stomach if I'm out in the sun too long. I also have much better night vision than the average person.
Load More Replies...I have vitiligo and have to use precautions to protect my skin since places where I have no pigment burn very quickly in the sun. Years before I had it I never was a sun worshipper. I know people that absolutely have to get as dark as they can each summer and their skin looks like leather.
When I was a kid, sunscreen at spf15 was a prescription and I wasn't allowed to spend long periods of time in the sun. If we went to a pool, I could swim for about 15 minutes and then had to go sit in shade for a period of time before I could go back in the pool. I burned pretty quickly if we weren't very careful. Nowadays, I wear long-sleeve rashguards to go swimming, but I still can't be in the sun for long. I don't envy the "sun worshipers" as they will be likely to have carcinomas later in life.
She wears sunglasses in the pics on her Instagram seemingly to counteract that.
She was put in the modelling industry at 11. It's child labour. I wish people wouldn't do this to their children.
What an opportunity to make something that may be regarded as a negative into a positive. To be regarded as beautiful after being rejected at birth. A way to have money in the bank for what may be an uncertain future, and gain experience in a competitive field.
Load More Replies...The best photos are the ones with her smiling and her eyes open. To me the ones with her eyes closed make it look like she has a pained expression.
My unsolicited advice to you: When you see something like this and notice "so many pictures have closed eyes". It would be better if your next thought was "I wonder if there is a reason why. Maybe I should look into it and learn something new about albinism", rather than going straight to judging and criticisms.
Load More Replies...Everyone has something unique and that should be embraced! It is what makes you you that is beautiful! Love yourself and others. Celebrate differences! Do not fear them. A world without ignorance would be amazing! Behind all hate is ignorance.
It described albinism as a disability in the article, I know that albinism makes people look different but is there a part to it I missed besides just social pressure because you look different? Is there some kind of physical condition albino people had? It's a serious question, I'm not here criticizing the writing or citing or anything, I've just never heard of anything like that. Can someone help me out?
Albinism gives skin a high risk of skin cancer, my albinic friend goes to check ups every year, gets full body surface photographed as part of it to watch for developments in any spots. And lack of pigment in eyes cause poor eyesight, strabismus etc.
Load More Replies...Major issues with vision. Some are visually impaired as well as hyper sensitive to light.
Beautiful girl!! Her face reminds me of Renee Zellweger, with the same sad looking. And regarding the problem with the light I can say that yes, is a big problem. I myself, being blond, suffered my whole life from photophobia, and many time it really hurts.
Too many pics with her eyes closed and dry lips, not a fan of whoever took these shots, just too many odd ones, sorry.
the eyes closed is possibly due to the harshness of the lights and flashes.....due to the lack of melanin their eyes are extremely sensitive and of ten suffer visual difficulties
Load More Replies...Albinism can lead to pink/red irises, which are VERY light-sensitive. A flash or bright light is he** on their eyes.
She submits to it because she refused to surrender to it (There is a difference). I have a severe disability that causes me intense pain when I do certain activities. I do them anyway. Why? Because I refuse to allow that pain to stop me from doing what I love. She loves modeling, so if that means submitting to the painfully bright lights rather than surrendering to the pain and missing out, she does it.
I am personally glad that in some shots, we can see her dry lips. Models shouldn't be perfect. We're all imperfect human beings and to constantly look at women who're pure perfection based on our society's conception of beauty is damaging for our minds, believe it or not. I love it when models are shown as normal human beings with normal physical imperfections.
People with albinism have extremely sensitive eyes. That's why they often can't look directly at a camera flashing.
She is so beautiful. She has such an etheric quality about her because of her coloring. She will be a powerful champion for others. God has blest her with this amazing beauty and given her the courage to change the world,
Africa, Asia, China? How about the US? I know a pair of African American twins (fraternal), one of whom has albinism. The albinism twin has suffered many ignorant comments such as, "you're not black," "you're dad has to be white," "you can't really be siblings," etc. The twin is a child, and people think they have the right to say these things out loud TO A CHILD.