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00:00We have nine-year-old twins. My daughter, Cherique, she has albinism, but my son, Tariq,
00:05he does it. They called me an inside-out Oreo. It used to affect my confidence.
00:10Luce and Sammy are both born with albinism. They're one in 17,000.
00:15We understand each other more than other best friends probably would.
00:20We are identical twins born with albinism, and the chances of that is one in two.
00:25Two million people accused our mother of cheating because our skin didn't look like her.
00:30We've always been together, and even if we don't have friends, we know we can always count on each other.
00:35Because I know they are different, so we have to support them with love.
00:40When you're growing up, everyone's trying to fit in, and naturally I couldn't fit in.
00:43Even if I wanted to try to fit in...
00:45It just wouldn't work like that.
00:46I was abandoned because of my albinism. It was hard.
00:50For me to have albinism sometimes, because you get, unfortunately, excluded.
00:55Oh, there's strawberries out there!
00:58Is it actually so much fun when you can go through?
01:00Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Okay.
01:03People sometimes don't...
01:05I don't believe we are twins.
01:07People always, like, come up to us and be like,
01:09Oh, my God!
01:10You guys are so cute!
01:11I love your outfits!
01:12And then we say,
01:13Thank you!
01:14And then we...
01:15And then we be like,
01:16We're twins!
01:17And then they be like,
01:18No!
01:19And then we be like,
01:20Yes!
01:20Yes.
01:20I understand.
01:21Yes!
01:22Yes, yes, yes!
01:23I feel like this like,
01:24I'm like,
01:25I don't like to...
01:25He's more funnier than me.
01:28And I'm just kind of calm.
01:30I don't know.
01:31I sometimes annoy people all the time, but it's okay.
01:35We have nine-year-olds.
01:40They were twins, and they were born different.
01:43My daughter, Cherique, she has Albinism, but my daughter, Cherique, she has Albinism.
01:45My son, Cherique, he doesn't.
01:47And that was a shocker for us once they were born.
01:50Albinism means you just have no pigment in your hair, your skin, or your eyes.
01:55So you're very sensitive to the sun, very rare for having a child with Albinism, I believe.
02:00It's one out of 75.
02:05Since we're born, I was in elementary school, and basically...
02:10Like, I was so excited because I wanted one to come out looking like me, I didn't care.
02:15who it was, just somebody come out looking like me.
02:18I was like, oh my gosh, she looks...
02:20It's just like me.
02:21I started crying.
02:22That was the best moment.
02:25Ever, man.
02:26Awesome.
02:27My...
02:30My daughter, Cherique, she had bullying.
02:32People, you know, called her names.
02:34I think she had some...
02:35Somebody spit at her before.
02:37It was really hard for her.
02:38I was like, mommy, I don't understand why.
02:40These kids, like, are treating me like this because at home, I got the love.
02:45But it's like when I went outside of home, it was a whole different environment.
02:49Of course...
02:50Because we were worried about Cherique, you know...
02:54Being a bully.
02:55And the same things that Shateria went through.
02:57And what the world, what she was facing outside the doors of our eyes.
03:00We were worried about that.
03:02My sister helped me with my album.
03:05She helped me with my album is because she comforted me and she helped me.
03:10Because I used to be kind of shy.
03:12But now I just like to make friends a lot.
03:15My...
03:19We're getting...
03:20We're getting ready to go to Houston, Texas.
03:22The twins and Shateria have been chosen.
03:25To be a part of the Skin I'm In 2019 exhibition and gala.
03:30By celebrity photographer Pharrell Phelps.
03:33We haven't seen a photo...
03:35So we're really excited to see what he's done with them.
03:39Yee-haw!
03:40I'm super excited to go to the Skin I'm In exhibition.
03:45I feel like it's going to be awesome.
03:47It's amazing to be in a room with everybody that shares something.
03:50In common.
03:51I haven't got to see the pictures yet so I can't wait to see them.
03:55I'm super stoked.
03:57When I look in the mirror I see...
04:00Some body who has came a long way.
04:04And my eyebrows are...
04:05My hair is blonde.
04:06My eyelashes are blonde.
04:07Everything is blonde.
04:08And I used to hate that.
04:09But now I look in the mirror and...
04:10And I'm like...
04:11Yes!
04:12You're cute!
04:13You might be...
04:15Are you nervous or excited about seeing the photo?
04:17I'm excited.
04:18I'm...
04:20I'm both nervous and excited to see how it is.
04:25I'm just....
04:27And, hopefully, you made a walker.
04:28That's pretty delicious.
04:30Even I want to see that.
04:36One, two, three, seven, eight, seven, eight...
04:39I wanna seeĆØtres!
04:40I'm so appreciative and easy and easy.
04:53I can.
04:54time. It's just going to be amazing. I'm really happy to be here. What about you guys?
04:59I feel so excited and happy.
05:04I feel so excited.
05:09I feel so excited.
05:14I always want to do things that make a difference and impact the world. People are prejudiced
05:18against each other.
05:19They're simply based on skin, melanin, something that God created us to walk the earth in.
05:23I feel so excited.
05:28I feel so excited.
05:33The very same thing that they were ridiculed.
05:38I feel so excited about, ostracized about. They're being highlighted. You and I can't be
05:43a part of this show because we don't have differences.
05:48I feel amazing right now. Today was great. Oh my God, I met so many cool people.
05:53We talked, like it felt like we were a family. Seeing my pictures, man. I don't know.
05:58I almost cried. I almost cried, but they look super amazing. I'm just really
06:03happy I got to be a part of this and it's just so cool.
06:08We talk about acceptance and we talk about the Skin I'm In project.
06:13I want everybody to be accepted, you know, for their uniqueness and not.
