The Journey of Xueli Abbing: From Abandonment to the Runway

Abandoned as a baby because of her albinism, Xueli Abbing could have disappeared into statistics and silence. Instead, a Dutch family brought her into a home where difference was cherished, not feared. They named her “snow‑white beauty” and meant it, teaching her that her pale skin and fragile eyesight were not shameful defects, but part of a rare story only she could tell.

When a designer invited her to model “perfect imperfections,” Xueli stepped into a world that had long pretended people like her did not exist. Vogue Italia’s pages turned her from an invisible child into a global symbol of inclusion. Now sixteen, she uses that visibility to fight for those still in danger, insisting on language that honors their humanity. To Xueli, beauty lives in voice, courage, and character—proof that what nearly destroyed her became the very light she shines back into the world.