Parents are essential in a child’s life, offering love, safety, and guidance. For Xueli Abbing, born in China with albinism, that foundation was missing from the start. Believed by her biological parents to look “too strange,” she was abandoned at the door of an orphanage. The staff gave her the name Xueli — “Xue” meaning snow and “Li” meaning beautiful — a fitting tribute to her striking appearance.
Albinism is a genetic condition that results in little or no production of melanin, causing very light skin, hair, and eyes. While it makes her unique, it can also bring challenges: people with albinism often face discrimination, stigma, and even violent attacks in some parts of the world. Xueli has said, “I’m lucky I was only abandoned.”
Her life changed when a loving family from the Netherlands adopted her, giving her the care and support she needed. At 11, a designer from Hong Kong invited her to take part in a campaign called Perfect Imperfections, which celebrated diverse forms of beauty. This opportunity opened the door to the world of modeling.
Sometimes models with albinism are cast as angels or ghosts — something that saddens Xueli, as it reinforces stereotypes. But her career took a positive turn when a London photographer worked with her like any other professional model, producing images that caught the eye of major publications. This led to her feature in the June 2019 issue of Vogue Italia — a milestone she only later realized was a huge achievement.
Now 16, Xueli is using her visibility to raise awareness about albinism, insisting it’s “a genetic disorder, not a curse.” She encourages people to say “a person with albinism” rather than “an albino,” to avoid defining someone solely by the condition. Her mission is clear: “I’m not going to accept that children are being murdered because of their albinism. I want to change the world.”
From being abandoned as a baby to gracing the pages of one of the most prestigious fashion magazines, Xueli’s story is one of resilience, advocacy, and redefining beauty. And her journey is only just beginning.
