Kimberly: They called me an inside out Oreo.
It used to affect my confidence
but now my confidence has grown alot.
My modelling started
last year,
I want albinism to became more mainstream,
I have ocular cutaneous albinism type one.
Even on...
a day like today
I always have to have some cream on and have to stay covered up.
I've been diagnosed with Nystagmus
which is the wobbling of the eyes.
which means, say for you, everything's just still,
but for me say if I'm emotional or upset,
frustrated, or just tired, my Nystagmus could kick in and they can really start wobbling.
and also my eye sight, there's not really any depth perception there.
that why I have to use my white cane
It helps me to know like how many steps to actually go down. without falling down any of them.
Debra: I initially saw Kimberly appealing for a forever home on GMTV.
We eventually adopted her after my process with social services
just before her third birthday. These are the pictures used by GMTV
when you were appealing for a Forever Home in national adoption week.
You were about nine months old then.
Kimberly: So what was it that made you want to adopt me?
Debra: We'd already got Jonathan that had already got albinism,
So we'd got a good foundation of knowledge of what albinism meant and how it would affect you.
So, we thought, "Why not?"
I have three children with Albinism. Jonathan is 17,
and Harriet is is 11.
They both have Ocular cutaneous type two.
which means they have some pigmentation.
Kimberly: I'd say that our relationship is really strong.
Between us all.
Jonathan: I'd think Kimberly's all right. to be honest.
Sure we have our moments
then again all siblings do to be honest.
Debra: Kimberly's condition does affect her alot more than she will admit to.
As a teenager,
her looks are completely different her body shape is very different which
which she struggled with quite alot.
Kimberly: When people say that I'm not black, it kind of makes me feel a bit,
I don't know the words where you say,
because I know I am black it's just,
the lack of education really. they call me an inside out oreo, which first didn't make sense,
that was what black people get called alot of the time, when they are black but,
I asked why
what technically the person is trying to say to me that I'm white but try to act black.
I do look, caucasian, like white but to be fair most people don't really know what to say
because of how different I look as well.
I felt insecure like using my
cane, it's still just that thing,
afraid of judgement kind of thing.
Debra: I think for a child a teenager particularly
going out carrying a white cane is another example of her standing out.
And looking different.
Kimberly: It used to affect my confidence
But now I'm not bothered about just going out having to use my cane.
Codey: I don't even notice Kim being different, because she's one of us.
I don't like
have the need to be like, she's different or not.
Kimberly: My modelling started, last year in August.
I always wanted to do it. The fact that I have albinism and that I can empower people as well.
By being an ambassador.
I want to raise awareness for albinism, mainly
because there's a lot of people who have the condition,
they're just like, not comfortable within themselves.
Codey: I feel proud of what she's trying to get out there.
And she's just trying to be like, "This is me"
"This is who I am. I am not going to change who I am for people."
Kimberly: With sports it is... hard, but it hasn't...
really stopped me because there are a lot of,
say equipment you can get nowadays that is accessible and it has been really adaptive.
I think it's really important for everyone just to accept themselves.
I kind of want albinism to become more mainstream.
So like seeing albinism being portrayed
in a good light as well like through the media.
I want this film to teach people that
despite my disability, I've accomplished
something great in my life.