[custom_adv] When Chechen photographer Amina Arsakova spotted a picture of 11-year-old Amina Ependieva in a shopping center, she was immediately intrigued by the young girl’s unique beauty. This is because Ependieva has two rare genetic conditions: albinism and heterochromia. [custom_adv] The former is a condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment in the skin, eyes, and hair, while the latter is a difference in coloration of the iris. In Ependieva’s case, she has white-blonde hair and pale skin with one blue eye and one brown eye. [custom_adv] Amina was discovered by Chechen photographer Amina Arsakova, photos of Amina stood out from others that Araskova has been posting. On average, Araskova’s Instagram posts receive 1000 likes but when she shared photos of Amina, Araskova amassed over 10,000 likes. [custom_adv] She owes her stunning beauty to a combination of rare genetic conditions – albinism and heterochromia. While albinism is generally described as the “congenital absence of any pigmentation or coloration in a person, resulting in white hair and skin,” heterochromia is a difference in the coloration of the iris, determined by the production, delivery, and concentration of pigmentation (melanin). [custom_adv] Both albinism and heterochromia are rarely diagnosed in humans by themselves, but even more so together. Photos of Amina were shared online in January of 2020 and she has since gone viral on Russian social media.
