China's first blind model inspires millions

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CGTN

Born in 1980, Wang Leilei used to be a famous model in China.

Fond of pretty clothes since childhood, she gave up the chance to enter a key high school for professional modeling training. From the age of 16 to 26, she was a shining star on the runway. The dazzling outfits endowed her with different appearances as an ambassador of beauty.

Wang Leilei on the catwalk /Photo courtesy of Baidu.

At that time, she wouldn't know what was in store for her.

"I had night blindness since childhood. I thought the other children had the same vision in darkness. I'd always lose when we played hide-and-seek. I thought they were making a fool of me, so I wouldn't go out at night anymore," said Wang. "When we were at the backstage, some models would complain that it was too dark. I thought they felt the same as I did."

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Because she couldn't follow the director's signal, Wang kept missing important shows. Only when her eyesight further deteriorated, she realized the severeness of the situation. "Actually I got retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease that would result in blindness in the end."

Being informed of the illness, she didn't even think about leaving the stage at first. She would check the stage in advance on the pretext of high myopia. She would remember the place of every step, or walk with other models. In 2004, however, a specially designed runway made her give up this lifelong career.

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"The runway was a special design. So when I was close to the front end, my calculation went wrong. The heel was on it but half of my foot was off the edge. It was very dangerous." Wang remembered. "It may get worse in the future, and I couldn't ruin the show because of my own mistakes."

So she left the runway and worked as an auto show model and a still model for some time. At her lowest moment, she met her future husband Ai Shuyi, who brought her happiness and confidence. "I like wearing beautiful makeup. He would offer to try anything on me. When I did it myself and showed him, he would always say that I was so beautiful. Words couldn't describe what I felt."

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After getting married, Ai quit his job and helped Wang establish a modeling agency and a modeling school. Wang worked hard with her remaining eyesight, and the company went smoothly. Unfortunately, the company became a target of her rivals. They persuaded her customers to stop cooperating with the blind manager.

Wang felt that she'd hit rock bottom. To make things worse, her father passed away from liver cancer. Forty-eight days later, her grandmother died, too. "My career, my family, my dream, everything was gone. I felt so lonely." She'd tried everything, yet she failed every time. She decided to try the last outlet.

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"I stepped on the windowsill, and was taking another step." Fortunately, her husband saw it and pulled her back in. "He asked me: 'Don't you love us anymore?'" Eventually, it was love that encouraged Wang to start over again.

Wang Leilei lost her sight after giving birth to two children. /Photo courtesy of Tencent

Wang Leilei on a show /Photo courtesy of Tencent.

Wang Leilei’s husband and two children /Photo courtesy of Tencent.

Now, Wang is studying acting in Beijing Film Academy. Having gone through so many difficulties, she always loves the stage. Acting makes it possible to express herself and fulfill her dream. "It's like losing your favorite childhood toy, and getting it back after years."

Wang Leilei at an acting class /By CGTN

Wang feels grateful for fate's intervention. Once lost her dream, she is so loved and have a happy family. Moreover, she gained another chance to continue her career.

Wang and her husband are inseparable. Together they work, travel, and go to movies like any other loving couples. She uses screen readers to surf online and talks to friends on WeChat, "to keep up with the world."

CGTN Photo

Wang Leilei and her husband /By CGTN

"Some people may see differences in the disabled. In fact, there are people of different sizes and colors who are looking forward to changing their appearance. I lost my sight, but I'm trying to make my life more comfortable. I don't think of it as a problem."

"Acting and modeling are similar art forms. I will fulfill my dream as an actress," said Wang. She is blind, yet no one can take away the light from her eyes.

The story is one in The 1.3 Billion series exploring the diverse lives that make up China.