06:18necessarily the cookie cutter type, but uniquely beautiful people. I want the modeling industry
06:23to change. I want the commercial industry to change. You learn more when you can see the
06:28variations of people that exist in the world. I'm very proud of them accepting who they are.
06:33That's what I'm most proud of.
06:38That was great week,
06:39you too.
06:40And they work on their own property and will be the best one earning the money they
06:42expected for.
06:43I want everybody to understand from my age.
06:44Hey.
06:45Hey.
06:46Hey.
06:47Hey.
06:48Hey.
06:49Yeah.
06:50Hey.
06:51Hey.
06:52Hey.
06:54Yen.
06:55Hey.
06:56Hey.
06:58Hey.
06:59Hey.
07:01Hey.
07:02Hey.
07:03Hey.
07:05Hey.
07:06Hey.
06:43I fell
06:48I felt really happy and excited
06:51I never thought that off
06:53Do a part in something like this
06:56I just thought I was just a regular person
06:58Yeah, where does normal poo poo
07:00Yeah
07:03I have oculocutaneous albinism type 1
07:08Even on a day like today
07:12I always have to have
07:13some cream on
07:14and have to stay covered up
07:16Yeah
07:17I've been diagnosed
07:18with nystagmus
07:19which is the wobbling of the eyes
07:20which means
07:21say for you everything is just
07:23still
07:24but for me say
07:25if I'm emotional
07:26I upset
07:27frustrated
07:28or just tired
07:29my nystagmus could kick in
07:31and it can really start wobbling
07:32and also
07:33my eyesight
07:34there's not really any depth
07:35perception there
07:36and that's why I have to use my
07:37white cane
07:38it helps me to know
07:39how many steps
07:40to actually go down
07:41without falling down
07:42any of them
07:43I initially saw Kim Lee appealing for it
07:48a forever home on GMTV
07:50we eventually adopted her
07:52after a
07:53process with social services
07:55just before her third birthday
07:57these are
07:58the pictures used by GMTV
08:00when you were
08:02appealing for a
08:03forever home
08:04in National Adoption Week
08:05you were
08:06about
08:07nine months old then
08:08so what was it
08:09that made you want to adopt me
08:10we'd already got Jonathan
08:12that had already got Albin
08:13Albinism
08:14so we'd got a good
08:15foundation of knowledge
08:16of what Albinism meant
08:17and how
08:18would affect you
08:19so
08:20we thought
08:21why not
08:23I have three children with
08:25Albinism
08:26Jonathan
08:27is 17
08:28and Harriet
08:29is
08:3011
08:31they both have
08:32oculocute anus type 2
08:33which means they have some pigmentation
08:38as a zombie
08:39there we go
08:40I'd say that our relationship is really strong
08:43between us
08:44between us or
08:45um
08:46I think that Kimberly's alright
08:47to be honest
08:48sure we have our moments
08:50but
08:51then again
08:52all siblings do
08:53to be honest
08:53when you go down
08:54I'm not going to rely on you
08:56Kimberly's condition does affect her
08:58a lot more than she will admit to
09:00as a teenager
09:02her
09:03looks are completely different
09:05her body shape is very different
09:06which she's struggled with quite a lot
09:08when people say that I'm not black
09:10it kind of makes me just feel a bit
09:12I don't know what
09:13what's the word to really say
09:15because I know I am black
09:16it's just
09:17the lack of education
09:18really
09:19they called me an inside out Oreo
09:20which first didn't make sense
09:21that was what black people
09:23get called a lot of the time
09:24when they are black
09:25but
09:26act white
09:27and that's what
09:28technically what the person was trying
09:29to say to me
09:30that I'm white
09:31but try to act black
09:32I do look
09:33Caucasian
09:34like white
09:35but to be fair
09:36most people
09:37don't really know what to say
09:38because of like how
09:38different I look as well
09:39I felt
09:43insecure
09:44like using my cane
09:45it's still just that thing
09:46like
09:48afraid of judgement
09:49kind of thing
09:51I think for a child
09:52a teenager particularly
09:53going out
09:54carrying a white cane
09:55is another example
09:56of her standing out
09:58and looking different
10:00it used to affect my confidence
10:01but now
10:02I'm not bothered about
10:03just going out
10:04having to use my cane
10:05I was like looking at
10:06all these pictures of tiny
10:07German Shepherds
10:08I don't really notice
10:09Kim being different
10:10because
10:11she's one of us
10:12so
10:13I don't
10:13like
10:14have the need
10:15to say
10:16if she's different
10:17or not
10:18I don't
10:20I don't
10:21I don't
10:22know
10:23my muddling
10:24started
10:25last year
10:26in August
10:27I always wanted
10:28to do it
10:29the fact that
10:30I have albinism
10:31and that I can
10:32empower people as well
10:33like
10:34being an ambassador
10:35I want to raise
10:36awareness for albinism
10:37mainly because
10:38there's a lot of people
10:39who have the condition
10:40they're just like
10:41not comfortable
10:42within themselves
10:43I feel proud of her
10:44she's trying to get out there
10:45and she's just trying to be like
10:47this is me
10:48who I am
10:49I'm not going to change who I am
10:50for people
10:51and everything
10:52with sports
10:53is hard
10:54but it hasn't
10:55really stopped me
10:57because there are
10:58a lot of
10:59equipment you can get nowadays
11:01that is accessible
11:02and
11:03it has been really adaptive
11:05I think it's really important
11:07for everyone
11:08just to accept themselves
11:09I kind of want
11:10albinism to become
11:11more mainstream
11:12so
11:13like seeing albinism
11:15being portrayed
11:16in a good light
11:17as well
11:18like through the media
11:18I want this film
11:19to teach people
11:20that despite
11:21my disability
11:22I've accomplished
11:23something great
11:24in my life
11:28where is it?
