How 17-year-old model and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Xueli Abbing uses her platform to educate and advocate for those with albinism.
Despite being diagnosed with the rare genetic condition of albinism, at the age of 17 Xueli Abbing has already graced the pages of Vogue and modeled for top designers. Although in her birth country of China albinism is seen by some as a curse, these light features are what allows her to stand out and spread a message through her modeling career.
Born during China’s one child policy, when it was considered extremely unlucky to have a child with albinism, Abbing was abandoned and adopted by her Dutch family. It wasn’t until Abbing reached 11 that she fell into the modeling industry and learned that her differences could be used as a platform to educate others on the many forms of albinism, while bringing awareness towards discrimination.
Earlier this year, Abbing was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the fight against discrimination and racism. Here, she sheds light on the challenges she has faced in the modeling industry, her personal fight against discrimination and how she hopes to help others who have struggled with their identity.
Lizzy Zarrello: Why don’t we start by you telling me a little bit about your upbringing.
Xueli Abbing: I was abandoned when I was eight months old. When I was three, I was adopted by my Dutch mother and raised in the Netherlands with my older sister.
LZ: Was there a moment in your childhood where you began to become aware of your albinism?
XA: I always knew that I was special from a young age because people would ask questions about me wearing sunglasses and why my hair was so white. When I would walk with my mother down the street people would ask me or my mother things like, “How can you be so white and so Chinese?” So, from a young age I knew that I was very different.
LZ: As you’ve grown older, how has your understanding of albinism evolved, seeing how it’s treated differently in some places like your birth country, China, versus the Netherlands and other parts of the world you’ve been exposed to?
XA: Through my work, I learn more about albinism every day. I’ve learned about the genetics and the different types of albinism. As a child, I learned about how people treat you differently because you have albinism. I learned that some people with albinism have to live in very scary conditions. Some cultures have certain superstitions, which are not true, and these horrible myths are still present today. In some African cultures people believe that those with albinism have magic abilities and, because of this, children must live in safe houses. Safe houses are a place where children with albinism live for protection against witch doctors, who try to hunt them down and kill them. However, safe houses are not like a traditional beautiful house, but more like a prison. Although people in safe houses are protected, they are without their parents and families.
LZ: What inspired you to share this through your modeling career?
XA: I never dreamed of becoming a model, I was asked to join the modeling industry. I think the most important thing about my job as a model is that I can raise awareness for people with albinism.
LZ: Who do you find inspiring and want to emulate?
XA: This is a very difficult question because I look up to many people. One person especially is my sister, she she’s studying for her masters. She works very hard and always tries her best. She’s given me the courage to try new things and although I may fail, I can also succeed. I also see that in my mother, who works very hard to reach her goals.
LZ: What challenges have you faced in the modeling industry, and how are you learning to overcome them?
XA: Because of my albinism and visual impairment, light is a challenge for me. When I am on the set, there’s always a lot of lighting and photographers like to use flash, which hurts my eyes. So, I often ask to not use flash, but rather use indirect light. I’m always searching to make sure that we have the best quality photos, but my health comes first.
LZ: How has modeling exposed you to other forms of discrimination, even beyond albinism?
XA: I acknowledge that there are some real problems with the modeling industry. However, I work with a special agency, which focuses on encouraging people to be themselves. I think we need more agencies that focus on embracing diversity. I think the modeling world we know today is going to change, but I hope this not just temporary. I hope there is real, permanent change.
LZ: These past few years has brought the deep-seated nature of racism to the forefront—what have you been learning and understanding as you watch these events unfold?
XA: Throughout these past few years I’ve learned what discrimination and racism actually is. I’ve also learned that sometimes discrimination is not very direct, but it can show itself in little ways. It’s very important to acknowledge that it is a very wide concept. People have asked me if I’ve been discriminated against, and I’ve always said “no”. However, then when talking to my sister, I’ve learned I am discriminated against. For example, as a child I wasn’t allowed to participate in gym classes because of my condition, and that was a form of discrimination.
LZ: What’s making you optimistic about this fight against discrimination?
XA: The fact that we have social media means we can spread the message to end discrimination and racism through technology. It allows important figures to bring awareness through the internet. It also gives a voice to people who are discriminated against to let their stories be heard.
LZ: As a 17-year-old activist who has already been photographed in Vogue, what do you hope for the future of your career?
XA: I hope that I can be of help to people who are struggling with who they are. I want to show them that it’s okay to struggle and that you eventually will find yourself. My goal as a model is to raise more awareness for albinism and to create real change, not something temporary, but create change for the future.
Photo by Yara Abbing.
