Imagine that you are abandoned as a child left by an orphanage without explanation and no one claims you.
The world around you seems to be cold and indifferent, but life has a way of surprising us. For Xuel, what could happen at the beginning of the tragic story, became the basis for something extraordinary.
Despite the chance of her collection, she resisted her expectations and increased to international glory and became a model of the prestigious Vogue sites. Her journey is a testimony to how resistance, opportunity, and self-confidence can transform a life in a way that one has never imagined.
When Xueli Abbing was abandoned in an orphanage as a child, she had no idea he would one day become a Vogue model. However, through a number of remarkable events, it has achieved its dream and has become an international model at the age of only 16 years. Life has a way to surprise you, and for Xueli the journey was nothing but predictable.
Her orphanage gave her the name Xueli, with “Xue”, which means “snow” and “Li”, which means “beautiful”. Abandoned Prague as a child, it was not clear whether it was because of her appearance or the impact of Chinese policy on one child. Regardless of the reason, the orphanage staff quickly liked it, and was soon adopted by the Netherlands family.
Xueli’sJourneyy to Vogue
In some parts of the world, people born with albinism are facing hard prejudice and discrimination. For example, in some African countries, children born with albinism are tragically hunted in parts of the body because of superstitions that claim that these parts have magical or healing forces.
“Some people believe the witch doctors use the bones of Albino children to make potions that can cure diseases. But these beliefs are just myths. I am lucky to have been abandoned, ”Xueli shared in an interview with the BBC.
At the age of 11, Xueli began to model when her mother contacted a designer friend involved in a campaign called “Perfect Imperfects” and thought Xueli would be ideal. This led to several photographs, one of which was with photographer Brock Elbank in his London studio. After the publication of one of the Xueli portraits on Instagram, Elbank linked it to Zebedee Talent, a modeling agency that deals with the growing representation of people with disabilities in the fashion industry.
Xueli’s breakthrough moment came when one of Brock’s photographs was shown in the edition of Vogue Italia in June 2019, next to Lana Del Rey on the cover. Initially, Xueli did not fully understand the importance of appearing in such a prestigious magazine, but over time it began to appreciate the impact of its appearance in Vogue.
From fashion to international career
Xueli quickly cooperated with photographers who allowed her to have a creative entry in their shoots. As someone who often faced stereotypes because of her albinism, she wanted to question conventional images of models with disabilities and offer a new perspective.
“Although many models are still high and thin, it is great to see more people with disabilities or the differences in the media. But it should be the norm, not an exception,” Xueli said. “Models with albinism are often stereotypical in shoots like angels or ghosts, and that guarantees me because it preserves dangerous myths about people like me. This faith threatens children with albinism in countries like Tanzania and Malawi. ”
Xueli has come a long way from abandonment as a child to becoming a successful international model. The discovery in Vogue was just the beginning of a promising career, which included fashion shoots, track shows, and cooperation with brands like Kurt Geiger for accessories campaigns.
You can watch her incredible journey on Instagram at @xueli_a.
Resources:
“Xueli Abbing: An abandoned child that has become a Vogue model.” BBC, April 30, 2021.
“Albino Teenaer, 16, left an orphanage in China, is now a growing modeling star and even performed in Vogue Italia.” Daily Mail, Nicole Conner, May 28, 2021.
Instagram: @xueli_a
Xueli Abbing from an abandoned child to the international model is inspiring evidence to resist and strength of self -determination. She overcame the challenges of her past and stereotypes surrounding her appearance, and not only created a name for herself in the fashion world but also prepared a way for more inclusiveness and proportion of people with disabilities.
Through his work, he continues to question outdated perceptions and inspires others to accept their unique qualities. The Xueli story proves that no matter where you start, the journey is full of unlimited possibilities.