11:30where is it?
11:31oh it's there!
11:32how are you?
11:33I'm Sammy
11:35and I'm 13
11:36I'm Lucy
11:37and
11:38I'm 14
11:40almost 15
11:43Luce
11:44and Sammy
11:45are both born
11:46with albinism
11:48so albinism
11:49is a genetic
11:50condition
11:51that you're born
11:52with
11:53so you can either
11:54affect the pigment
11:55in just your eyes
11:56or in your skin
11:57hair and your eyes
11:58and the form of albinism
11:59I have is called
12:00oculocutaneous albinism
12:02which means that
12:03it affects my skin
12:04my hair
12:05and my eyes
12:06and it also makes us
12:07very light
12:08sensitive
12:09and our skin
12:10is very sensitive
12:11to the sun
12:13to my dad
12:14and my children
12:15so you're dead
12:16so you're dead
12:17what are you going
12:18oh
12:21when we had Luce
12:22and
12:23when she was born
12:24she had a shock
12:25of white hair
12:26like a little grandma
12:27she was just gorgeous
12:28so when she was probably
12:30around two months old
12:31went off to the ophthalmologist
12:33and he looked into her eyes
12:34and said there's no colour
12:35she has probably
12:36the most severe form
12:37of albinism
12:38we found out when Sammy was about
12:43six weeks old
12:44I thought
12:45something's wrong with her eyes
12:46and the optometrist said
12:47she's got ocular
12:48cutaneous albinism
12:49and my husband and I
12:50looked at each other
12:51and sort of went
12:53oh I wonder what that is
12:54and then she said
12:55she's albino
12:58having albinism
13:00some of the negatives
13:01are the vision
13:02like
13:03it's hard to see things
13:05and I find it
13:06hard
13:07to
13:08like
13:09I look at my friends
13:10Instagram photos
13:11and they've got all their
13:12like their tans
13:13and their
13:14dark haired
13:15and like
13:16it's hard to know
13:17they'll never look like that
13:18but
13:19then you look at the positives
13:20and it's like
13:21I look different
13:22but
13:23it can be a good thing
13:24I love
13:25the colour of our hair
13:26it's so unique
13:27and different
13:28it's just
13:28so bright
13:29and so vibrant
13:301 in 70
13:31people
13:32carry the jean
13:33and you have
13:34a 1 in 4 chance
13:35of having a baby
13:36with albinism
13:37so
13:38they're 1 in
13:3817,000
13:39people
13:40with albinism
13:41so
13:42it's reasonably rare
13:43find someone
13:44in close location
13:45to you
13:46that has albinism
13:47and being similar age
13:48it's been great
13:49for the girls
13:50it's been great for the girls
13:51it's been great for the girls
13:53to have summies
13:54as close
13:55to have summies
13:56as close
13:57to
13:58friends
13:59it means a lot to me
14:00it's really funny
14:01to be able to talk to Sammy
14:03and relate to things
14:05that
14:06to us
14:07might be really hilarious
14:08because
14:08I know
14:10it's just really obvious
14:11it's because
14:12of our
14:13they'd be like
14:14oh I fell down the stairs
14:15the other day
14:16they'd be like
14:17are you okay?
14:18but when I'm with Sammy
14:19she would just laugh at me
14:18and I'm like
14:19yeah I know
14:20it's funny
14:21they were so
14:23involved
14:24in the internet
14:25and we always thought
14:26as parents
14:28that's their area
14:29that's the area
14:30that they possibly
14:31may get into
14:32yeah because Lucy
14:33we've always watched
14:34the YouTubers
14:35and everything
14:36I'm like Lucy
14:37instead of watching them
14:38why don't you do something like that
14:38the first photos
14:40we took
14:41were almost my favourite
14:42I thought wow
14:43it was fun you know
14:44let's just stick a couple up
14:45and see what happens
14:46and it's just kind of grown for me
14:48yeah
14:53Instagram
14:55it's a really good time to
14:57it's a really good time to
14:58go out and shine all these clothes
15:01and say
15:02we're like that
15:03and then
15:04wait let's take
15:05let's take a picture of that
15:06and post on our Instagram
15:08it makes us really happy
15:09that we can
15:10raise awareness
15:11for our condition
15:13I was really surprised
15:16at first
15:17I had no
15:18Instagram
15:19and when she first showed me
15:20how people were ticking over
15:22and they were getting more
15:23followers
15:24I was really surprised
15:25we
15:28we
15:29understand each other
15:30more than
15:31a lot of
15:32you know
15:33other best friends
15:34probably would
15:35we just
15:36it's
15:37it'll
15:38sometimes
15:38sometimes
15:39it just feels like
15:40we're kind of like
15:41the same
15:42person
15:43in a way
15:44because it's
15:45we're so similar
15:46in what we've been through
15:47yeah
15:48we're not perfect
15:49like we have our ups and downs
15:50and we
15:51argue and debate
15:52over everything
15:53and
15:54yeah
15:55we're different people
15:56and
15:57but at the end of the day
15:58that doesn't
15:58matter
15:59because
16:00we're still friends
16:03just do that one
16:04yeah
16:05it just doesn't really feel like
16:06we're best friends
16:07it feels like
16:08we're kind of sisters
16:09you know
16:10it feels like
16:11we're
16:12we're really really
16:13connected
16:14in a
16:15good special
16:16bond
16:18wait where's the bacon
16:21are you gonna do the rest of the work
16:23well I just
16:24oh
16:25I gotta get the pan
16:26oh
16:27haha
16:28get it horribly put down
16:29I'm so sorry
16:30okay
16:31what else
16:32I'll
16:33the bacon ism is the lack of pigment or melanin in your eyes skin or hair
16:38our skin is super sensitive we try to wear as much protection
16:43creative clothing as we can
16:45that's not true
16:46but we're supposed to
16:47who wants to come
16:48like
