Rejected at Birth, Celebrated by the World: The Rise of Xueli Abbing
What happens when someone is judged before they ever have a chance to speak—before they can even take their first steps? For Xueli Abbing, that judgment came at birth. Left outside an orphanage in China because of how she looked, her life began with rejection. Yet that very difference would later become the source of her strength, carrying her from anonymity to the global fashion stage.
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Xueli was born with albinism, a genetic condition that affects pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes.
Her biological parents are unknown, but when she was found, orphanage workers gave her the name Xueli, meaning “snow beauty,” a reflection of her strikingly pale appearance. While the name was gentle, the circumstances were harsh—she had been abandoned because she did not fit society’s expectations.
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Her story took a dramatic turn when she was adopted by a caring family in the Netherlands. There, she found safety, acceptance, and encouragement—things she might never have known otherwise. Growing up in a supportive environment allowed her to explore who she was beyond her appearance.
At just 11 years old, Xueli was invited by a fashion designer in Hong Kong to take part in a campaign celebrating unconventional beauty. The project, titled Perfect Imperfections, aimed to challenge narrow beauty standards. “She asked me if I wanted to walk in her fashion show,” Xueli later shared in a BBC interview. “It was incredible. I never imagined something like that.”
For many people with albinism, life can be dangerous. In certain regions, harmful myths have led to horrific violence, fueled by false beliefs about supernatural or medicinal powers. Xueli is acutely aware of this reality. “I’m lucky,” she once said. “I was abandoned—but not harmed.”
Even within the fashion industry, representation can feel limiting. People with albinism are often styled as mythical or ghost-like figures, reinforcing stereotypes rather than individuality. That’s why one experience stood out to Xueli—a photoshoot in London where she was treated simply as a professional model. The resulting image would later appear in Vogue Italia’s June 2019 issue. “At first, I didn’t understand how big it was,” she admitted. “Then I saw how excited everyone became.”
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Modeling presents real challenges for Xueli. She has only 8–10 percent vision, and bright lights can be painful. Still, she continues, driven by purpose rather than fame. She wants visibility to feel normal—not extraordinary—for people with differences. “Seeing people with disabilities or differences in media is good,” she says, “but it shouldn’t be a special event. It should just be normal.”
Because of her limited eyesight, Xueli believes she connects with people differently. “I listen more,” she explains. “I focus on voices, on what people say.” This sensitivity shapes her outlook—and her mission.
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Beyond the runway, Xueli uses her platform to educate. She emphasizes that albinism is a genetic condition, not a curse. Language matters, she says: “You say ‘a person with albinism,’ not ‘an albino.’ It’s not everything you are.”
Her goals reach far beyond fashion. “I won’t accept that children are still being hurt or killed because of albinism,” she says firmly. “I want to change that.” Through awareness, visibility, and compassion, she hopes to help build a safer, more understanding world.
Conclusion
Xueli Abbing’s life is a powerful testament to resilience and purpose. From being abandoned at birth to standing in the pages of one of the world’s most influential fashion magazines, she has transformed pain into advocacy.
Her journey challenges society’s definition of beauty and reminds us that difference is not a flaw—it is a strength. As she continues to speak out and shine, Xueli’s story inspires others to question prejudice, embrace individuality, and see humanity beyond appearances.