Abandoned at Birth, Adopted Into Love
Growing up with parents often creates a sense of safety. But for some children, that comfort is missing from the start. Xueli Abbing, a 16-year-old born in China, was abandoned at birth and left at the door of an orphanage. Her parents’ identities were unknown. The orphanage staff gave her the name “Xueli”—with “Xue” meaning “snow” and “Li” meaning “beautiful”—because she was born with albinism.
What Albinism Is
Albinism is a genetic condition that causes the body to produce less melanin, the pigment responsible for color in skin, hair, and eyes. As a result, many people with albinism have very pale features and may also experience vision problems.
A New Life in the Netherlands
Xueli’s life changed when she was adopted by a family in the Netherlands, who provided her with a loving home and support. While many people might assume her story would end there, it was only the beginning of something much larger.
Discovered for a Fashion Message: “Perfect Imperfections”
When Xueli was 11 years old, a designer in Hong Kong asked her to model for a project celebrating different kinds of beauty. The campaign was called “perfect imperfections.” Xueli later described the opportunity as an amazing experience, including being invited to a fashion show in Hong Kong.
Facing Discrimination and Dangerous Myths
In many parts of the world, people with albinism face discrimination, and in some places, the danger is far worse. There are false beliefs that people with albinism have “medicinal” bones, and in extreme cases, individuals are hunted because of these myths. Xueli has spoken about feeling fortunate to have survived, saying she was “lucky” to have been abandoned rather than harmed.
Not a Prop: Wanting Respect in Modeling
Xueli has also pointed out a painful reality in the fashion world: models with albinism are sometimes used like props to represent angels or ghosts, which she says makes her sad. Still, she has had positive experiences too—especially working with a London photographer who treated her like any model should be treated, resulting in a stunning photoshoot.
A Major Milestone: Vogue Italia
One image from that shoot reached a huge milestone: it was sold to Vogue Italia for its June 2019 issue. Xueli later explained that she didn’t realize at first how important the magazine was, and only understood later why people were so excited.
Modeling With Low Vision and Real Challenges
Modeling is not easy for Xueli. She has only 8–10% vision, and camera flashes can be painful. Despite that, she continues, driven by a mission: to represent people who are often labeled as “different” and to show that beauty should include everyone.
Changing Beauty Standards—and Making It Normal
Xueli supports the idea that fashion and media are slowly becoming more inclusive. She has noted that while certain old standards still exist, it’s encouraging that people with disabilities or visible differences are appearing more often in media—yet she believes it shouldn’t be treated as special, it should be normal.
Why Inner Beauty Matters Most to Her
Because of her limited eyesight, Xueli says she often focuses more on people’s voices and what they say. To her, inner beauty—kindness, character, and meaning—matters more than appearance.
Her Mission: Education, Respectful Language, and Safety
Xueli wants to use modeling to educate the public:
- Albinism is a genetic disorder — not a curse
- She encourages respectful language like “a person with albinism” instead of labeling someone as “an albino,” because a condition should not define a person
- She refuses to accept that children are being harmed or murdered because of albinism and says she wants to change the world
A Future Built on Purpose
Xueli Abbing’s story is more than a modeling journey—it’s a mission to replace fear and misinformation with knowledge and respect. With courage, honesty, and determination, she aims to inspire and educate people worldwide, proving that difference should never mean danger—and that true beauty includes everyone.