16:49but right right
16:50as a 25 year old
16:51who doesn't want to show a little skin
16:52you know
16:53a little bit
16:54we are considered visually impaired
16:56to read things
16:57or to
16:58view things
16:59like pictures
17:00or something that has a lot of detail
17:02we would have to get close up
17:03to look at it
17:04as far as like the numbers on the stove
17:06we have to lean
17:07and look
17:08and as you can see
17:09Kayla made a mark at the 350
17:11I mean
17:12we
17:13we get
17:13we get by pretty good
17:14we
17:15I get us by pretty good
17:17I think
17:18I think
17:19it really
17:20helped us
17:21both out
17:22when we were growing up
17:23that we
17:23we're in the same situation
17:24and dealing with the same things
17:26if one of us was having a bad day
17:28we
17:29tell each other like
17:30I know what you're going through
17:31and I got through it
17:32so you can
17:33get through it too
17:34exactly
17:35I don't have to explain anything to her
17:36when I do something
17:37that requires
17:38it requires me to look at things
17:39a little
17:40differently
17:41closer
17:42or do things differently
17:43oh
17:44is that mom
17:45I think
17:46it is
17:47hi mom
17:48how are you honey
17:50hi mom
17:51hi mom
17:52our mom didn't know
17:53that we had albinism until
17:55after we were born
17:56we didn't
17:57look like
17:58like our family
17:59so
18:00some people have questions
18:01they thought our mother
18:02cheated
18:03on my father
18:04the first assumption
18:05that people made
18:06when Megan and Ken were born
18:08was
18:09they were of another race
18:10they were not his kids
18:11you know
18:12of course
18:13the fact that I
18:13our mother
18:14had to deal with that judgment
18:16when we were born
18:17she had to learn
18:18like on the spot
18:20like right then and there
18:21you know
18:22doctors came into the room
18:23and you know
18:24they explained everything to me
18:25the more education I got on it
18:26and it's like
18:27now I got out like this
18:28big responsibility
18:29and I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it
18:31were you concerned about how they might
18:33be treated at school
18:34I was very concerned
18:36well kids can be mean
18:38they used to call us white
18:39or
18:40we were adopted
18:41our
18:42parents
18:43or
18:44someone might
18:45copy how we
18:46do things
18:47like reading
18:48we had to hold it
18:49closer
18:50sometimes
18:51because of our vision
18:52so that they would make
18:53fun of that
18:54one of the things we started doing so I could try to encourage them
18:57it's like when they
18:58leave out in the morning
18:59like I'm strong
19:00I'm
19:01you know
19:02smart
19:03imparting
19:04into us that
19:05we are all so beautiful
19:06and we're all so strong
19:08and we can do anything that we set our minds to
19:11I feel like
19:12kept us afloat
19:13many days
19:14we have a little something planned today
19:17yeah
19:18but we're gonna wait a little bit till you
19:20we're gonna let it be a surprise
19:21yeah
19:22I like surprises
19:23but it sounds suspicious
19:25oh my god
19:26okay
19:27I started
19:28posting on tiktok a few months ago
19:30seriously
19:31we thought this would be a good way to have
19:33fun
19:34and
19:35maybe educate people on our condition
19:37the
19:38responses to
19:39our
19:40content
19:41most of it like 98% of it has
19:43been super positive
19:45but there's always that 2% where
19:48people leave
19:49mean comments
19:50oh one of the comments asked if we had eyeballs
19:53that was fun
19:54yeah
19:55I giggled so hard
19:56that was fun
19:57it's because of
19:58our light sensitivity
19:59that's all
20:00we have to squint sometimes
20:01I promise we have eyeballs
20:03there people
20:0498% of those people just want to
20:08feel educated
20:09and just want to know a little bit about
20:11ourselves
20:12our future just looks
20:13like
20:14us
20:15educating in a fun
20:16way
20:17I have absolutely no idea
20:18what I want to wear
20:19so
20:20let's get started
20:21okay
20:23today I'm going on a blind date
20:25and I'm curious to see how he reacts to my condition
20:28my condition
20:29my condition
20:30kind of has had some hand in
20:33how I date
20:34especially with
20:35meeting new people
20:36you have to tell about your albinism
20:38and two
20:39going to new places
20:40where you have to figure out
20:41and find where everything is
20:43sometimes
20:44with me
20:45I just cut out the middle man
20:46and I don't go out at all
20:48let me see
20:49okay
20:50bright orange
20:51what do you think
20:52okay
20:53that against your skin
20:55would be so pretty
20:56I just don't go on a lot of
20:58dates
20:59because I have anxiety
21:00about what they're going to say
21:01about me
21:03ta-da
21:05Mikaela is going on a date
21:08okay
21:09okay
21:10okay
21:11Mikaela
21:12so that's what the surprise was
21:13mom please
21:15sometimes out in public
21:16it can feel like weird
21:18in a zoo
21:19and people were just coming by to
21:21stare at us
21:22to stare at us
21:23for the most part
21:24we ignore them
21:25and since we're visually impaired
21:26we don't
21:27see
21:28them staring at us anyway
21:29for the most part
21:30we don't see them staring at us anyway
21:31we don't see them staring at us anyway
21:32for the most part
21:33it is kind of hard dating
21:35because I do have a disability
21:36with my visual impairment
21:37I just
21:38I feel
21:39anxious
21:40hello
21:41how you doing
21:42I'm Kimar
21:43I'm Mikaela
21:44hi Mikaela
21:45nice to meet you
21:46nice to meet you too
21:47how you feel
