A child’s first home should be a place of warmth, safety, and unconditional love. But for one little girl, her life began with rejection. From the moment she entered the world, her parents decided she looked too “different,” too “strange” to be theirs. They left her at the door of an orphanage and never returned. That baby was named Xueli — and today, she’s proving that the very thing that led to her abandonment is what makes her truly extraordinary.
Xueli Abbing was born in China with albinism, a rare genetic condition that causes the absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. While it’s purely biological, in many parts of the world, including where Xueli was born, it’s still heavily stigmatized. Misconceptions, fear, and superstition have led to cruelty and exclusion toward people with albinism.
When orphanage workers discovered her, they gave her the name “Xueli,” which carries a beautiful meaning — “Xue” means snow, and “Li” means beautiful. Together, her name translates to “beautiful snow,” a poetic reflection of her pale skin and white-blonde hair. In giving her that name, someone recognized the beauty her parents couldn’t see.
For her early years, Xueli’s world was confined to the walls of the orphanage, where she was cared for but longed for family. Then, fate intervened. A Dutch couple, touched by her story, adopted her and brought her to the Netherlands. They gave her not just a home but a childhood filled with love, encouragement, and safety. Her adoptive mother nurtured her confidence and treated her albinism not as a flaw but as a unique part of her identity.
When she was 11, life took an unexpected turn. A Hong Kong designer invited her to participate in a photo shoot celebrating “perfect imperfections.” The goal was to challenge conventional ideas of beauty, and Xueli, with her striking appearance and calm presence, was the perfect fit. “I didn’t really know what modeling meant,” she told the BBC. “But it was amazing — I loved it.”
That first experience opened a door she never expected.
Even as her confidence grew, Xueli was acutely aware of the harsh realities others with albinism face. In several countries across Africa and Asia, dangerous myths persist — some believe the bones of people with albinism bring luck or healing. Those beliefs have led to horrific acts of violence. When Xueli learned about this, she said something that revealed both her innocence and her deep understanding: “I’m lucky I was only abandoned.”
That one sentence speaks volumes about her resilience.
Over time, her modeling career began to blossom. A London photographer saw her potential and helped her navigate the industry with care and respect. Together, they produced portraits that drew attention from fashion professionals around the world. Those photos eventually earned Xueli a feature in Vogue Italia in 2019 — at just 15 years old.
“At first, I didn’t realize what a big deal it was,” she admitted. “But then I understood — it wasn’t just about fashion. It was about showing people that beauty doesn’t have one definition.”
Her rise represented a quiet revolution. In an industry long obsessed with sameness, Xueli’s ethereal look and natural presence broke through. “There are still so many models who all look alike,” she said. “But now, people with disabilities or differences are getting more opportunities. That’s progress — but it should be normal, not exceptional.”
For Xueli, modeling is about more than photoshoots and fame. It’s her way of reshaping how people see albinism. She prefers to be described as “a person with albinism,” rejecting labels that reduce her to her condition. “Calling someone ‘an albino’ defines them by that one thing,” she explained. “We’re people first.”
Because her vision is limited, she says it’s helped her focus on what truly matters. “Maybe because I can’t see everything clearly, I pay more attention to people’s voices and what they say. Inner beauty is what I notice most.”
That perspective gives her work depth and purpose.
She carefully chooses projects that reflect dignity and authenticity, steering clear of those that portray her as mystical or otherworldly. “When they call me an angel or a ghost, it makes me sad,” she said. “They’re not seeing me as a person.” Instead, she collaborates with artists and designers who celebrate individuality and difference.
Today, her modeling résumé includes major fashion campaigns and international magazine features, yet her goals remain humble and focused. She uses her platform to raise awareness, fight discrimination, and promote acceptance. She dreams of educating others about albinism and helping end the myths that put so many lives in danger.
Her message especially resonates with children who feel different. She wants them to see that what makes them stand out is what makes them beautiful. “I want to change the world,” she said firmly. “It’s not right that children die because they’re born with albinism.”
Her adoptive mother says that what defines Xueli isn’t fame or beauty — it’s her compassion. “She’s not chasing celebrity,” her mother shared. “She’s using her voice to make life safer and kinder for others like her.”
And she’s succeeding. Schools, charities, and fashion houses invite her to share her story, and each appearance leaves a lasting impression. She continues to model, study, and speak out — using every platform to expand the world’s understanding of diversity.
Her story has come full circle. Once abandoned for being “too strange,” Xueli now stands as proof that being different isn’t something to hide — it’s something to celebrate. Her life challenges the cruelty and ignorance that once defined her beginning.
Her journey isn’t about fame or fashion. It’s about transformation — about turning pain into purpose, rejection into strength, and difference into light.
When Xueli smiles now, it’s clear that she’s found peace. It shines not just through her snow-white hair and pale blue eyes, but through the quiet confidence she carries wherever she goes. The child once left behind now stands proudly in the spotlight — not for herself, but for every person still waiting to be seen.
She is, in every sense, exactly what her name foretold the day she was found: beautiful snow.