Approximately 1 in 18,000 people are born with albinism every year in the United States.
Though many might think it’s a disease, it’s actually not. Rather, it’s a genetic condition.
Now, though people are born with albinism, it doesn’t stop many of them from doing incredible things. This is all the more impressive when it’s considered that many sufferers of the condition are teased by others throughout their lives.
Two individuals with albinism who have gone on to achieve simply amazing things are Bera Ivanishvili and his brother Tsotne.
The brothers from the European country of Georgia – separated by 11 years – live with albinism, and pictures of them recently spread worldwide. They are the sons of Georgia’s richest man, and the country’s former prime minister, but not much is known about their private life.
It transpires, though that Bera has made a real name for himself – becoming one of the hottest musicians in all of Georgia in the process. This is all you need to know about the brothers Bera and Tsotne Ivanishvili – and what they look like today.
Before we get into the lives of Bera and Tsotne, let’s take a closer look at what albinism really is. When it comes to this genetic condition, and other, similar conditions, it is crucial to understand and inform people on what it entails.
What is albinism?
Through that – we hope – we can make the associated stigma disappear, which in turn will hopefully lead to people not having so much prejudice against those who live with it. Ultimately, of course, we are all human beings and, despite our differences, the most important thing is to treat each other with respect.
At the end of the day, isn’t it our differences that make us all so amazing, beautiful, and unique?
Now, albinism is described as a genetic condition inherited from both parents, regardless of ethnicity or gender, one caused by a genetic mutation.
As the Mayo Clinic explains, several genes are responsible for providing instructions for making proteins involved in the production of melanin. “Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found in your skin, hair, and eyes,” according to their website.
“Albinism is caused by a mutation in one of these genes. Different types of albinism can occur, based mainly on which gene mutation caused the disorder. The mutation may result in no melanin at all or a significantly reduced amount of melanin,” it reads.
There are three types of albinism.
Types of albinism
The first, called Oculocutaneous albinism, causes decreased pigment in the skin, hair, eyes, as well as vision problems. The second, Ocular albinism, is mainly limited to the eyes, and results in issues with vision. Finally, the third type of albinism is related to rare hereditary syndromes.
People with albinism are very vulnerable to sun exposure because of the common lack of melanin pigment in the hair, skin, and eyes. As a result, they are more at risk things like skin cancer and severe visual impairment.
Moreover, people with albinism commonly face forms of discrimination worldwide. As reported by the United Nations, albinism is still “profoundly” misunderstood, both socially and medically.
“The physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalization and social exclusion. This leads to various forms of stigma and discrimination.”
It continues: “In some communities, erroneous beliefs and myths, heavily influenced by superstition, put the security and lives of persons with albinism at constant risk. These beliefs and myths are centuries old and are present in cultural attitudes and practices around the world.”
According to figures from the United Nations, it’s estimated that 1 in every 17,000 to 20,000 people in North America and Europe have some form of albinism. In the sub-Saharan area of Africa, albinism is more widespread. For example, it is estimated that 1 in 1,400 are affected by some kind of albinism in Tanzania. In selected parts of the population of Zimbabwe, it is as common as 1 in 1,000.
Bera & Tsotne Ivanishvili
Now, let’s get back to aforementioned famous brothers, Tsotne and Bera Ivanishvili. Bera is the more famous of the two, though both of their pictures have spread worldwide due to their very special looks.
They both have albinism. From the beginning of their lives, they’ve had to live with the fact that they were “different” from many other people.
Bera, in particular, has a unique view concerning his albinism. Moreover, he believes it’s essential to spread the word about he and his brother’s condition, as they serve as inspirations for many across the world.
Bera was born 11 years before Tsotne, back in 1994. He was born in Paris, just as his father turned his attentions to the world of banking after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was his father’s business decisions that made his family extremely rich. In fact, Bera’s father, Bidzina Ivanishvili, is said to be worth around $5 billion, having made his money thanks to owning a collection of iron ore producers, steel plants, banks, and real estate. He later sold everything.
Bera grew up mainly on the move as his family split their time between their houses in Russia, his home country of Georgia, and France.
He attended school in Paris, and his white skin and pale blue eyes always set him apart from the rest. His parents always supported him in every way possible, showering him with all the love they could give.
Great support from parents
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place without being stared at,” he told Wired. “But growing up different, as an albino kid, it was never a problem for me because of my parents.”
Bera’s mother, Ekaterine, explained to Wired that some people get strange haircuts just to stand out. However, “When someone is just born this way, standing out, they’re gonna hate this person for being born different. They’re being jealous, and evil. I dealt with it. Like a gangster. You know? Yes, it gave me that warrior mentality. But everyone is not made for this,” she said.
Though Bera knew he was different, that didn’t change his mentality of wanting to succeed in life. When he turned 11, his younger brother, Tsotne, was born. He also had albinism.
For Bera and Tsotne, the fact that they looked just like each other marked the beginning of a beautiful brotherhood.
“And he was just like me,” Bera recalled of seeing his younger brother for the first time.
“And he saw that he can be different and society can love you and, you know, the females can love you. You know, it’s important.”
When Tsotne was born – Bera was a teenager at the time – the Ivanishvili family moved permanently back to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Bera had experienced what it was like to grow up having albinism, and convinced his parents to homeschool his little brother to prevent him from being teased.
Bera Ivanishvili – music career
Tsotne got the same fantastic support from his parents and family members as Bera. In the end, the brothers became stronger and more self-confident than many other children. Instead of focusing on the potential downsides of the genetic condition, their uniqueness became a sort of superpower.
“My dad is genuinely shocked to this day. ‘Is there really any people that think the way you look is bad? You guys are like angels. The way you are is so cool,'” Bera told Wired.
Bera and Tsotne turned out to be highly talented and creative individuals. From a young age, Bera had been interested in music, and as a teenager he flew back and forth to the United States to record music. He met with the famous producer Rob Fusari – who had previously worked with artists such as Lady Gaga and Destiny’s Child – and got the opportunity to work in a studio.
Bera recalled Fusari helping him get his big breakthrough, including giving him lessons in how to hide his “post-soviet” accent while singing. They reportedly achieved this by stretching “awkward-sounding vowels into calculated melodies.”
“Bera is incredibly unique,” Fusari said. “He brings a magical energy. It’s kind of like being around a unicorn.”
So what are Bera and Tsotne up to today? Well, the elder brother’s music career is going great – he’s released several albums and even performed on television. At the same time, Tsotne has turned out to be a very creative person in his own right, sharing his many paintings on social media.
Bera & Tsotne Ivanishvili today – pictures
On their respective Instagram accounts, Bera and Tsotne are often seen with each other. It’s clear to all that their bond is powerful.
In 2018, Georgia Today reported that Bera had married his girlfriend, Nanuka Gudadvadza. The wedding took place in the Svtiskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia. According to the news outlet, Bera and Nanuka had only dated a few months before announcing their engagement.
The couple’s parents are said to be close friends and have known each other since childhood.
Today, Bera’s not only happily married – but he’s also a father. In November of 2019, he and his wife welcomed Beruka. It sure seems as though the Ivanishcvili family is doing great!
Being different is never a bad thing. That’s something Tsotne and Bera Ivanishvili have genuinely shown the world.
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