21:48feeling today
21:49meeting me for the first time
21:50I mean
21:51I would say I'm more excited
21:52than nervous
21:53what do you like to do
21:55a lot of things
21:56but I'm more into like
21:57social events
21:58outdoors
21:59movies
22:00stuff like that
22:01how about you
22:02well
22:03well
22:04I stay inside
22:05your homebody
22:07yeah
22:08okay
22:09she's so cute
22:10this is a little different
22:11experience for me
22:12but hey
22:13we're here
22:14right
22:15so I'm intrigued to learn more
22:17to have a partner
22:18who understands me
22:20would mean
22:21so much to me
22:22often
22:23I do get misunderstood
22:25for my albinism
22:26so could you tell
22:27that I have
22:28albinism
22:29have you ever been
22:31or came across anybody
22:33albinism
22:34this is actually the first time
22:35I'm hearing about it
22:36you wanna share with me
22:37a little bit more
22:38I don't know if you can tell
22:39but I am
22:40like
22:41but I have zero melanin
22:43I question a lot
22:45by others
22:46but I feel like
22:47when I
22:48grew up
22:49and became
22:50started
22:51to become like
22:52my own person
22:53it didn't bother me
22:54as much
22:55well I think you're beautiful
22:56I mean
22:57you still are
22:58and getting to know you
22:58better
22:59and learning more about
23:00you know
23:01some of the differences
23:02I'm more intrigued to get to know you better
23:03so
23:04I have something to tell you
23:08how are you guys doing
23:10nice to meet you
23:11I'm Kim
23:12what's your name
23:13I'm Megan
23:14oh hey Megan
23:15nice
23:16this is my mother
23:17oh hey mother
23:18two beautiful daughters
23:19see where it's coming from
23:20mom
23:21they was great man
23:23she's beautiful
23:24so I'm looking forward to learn more about her
23:26and see where we get
23:28out of this experience
23:29I want to show people with albinism
23:31that like
23:32it's possible
23:33it's possible
23:34and they will get through it
23:36we did have a lot in common
23:38we get a nice smile
23:39I really like that
23:40he seemed really nice
23:41I think we could be good friends
23:43I'm really proud of them
23:44for going out to do something like this
23:46because they're
23:47I feel like
23:48introverts
23:49so for them stepping out
23:51to be able to do something like this
23:53but it's great
23:54I love to see it
23:55we're out here
23:56we're loud
23:57and we're proud
23:58and we don't care who knows
24:00you know
24:01so and that's how we live our lives
24:02and I think
24:03it's important to show that
24:05thank you guys so much
24:07and are you
24:08but then we're like
24:09best friends
24:10and we can like
24:11since we were little
24:12like
24:13we've always been
24:13together
24:14and like even if we don't have friends
24:15we know we can always count on each other
24:18so my name is Rosemary
24:20and I'm 24 years old
24:22my name is
24:23Christina
24:24and I'm 24 years old
24:26oh my god
24:28so currently we're studying
24:30to get our masters
24:31in global fashion enterprise
24:33same here
24:34same here
24:35we're both studying the same thing
24:37we both love
24:38in global fashion
24:39yes
24:42I'm always wearing colour
24:43like this is a new piece
24:44I just added into my closet
24:45it's like a
24:46it's a dress
24:47a shift dress
24:48and
24:49it has so many flowers
24:50it's so bright
24:51love it
24:52I'll wear it with
24:53this and some wine stockings
24:55and a pair of
24:56chelsea boots
24:57that's this colour
24:58right here
24:59yeah
25:00I have the same thing
25:01and I have to pair my insta furnace
25:03I didn't pair with the sweater
25:04I just wear it alone
25:05with camel boots
25:07so yeah
25:08when she buys something
25:09I'm like
25:10oh my god I love that
25:11the next day
25:12I go buy it
25:13I'm like
25:13I want that same thing
25:14because we love it
25:15so it just makes us happy
25:16I will say that
25:17out of
25:18at a really young age
25:19we
25:20like
25:21we really
25:22like
25:23we saw that
25:24we love that
25:23fashion
25:24we would like
25:25get like paper
25:26and make our own little sketchbook
25:27and like
25:28like
25:29outfits
25:30and
25:31I love
25:32I love
25:33with clothing
25:34and
25:35accessories
25:36and dressing people
25:37and like
25:38like
25:39seeing how a clothes
25:40would fit on someone
25:41yesterday my brother
25:42sent us like
25:43different like
25:43images
25:44he was like
25:45so which one do you like
25:46and I'm like
25:47oh I like this one
25:48number one
25:49number two
25:50I like that red coat
25:51so yeah
25:52he always comes to us
25:53with advice
25:53and questions
25:54I want to like
25:55finally
25:56dress nice
25:57like I
25:58ask them
25:59like
26:00oh
26:01does this look good
26:02just like
26:03presentable
26:04when I go outside
26:05hey
26:03we taught him right
26:05we taught him right
26:07being sisters
26:08and being best friends
26:09and having the same interest
26:10makes up with them
26:11easier because
26:12we
26:13really just like
26:14talk to each other
26:15it's
26:16kind of difficult
26:17when you're growing
26:18up with it because
26:19at one point
26:20you don't understand
26:21what it is
26:22but then
26:23you get to that stage
26:24and be like
26:25oh my god
26:26I'm different
26:27from other people
26:28there's only five seats
26:30no
26:31there's six
26:32if you count the one in there
26:33okay
26:33you understand
26:34the younger brother
26:35Julius
26:36who is also
26:37a baron
26:38they face a lot of challenges
26:40a lot of challenges
26:42a lot of challenges
26:43I love my children
26:45because
