U.S. Albino Supermodel Diandra Forrest Fascinated the World with Her Unique Beauty — Her Transformation in 30 Pics

Once told she would never make it in fashion, Diandra Forrest went on to break industry barriers, front global campaigns, and captivate audiences with a beauty the world rarely sees.

Diandra Forrest entered the world looking unlike anyone her family had seen, and they didn't know what to make of her. She was born with albinism, a rare genetic condition that affects pigmentation in the skin, eyes, and hair.

Born Different and Treated Like an Outsider

Her ethereal look, milky skin, blonde hair, piercing green eyes, and distinctly African features drew stares from the very beginning. But admiration was not the first reaction.

Forrest grew up in the Bronx in a majority Black and Hispanic neighborhood, where she was singled out relentlessly. Even her mother was stunned. When Forrest was born, she looked at her daughter and said, "Well, she's beautiful, but [whose] baby is this?"

"I felt like the odd person out because I'm so fair," she shared. "I was targeted and made fun of for the way I looked. 'Who's this white girl with black features?' People would call me 'Casper' and 'Snow White,' and say, 'Why are you so white? You look weird.'"

But she refused to give in. With the support of her family, she dug deep. "My parents are very supportive," she stated. "They instilled in us a sense of love and strength."

Humiliated in Front of a Room Full of Hopefuls

At just 14 years old, Forrest's dream of modeling sparked when designer Shannaine Eans spotted her and invited her to a fashion class.

But what should have been a breakthrough became a brutal slap in the face. "I walked in, and he was picking them out and pointing [...] I was waiting for my turn, but he wasn't even paying attention," Forrest said.

Then the bomb dropped. The coach turned to Forrest's friend and asked, "Why is she even here? This girl will never make it in fashion. I don't want to waste my time with her." Eans immediately ended the class.

She looked at Forrest and said, "There are going to be people who don't believe in you, but you need to believe in yourself. You're beautiful, you're strong, and you're going to make it. Use this to drive you."

'You're Too Odd': The Words That Nearly Broke Her

But that early rejection wasn't an isolated incident. "I had a modeling coach when I was 14 or 15," Forrest recalled. "He was so mean, [and would say things] like, 'You're too odd. You will never be a model.'"

It nearly shattered her confidence, making her question whether she was kidding herself by dreaming of a modeling career. She said, "There wasn't as much education about albinism back then, so it was really difficult."

Discovered on the Street and Catapulted to the Runway

Her breakthrough came while she was in college. While shopping on 34th Street in Manhattan, Forrest was stopped by a stranger who changed her life.

Photographer Shameer Khan asked, "Have you ever thought of modeling? You should." He took her photos to Elite Models. One month later, she met with the agency. By the next month, she was walking in the European Fashion Week.

With that, Forrest made history, becoming the first model with albinism to sign with a major modeling agency.

A Face the World Couldn't Ignore

What followed was nothing short of meteoric. Forrest appeared in mainstream campaigns, including one with Wet n Wild, captivating global audiences and opening doors for others with albinism. She didn't just break through the beauty ceiling. She smashed it.

In 2019, Forrest partnered with the New York Dermatological Group Foundation and the U.N. Independent Expert on Albinism for a global awareness campaign. Over the years, she has delivered deeply personal TED Talks.

"What helped me through my hardest times was finding out who I am as a person is more than what's on the surface," she shared. "Hone into that and love yourself [...] Don't try to fit in. Stand out. Stand strong."

Motherhood, Modeling, and Mission

Today, Forrest lives what she calls a colorful life, balancing her modeling career with motherhood and advocacy. She welcomed her daughter, Rain, on New Year's Eve 2015 and gave birth to her son in December 2017. He is now seven years old.

The girl once laughed at for being too white now glows on magazine covers and in fashion campaigns, and the world can't get enough. Once told she didn't belong in fashion. Today, she's changing the very face of it.