On the web his gaze aroused astonishment and marvelous comments.
A short video was enough to draw attention to a child of the Republic of Benin, who became viral in 2022 for a trait that immediately hits: its very clear eyes, which stand out particularly in contrast with dark skin.
In the video the child looks at the camera and plays with facial expressions. A very simple scene that, once shared online, quickly crossed the borders of his country.
There are many comments.
There are those who describe his gaze as hypnotic, who imagines for him a model future and who sees in his characteristics an example of the extraordinary variety of human appearance.
Behind images like this, however, there is also an interesting aspect that often passes in the background when a face suddenly becomes viral.
The color of the eyes depends on several genetic factors that affect, among other things, the amount and distribution of melanin in the iris. Clear eyes are less common in the populations of sub-Saharan Africa, but the only observation of a video does not allow to determine what the specific cause is in the case of this child.
Various hypotheses have been advanced on the origin of the color of its eyes, but without a reliable diagnosis or medical source it is not possible to attribute to the child a particular genetic condition.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of this story is another.
A child who simply damps in front of a camera has managed to remind many people how wide the diversity of human traits can be.
And while the internet searches for spectacular words to describe it, perhaps the most important thing is not to forget who is behind those eyes become famous.
A child.