26:46I know they are different
26:48so we have to support them with love
26:51when they are younger
26:53first of all
26:54they love dressing
26:55which they still grew up with
26:57the passion of dressing
26:58they still love it
26:59a lot of challenges
27:00when I was going to high school
27:01especially
27:02in
27:03the society
27:04that we live
27:05having autism
27:06in school
27:07yes we were teased
27:08yes
27:08so I would say
27:09college was
27:10the turning point for us
27:11it gave us so much more confidence
27:12like a whole
27:13in another world
27:18of
27:19in
27:20it
27:21the
27:22the
27:23the
27:24the
27:25there
27:27there
27:28the
27:29other
27:30the
27:31in
27:33me
27:34I
27:35I
27:37I
27:39I
27:41I
27:42I
27:43I
27:45I
27:46I
27:47I
27:23Oh
27:28Oh
27:33Oh
27:38Oh
27:41That first met them on campus
27:43One thing was for certain they were very
27:46Shy when it came
27:48To meeting new people
27:50But I guess
27:52Getting involved with opportunities
27:53And kind of pushing back what they may think is an obstacle for them
27:58They kind of use that to be more outgoing and open
28:03Oh
28:05Oh my god
28:07I just saw my team
28:08Oh
28:10Our career goals will be
28:12To work in
28:13The corporate aspect of the fashion industry
28:15So right now we are getting experience in retail
28:18And then moving up the ladder
28:20And then like our blog
28:22Hope
28:23Hope that would show more of like
28:25Up into the industry
28:27To me
28:28I feel like fashion is a creative outlet
28:31It's what people see
28:33It's how like
28:34People perceive you at first
28:36People are not used to seeing
28:38Someone who is albino
28:40And the way they see them
28:41It's kind of like
28:42Why does
28:43This person look like that
28:44Why is their hair so light
28:45Why is her skin so light
28:47I feel like
28:48It kind of pushes them forward
28:49They don't use their albinoism as a setback
28:51Like okay
28:52I made
28:53They have this condition
28:54But I have a talent
28:55That is very much needed
28:57And if I'm not here
28:58You know
28:59I can't leave my mark on this earth
29:03We're starting with our Instagram page
29:05And getting our followers
29:06And showing them a little bit
29:07About
29:08Our like style
29:09And our like confidence
29:10And just embracing our beauty
29:12More
29:13Every single day
29:14Because at the end of the day
29:15There's not one type of beauty
29:17I like
29:18The hair
29:19We want to
29:20Show people that
29:22Like when you
29:23Wear a dress
29:24You can be confident
29:25Wear whatever
29:26Makes you feel good
29:27To conquer your day
29:28Gold hair
29:30Cream skin
29:31Gold hair
29:32Cream skin
29:33That's why they call me
29:34Mr. Hershey's cookies and cream
29:36You know
29:38Albinism is a recessive condition so you can
29:43only have it if both parents are carriers or have Albinism and then there's a 25% chance.
29:48That your child will have the condition.
29:52It basically...
29:53It's just in absence of pigment.
29:56I don't class it as...
29:58This is gold.
29:5922-year-old Leo was born with Albinism, a...
30:03In addition, which affects the production of melanin in the body.
30:06This results in less or no...
30:08I think when I was younger...
30:13I used to say,
30:14I wish I didn't have it just because it would have made a lot of things easier.
30:18When I was growing up.
30:19If I didn't have Albinism...
30:20Yeah, that's me.
30:21At least I love fire engines.
30:22I couldn't...
30:23Just walk to the shop without literally getting into a fight.
30:27Yeah.
30:28Every single day I would get into a fight.
30:30We were the first black family.
30:33On my street.
30:34And then...
30:35On top of that...
30:36Three of us had...
30:38Albinism.
30:39Leo's brother and sister were also born with Albinism.
30:43My dad just gave me this...
30:45This full album of...
30:47A lot of the...
30:48Newspapers we used to be in...
30:50Back in the day.
30:51I didn't even know...
30:52I didn't even know...
30:53I had this.
30:54Yeah.
30:55We were in a lot of...
30:57Yeah.
30:58We were in a lot of...
30:58magazines.
30:59And then a lot of shows back in the day.
31:02Look at these...
31:03These names are rude.
31:05I understand it because...
31:07I guess that's what...
31:08It looks like in a sense.
31:10But...
31:11It's just...
31:12An...
31:13Ignorant way of putting things.
31:15Because we aren't white.
31:18I'm not white.
31:19But we're sitting....
31:21Draios.
31:22Just pop up.
31:23But we're fucking around just Marg ėėė¦¬ė.
31:25We open thisaja.
31:26In the back of this Trium being...
31:27in height of the second understanding...
31:28We're she's saying Jesus.
31:29Didn't think our statement is...
31:30The, in the back of this week.
31:31So fast could, would love it...
31:32... ŃŠ»ŠµŠ“ly move towards theććć...
31:34That's why.
31:35The, out of line,
31:36we switched into flames daily...
31:38Matz,
31:39we're gonna'
31:39Keep moving trials...
31:41It's...
31:41It's...
31:43It's...
31:44It's...
31:44It's...
31:45It's...
31:45It's....
31:45It's...
31:46It's...
31:46It's...
31:46It's...
31:47It's...
31:47Shh...
31:47that we have these children and nobody knows what to do to help them, you know.
31:52There's all kinds of things that people say that are cruel.
31:57But you know, you just need to shrug it off.
32:02Because if you don't, you get yourself into a depression.
32:07I know.
32:07I know they picked on him because of his albinism, because knowing that we are black and his
32:11wife's children are...
32:12They are very cruel.
32:14Really, it's organized chaos.
32:16That's what it is.
