Xueli Abbing, creating history - Orphanage in China to Vogue Italia
After being adopted by a Dutch family, Xueli moved to the Netherlands to living with her new mother and sister Yara, and she began modeling at 11.
Finding a baby abandoned on the ground outside, staff at the orphanage in China called her Xue Li. ‘Xue’ means snow, and ‘Li’ means beautiful.
Adopted at the age of three by a family in the Netherlands, her mother kept the name, thinking it a poignant reference to her daughter’s pale skin and Chinese roots.
Compiled in a gallery by Bored Panda, pictures show her striking beauty as she poses in stunning photos, wearing a vibrant collar made from colorful flowers or a wreath of dandelions.
As well as magazine shoots and catwalk work, she has also modeled for accessories giant Kurt Geiger.
She uses her platform to celebrate differences, raise awareness about albinism, and inspire others to embrace their natural beauty.
Having worked with some of the greatest fashion photographers and brands, Xueli has been featured in Vogue Italia and said the industry is 'changing'.
She said: 'In modeling, looking different is a blessing, not a curse and it gives me a platform to raise awareness of albinism
Xueli feels this 'endangers' the lives of children living in countries where the condition is not yet accepted.
She uses her platform to celebrate differences, raise awareness about albinism, and inspire others to embrace their natural beauty
Xueli said that in modeling 'looking different is a blessing' and she wants to use her platform to 'raise awareness of albinism'
The model, who only has between eight and ten percent vision, added that people with albinism are subject to stereotyping and are often made to 'depict angels or ghosts'
Yara, who manages her social media, said: '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.'
‘Being different is good: the teenage model making fashion more inclusive
Abbing may never know for sure why she was left at the orphanage, but many in China view albinism – a rare genetic condition causing a lack of pigment in eyes, skin, and hair – as a curse.
When it comes to modeling, Abbing has found her difference more of a blessing: she is represented by the Zebedee Talent agency, which aims to make people who have disabilities more visible in the world of fashion.
“I want to help people to see that being different is good, and definitely not some curse, as they believe in countries like Tanzania and Malawi,” said Abbing. “Some companies try to include models who are different, but sometimes for the wrong reason, because they want to say: ‘Hey look at us, we are also including people with differences or people of a different color’.”
But Abbing welcomes what she sees as a shift towards people wanting to learn about and embrace differences. “Also talk with people with differences directly, ask them questions and listen to what they have to say,” she urged.
I want to help people to see that being different is good, and definitely not some curse
When not in front of the camera, Abbing loves climbing and swimming and used to be a competitive judo player. It’s important to her to focus on what is possible, rather than what isn’t. (Her albinism means she has only 8-10 percent vision, and that it hurts to look at the light directly).
“At school, teachers tend to look at the things you cannot do. I really didn’t like that, although they meant well. I know I’m visually impaired. I would rather they had focused on the things I can do instead.”
She loves the world of travel and meeting new people, which her modeling has opened up, and particularly working with artists and on artistic projects. The outfit she wore for this photo, for example, is made from dandelion seeds by Dutch floral designer Conny van der Westerlaken. “This really inspires me. Their creations are amazing,” Abbing said.
The teen also pours her creativity into crochet artwork. “Because I see the world from a different angle, my artwork turns out a little different as well,” she said.
Now, 16-year-old Xueli Abbing’s name is becoming known around the world, as a model who has appeared in the likes of Vogue – but also as an inspiring representative of the albino community.
