Xueli Abbing’s story began when she was abandoned at an orphanage as a baby, unaware that she would one day model for Vogue. By the age of 16, she had achieved international success, defying all life’s adversities.
Named Xue (meaning “snow”) and Li (meaning “beautiful”), she was left in an orphanage, possibly because of her appearance or China’s one-child policy. She was later adopted by a Dutch family who helped shape her future.
Xueli’s modeling career began at the age of 11 when her mother introduced her to a designer for the “Perfect Imperfections” campaign. This led to several photoshoots, including one for photographer Brock Elbank in London. A portrait from this shoot appeared in the June 2019 issue of Italian Vogue, marking a major milestone in her career.
Xueli’s journey continued when she joined Zebedee Talent, a modeling agency dedicated to promoting disability representation in fashion. She quickly made a name for herself, working with photographers who gave her creative freedom and challenged industry stereotypes.
Despite her progress, Xueli continues to criticize the frequent stereotyping of models with albinism in photoshoots. She wants to break these stereotypes and present a different, more inclusive image to the world.
From an orphanage to Vogue, Xueli’s rise is inspiring. Follow her on Instagram to see more of her impressive work.