32:17You know, it's so funny.
32:18They used to say, why are you trying to be black?
32:21Or then, and then they would say...
32:22Why are you trying to be white?
32:25Sometimes it's a bit annoying because you just...
32:27Can't be invisible.
32:28Like, there's no way you can go and just walk it without someone looking at you or staring.
32:32At the same time, it's nice.
32:37Like, you can't be invisible.
32:39Growing up with such unique looks, it was...
32:42It wasn't long before Leo was spotted.
32:46I think I was always...
32:47Confident growing up because of my parents, especially.
32:52My mom.
32:54Yeah, that's really good.
32:57Can you do a couple...
33:02Where you are kind of maybe straightening your...
33:05Yeah, exactly that kind of stuff.
33:06Modeling industry.
33:07People want to see more different people in the industry.
33:11But...
33:12Also, there's many, many, many, many, many, many brands that...
33:17Just like the generic, beautiful looking people.
33:21And I don't...
33:22I don't look like that.
33:23I look different.
33:25So, it's always going to be holding you back.
33:27As well as pushing you forward.
33:29Through his modelling, Leo has become a source of...
33:32Support for other people with albinism.
33:34Yeah, we're just going to go and have a conversation.
33:37With one of the boys that I see sometimes and his parents.
33:42Hello!
33:43Hello!
33:44Hey!
33:45How you doing, man?
33:46You good?
33:47Good.
33:47How are you, Leo?
33:48I'm good.
33:49Good to see you.
33:50How about that?
33:51Good to see you.
33:52I'm in love to tell you.
33:53To stand my hand.
33:54What's been going on?
33:55Yeah!
33:56What do you see that?
33:57They actually...
33:57A lot of questions.
33:58Let's go ask...
33:59Why you...
34:00Why you...
34:01Why you...
34:02Why you...
34:03If you're already getting 100%, then you can't get 200%.
34:05See?
34:06As long as you're getting 100%.
34:07And that's fine.
34:08I'll put you 100% into it.
34:09You're getting 100%.
34:12Uh, Nelly.
34:15There we go.
34:16Us.
34:1780...89%.
34:20Oh, that's very good.
34:21Stop.
34:22They, at times, they don't want to play with them.
34:24They said, damn, we don't want to play with you.
34:27So, it's been very challenging for us.
34:30Um, Matthew has been employed.
34:32My dad wants to go to school, but at times, he came home and he said, um, he doesn't.
34:37And, like, going to school, so, it's very depressing for us as a parent.
34:42There was one time I never, I never talked to anyone.
34:47Yeah, that's how I got bronze.
34:51Never talked to anyone.
34:52Yeah.
34:52Oh, when the, you mean when the teacher's talking?
34:56No, the whole day.
34:57You didn't talk to anyone the whole day?
35:00Yeah.
35:01It does.
35:02I've changed significantly since we've met Leo.
35:05If you want to do this, you just have to let it grow out.
35:07And keep combing it.
35:08Then I have to not cut my hair for a year.
35:12Oh, okay.
35:16He is just normal.
35:17He just needs a little bit of accommodation.
35:22My dear is always asking, um, how, when he's up.
35:27He is coming.
35:28When do I want to speak to you, I want to speak to you.
35:30I want to speak to you.
35:31Okay.
35:32What did I do?
35:34I didn't even do anything yet.
35:35No, no, you're a sheriff.
35:37It chooses automatically.
35:39Wild.
35:40I wouldn't, but because I've actually.
35:42I've actually gone through it myself.
35:44I know exactly what someone would need.
35:46I need a chair.
35:47It's my, it's like, it's my mission.
35:49It's my purpose to make sure other people know this.
35:51And.
35:52I just help as many people as I can.
35:55Neo is helping children with.
35:57urbanism as a breath of fresh air because now my job is done.
36:02Who's that?
36:03He's floating.
36:04Do I hit him?
36:05He's beautiful because they're good.
36:07I can do it for them.
36:08See?
36:09Yeah.
36:10Same in the colors.
36:12I just want to know, like, I just want them to know that, um, that they're beautiful
36:16through and through.
36:17that's it and they are different, but just embrace it.
36:22Thank you so much, Leo.
36:25Any time, any time.
36:27Any time, you really nice.
36:28Yeah.
36:29Thank you so much.
36:30We've been, um, Pilav so far.
36:32But thank you so much.
36:33Of course.
36:34Any time.
36:35Keep talking, Leo.
36:36Bye.
36:37Bye.
36:38Yeah.
36:39I just want to make sure that any child with urbanism.
36:42or adult or anyone with it just knows that it's okay and that they're beautiful.
36:47And I want to reach as many people as I can with that message.
36:50Bye.
36:51Bye.
36:52Bye.
36:53Bye.
36:54Bye.
36:55Bye.
36:56Bye.
36:57Bye.
36:58Bye.
36:59Bye.
37:00Bye.
37:01Bye.
37:02Bye.
37:03Bye.
37:04Bye.
37:05Bye.
37:06Bye.
37:02Albinism causes me to have less pigment, so I do not have color in my hair.
37:07And my skin.
37:09But most importantly, Albinism is...
37:12...a eye problem, I cannot see depth, I am sensitive to light.
37:17I have nystagmus, wobbly eyes, and I see approximately 8 to 10%.
37:22Persons with Albinism also have a higher chance of getting skin.
37:27I was born in China, in Xuchang.
37:31At that time...
37:32...in China, there was a one-child policy.
37:34And because I am a person with Albinism...
37:37...I was abandoned, because in China some people believe that Albinism...
37:42...brings bad luck to their families.
37:45Dealing with being abandoned is...
37:47...of course very hard.
37:48You do not know where you came from.
