Albino Girl Gets Abandoned As A Baby, Grows Up To Become A Vogue Model (20 Pics)
Albino model Xueli Abbing is raising awareness around albinism and showing that people with disabilities can participate in society just like any other person.
Xueli is an albino girl who was abandoned and left outside of an orphanage as a baby back in China due to her genetic condition. At the age of three, she was adopted by the Abbing family and moved to The Netherlands where she eventually entered the modeling industry at the age of eleven. Fast forward to today, and Xueli is now a published model who has worked with many well-known brands and even appeared in an issue of Vogue!
In a recent interview with Bored Panda, the model's sister, Yara, explained that Xueli works as a model to raise awareness around albinism as well as to show others that people with disabilities are 'normal', and can participate in society just like any other person.
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Image source: xueli_a
Image source: xueli_a
"In modelling, looking different is a blessing not a curse and it gives me a platform to raise awareness of albinism," said Xueli in an interview with BBC. "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."
Image source: xueli_a
Image source: xueli_a
"I want other children with albinism—or any form of disability or difference—to know they can do and be anything they want," says Xueli. "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."
See more the girl's stunning modeling photos below!
Image source: xueli_a
Image source: xueli_a
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Image source: xueli_a
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"In modelling, looking different is a blessing not a curse and it gives me a platform to raise awareness of albinism," said Xueli in an interview with BBC. "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."
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Image source: xueli_a
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"I want other children with albinism—or any form of disability or difference—to know they can do and be anything they want," says Xueli. "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."
See more the girl's stunning modeling photos below!
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