andrew
Is Devina Smith the real-life Daenerys Targaryen? Many people believe so as her “magical” white mane has made her the latest viral hit. The adorable newborn was born on May 1, 2017. She was brought into this world by mom Jessica Smith, who was just as surprised as the whole world was when she first saw Devina’s icy blond hair!
The stay-at-home mom of three from Amory, Mississippi, posted photos of little Devina online. It did not take too long for the online community to take notice and for the white-haired baby to become the next Internet sensation. Many asked if the photos were retouched while others were quick to remark Devina’s likeness to the popular Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen.
Devina Smith: Baby with Shocking, White Blonde Hair Takes the Internet by Storm
When Jessica first laid her eyes on her daughter Devina, she and the nurses gasped in disbelief. Doctors explained why Devina had such a shockingly white mane, it all boiled down to a condition called “partial albinism”.
“I didn’t know until she was born,” Jessica told the Daily Mail. “The doctor told me she had a lot of hair during delivery but it was a shock when I saw her for the first time. She had so much hair; it was crazy.”
Partial albinism is a rare genetic condition that affects only five in 100,000 people in the United States and Europe. Compared to full albinism, which is caused by a recessive gene carried by both parents, partial albinism has a more complex diagnosis. Experts have believed that it could be caused by the sudden mutation of the genes that affect melanin production. It may also be more difficult to predict when a child will be born with partial albinism.
Scroll down for the video
For Jessica, it was her first time to see a baby with snow white hair. Despite Devina’s condition, her doting mom thinks it’s actually what makes her extra special. She still needs to take Devina to the doctor for regular checkups, particularly eye examinations as albinism tends to cause a certain degree of photosensitivity. Other than that, Devina Smith has no other serious health conditions to be worried about.
“I couldn’t believe how much attention the photos was getting. People thought it had been photoshopped,” Jessica added. “My oldest is nine, and he was so happy and couldn’t get over her hair either.”