37:50You do not know what your real name is.
37:52When your birthday is, you get an estimation of what your birthday is.
37:57And you get a name given by the orphanage.
38:00It is very hard, but...
38:02...it strengthens me in getting more life experience.
38:06Because my parents...
38:07...did this.
38:08They gave me strength.
38:09They gave me an opportunity to live.
38:12...in a country that is accepting persons with Albinism.
38:17I think every teenager or every kid...
38:20...struggles sometimes with their identity.
38:22For me, it was figuring out...
38:24...how a person with Albinism of Asian descent...
38:27...looks like.
38:28It was also important to stay in contact with that part of my...
38:32...their roots.
38:33From the start, that Shuali was with us...
38:36...um...
38:37...and it was important for her to find out...
38:40...who she really is and to become...
38:42...and herself.
38:43So we found that you're actually really good at spores...
38:45...and that you really enjoyed it.
38:47I think that helped you a lot...
38:49...to also find your own...
38:52...identity and things that you like doing.
38:55I adopted Shuali in...
38:57...2007, when Shuali was three years old...
39:01...I adopted her...
39:02...from China.
39:03So when I received the proposal of Shuali...
39:07...I was only told that she had Albinism.
39:10I wasn't told whether it would be...
39:12...a boy or a girl.
39:13They never tell you that.
39:15And then I had two days.
39:17...to decide on whether I could race...
39:20...a child with Albinism.
39:22I didn't know much...
39:23...to be honest...
39:24...about what Albinism exactly was.
39:26So...
39:27...I really needed to look into that...
39:29...and teach myself a bit more.
39:31So my...
39:32...my mother helps me to accept everyone...
39:34...from a young age.
39:35She educated me.
39:37...to see the positive and the beauty...
39:40...in people.
39:41And you can also...
39:42...see that when...
39:43...the light's very bright...
39:44...that you close your eyes.
39:46But when it's...
39:47...darker in the room...
39:48...you open your eyes.
39:49And then I have beautiful sapphires.
39:52This is, I think...
39:53...the first photo shoot.
39:54Oh, that's really amazing.
39:55Yeah.
39:56I never want to...
39:57...to be a model.
39:59I did not...
40:00...grew up in that world.
40:01I never...
40:02...for some recognition.
40:03On TV...
40:04...there was...
40:05...not...
40:06...a lot...
40:07...of...
40:08...persons...
40:09...with a disability.
40:10When I was 12 years old...
40:11...I did...
40:12...a interview...
40:13...in the...
40:14...a big Dutch newspaper.
40:16And after that...
40:17...people started to ask me questions.
40:19Do you want to model?
40:21So I...
40:22...join a...
40:23...special agency...
40:24...for persons...
40:25...with a disability.
40:26So that...
40:27...I can...
40:28...also represent...
40:29...other persons...
40:30...who...
40:31...who have a disability.
40:32Who are...
40:32...sooted for...
40:33...that recognition.
40:34To be honest...
40:35...I did not know...
40:36...what vote was.
40:37I...
40:37...but...
40:38...okay...
40:39...good...
40:40...lovely...
40:41...newspaper...
40:42...something...
40:43...I did...
40:42...not know...
40:43...what it was...
40:44...but then...
40:45...people told me...
40:46...oh...
40:47...focus...
40:48...actually...
40:49...quite amazing...
40:50...and I was...
40:51...one is unique...
40:52...and...
40:53...everyone must...
40:54...play...
40:55...a part...
40:56...also...
40:56...outside...
40:57...the media...
40:58...and...
40:59...also...
41:00...outside the media...
41:01...you should not...
41:02...underestimate...
41:01...people...
41:02...because of their...
41:03...body image...
41:04...or you should not...
41:05...exclude...
41:06...perf...
41:06...because of their...
41:08...body image...
41:09...exclusion is painful...
41:11...beauty to me...
41:12...is very relative...
41:13...I think...
41:14...beauty is more...
41:15...on the inside...
41:16...about...
41:17...what...
41:18...are you to...
41:19...is very...
41:20...priced,
41:21...but...
41:22...I really...
41:23...believe...
41:24...that...
41:25...beauty is on...
41:26...the inside...
41:27...about...
41:28...about...
41:29...about...
41:30... measuring...
41:31...a part...
41:33...the...
41:34...and...
41:35...point...
41:36...u...
41:37...no...
41:38...and...
41:39with the Global Albinism Alliance and with the UN-Independence.
41:44The Director General of UNESCO saw an article
41:49of me in the BBC and then the Director General decides to...
41:54...designates me as UNESCO Good World Ambassador
41:57for the fight against racism and discrimination.
41:59Well, we're almost there at the event. How do you feel about it?
42:02I feel very excited.
42:04It's an honour. It's a big responsibility.
42:08Ready?
42:09Yes.
42:14The Director General of UNESCO
42:19I can tell you what albinism is today, but I can also show you a video.
42:24What albinism is and how young people stand up for their human rights.
42:29Because I think it's important that we show how young persons...
42:34...stand up for their human rights. Persons with albinism are discriminated against.
42:39Because of their disability and not because of their ethnicity.
42:44Thank you very much for you all for coming to this important event.
42:49I feel pretty excited.
42:54The event went very good. Beauty is to me more on the...
42:59...the insight that you are a kind person to everyone.
43:04...and that you respect everyone's disability or disadvantage.
43:09My advice to everyone who struggles with their image.
43:14Know that you are unique and that everyone...
43:19...should accept you. Just show yourself to the world.
43:22I'm Shelly. I have albinism...
43:24...and I'm youthful.
43:29...the screen.
43:30Thank you very much for taking you...
43:33...maybe it shall be.
43:34Thank you again...
43:36Dr.
43:43You
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