Grandfather Became A Beauty Blogger To Save His Grandson’s Life
In a world driven by trends and filtered perfection, few stories break through the noise quite like this one. Picture a 72-year-old man, sitting in front of a camera, gently applying lipstick—not for vanity, but for survival. His unlikely rise as a beauty influencer isn’t about fame, fashion, or internet stardom. It’s about love, urgency, and an unthinkable challenge that forced a family to reinvent everything. What led him here? And how did mascara become a lifeline? The answer unfolds in a journey that’s part heartbreak, part hope—and all heart.
Meet Grandpa Zhu
At first glance, Zhu Yunchang might seem like a typical retiree—soft-spoken, silver-haired, and quietly living out his twilight years in China. But beneath the surface, Zhu is a man driven by urgency, compassion, and an unwavering sense of purpose. He’s not just a grandfather—he’s a fighter, a learner, and, against all odds, a makeup influencer with a growing following.
Zhu’s transformation didn’t come out of a desire for attention. It was born from necessity. When his grandson was diagnosed with a devastating illness, Zhu found himself staring at a future filled with medical bills and dwindling options. His pension wasn’t enough. Traditional side jobs wouldn’t cut it. So, he made an unexpected pivot—into the vibrant, fast-paced world of beauty blogging.
He didn’t start out with a makeup kit or influencer know-how. What he had was a willingness to learn and a powerful motivation: saving his grandson’s life. And that drive pushed him to step in front of the camera, even when the world told him he didn’t belong there.
The Grandson’s Diagnosis
Six years ago, Zhu Yunchang’s world shifted in an instant. His grandson, Xiao Jingyan, was just five years old when doctors delivered a crushing diagnosis: spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). It’s a rare genetic disorder that weakens muscles and impairs movement, caused by a deficiency in a crucial protein needed for motor neuron survival. The prognosis? Grim. Xiao was given only 18 months to live.
There’s no easy way to process news like that, especially when it comes wrapped in medical jargon and dire timelines. SMA is relentless—particularly in young children. It strips away muscle control, affecting the ability to walk, swallow, or even breathe. Xiao’s form of the disease was aggressive, and his treatment options were scarce. There was one drug that showed promise, but it came at a staggering cost—and it wasn’t available locally.
But Zhu and his family refused to accept defeat. While doctors had one version of the future in mind, the family set out to rewrite it. That meant pushing against the odds, against time, and against a system that wasn’t built to support families like theirs.
A Family in Crisis
The diagnosis didn’t just threaten Xiao Jingyan’s health—it shook the entire foundation of the family. Almost overnight, every aspect of life revolved around survival. The treatment that could potentially extend Xiao’s life came with a nearly impossible price tag: 700,000 yuan, or around $100,000. It was a figure that dwarfed their savings and made even the idea of hope feel expensive.
Determined to give Xiao a fighting chance, the family did what many would consider unthinkable. They sold their home. They borrowed from anyone willing to lend. Loans piled up. Sleepless nights became routine. Zhu’s pension, once enough to live modestly, suddenly felt like spare change in the face of mounting medical bills.
And yet, even with all those sacrifices, it still wasn’t enough.
That’s when Zhu knew he had to do more—something drastic, something unconventional. He began scouring the internet, searching for side hustles and money-making ideas. And somewhere between the noise of product reviews and viral trends, he stumbled upon a surprising path: beauty blogging. It wasn’t just uncharted territory—it was a completely foreign world. But when it came to saving his grandson, nothing was off-limits.
Breaking Beauty Stereotypes
The beauty industry isn’t known for welcoming 72-year-old men, especially not those with zero experience and a mission that had nothing to do with glamour. But that didn’t stop Zhu Yunchang. In fact, the resistance only made him more determined.
His first step was to reach out to cosmetic brands—hoping they might provide free samples for him to review. But once they heard his age and saw who was asking, the rejections rolled in. One company even bluntly told him that “old people can’t sell makeup.” It was a stinging reminder of the industry’s narrow standards, where youth and perfection often overshadow purpose and authenticity.
But Zhu didn’t flinch. Instead of giving up, he walked into a local cosmetics shop and did something few influencers would dare to do—he asked for help. The staff showed him the basics: how to apply foundation, how to use mascara, and what each product actually does. He took notes. He studied the language of beauty. He became, in his own words, a student again.
What started as awkward trial-and-error slowly turned into confidence. Zhu began live-streaming product reviews, demonstrating everything from creams to lipstick with earnest charm. He didn’t hide who he was—an elderly man with shaky hands and deep wrinkles. And in doing so, he turned the stereotype of a beauty influencer on its head. He wasn’t selling youth. He was embodying purpose.
Going Viral — and Facing Backlash
Zhu Yunchang’s sincerity quickly struck a chord. His live-streams weren’t polished or flashy, but they radiated something that algorithms can’t fake: heart. Viewers tuned in not just for the beauty tips, but to witness a grandfather’s unwavering devotion. His fan base began to grow, his earnings slowly trickled in, and for the first time in a long while, the family saw a glimmer of relief.
But as Zhu’s videos gained traction, so did the criticism.
Some online skeptics questioned the family’s intentions. Accusations emerged that his daughter was exploiting him for sympathy and money. Others called it a gimmick, a strategy to manipulate emotions under the guise of charity. Trolls mocked his age, his makeup skills, and even his appearance. The very thing that made Zhu’s story special—its raw, unconventional honesty—became fodder for cynics.
To many, that kind of backlash might have been enough to shut the camera off for good. But Zhu? He kept showing up. Not out of stubbornness, but because he never lost sight of the reason he started. His videos weren’t about validation—they were about survival. Every swipe of blush, every product tested, was another step toward helping Xiao walk, breathe, and live.
In the end, authenticity won. Despite the noise, Zhu’s presence on social media remained strong, a quiet but powerful rebellion against shallow trends and fleeting fame.
Hope and Progress
For years, the family’s financial survival felt like a tightrope walk over a chasm. But eventually, a shift occurred—not just in Zhu’s online presence, but in policy. After relentless advocacy from families like theirs and growing public awareness of the disease, China added some spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) medications to its national medical insurance list. For the first time, treatment was no longer entirely out of reach.
This breakthrough brought tangible relief. The once-devastating cost of medication dropped significantly, lightening the family’s financial burden and giving them something they hadn’t dared to hold onto for too long: hope.
And yet, Zhu didn’t stop.
He could have retired from his beauty blogging journey once the financial pressure eased. But the work had become more than a means to an end. It was now part of his identity, his way of fighting for his grandson’s future and spreading a message of resilience to countless others.
Zhu still films his videos, still reviews products, still speaks directly to a growing audience that admires him not just for his dedication, but for the quiet courage it takes to keep going. His followers now include those who tune in not for the makeup, but for the man behind it—a grandfather who proved that purpose is more powerful than prejudice.
When Love Redefines Limits
Zhu Yunchang didn’t set out to inspire a movement, redefine masculinity, or become an internet sensation. He just wanted to help his grandson live. But in choosing compassion over convention and action over apathy, he did all of those things—and more.
His story reminds us that love, when backed by courage, can cut through any barrier—be it age, gender stereotypes, or even the skeptical roar of the internet. He showed us that purpose doesn’t care about what’s “normal.” Sometimes, it shows up in mascara brushes and live-streamed tutorials. Sometimes, it looks like a grandfather putting on blush with hands that should be retired but refuse to rest.
And maybe that’s the biggest takeaway of all: that doing something extraordinary often starts with doing something uncomfortable, in service of something greater.
So here’s to Zhu—not just a beauty blogger, but a quiet revolutionary. He didn’t just apply makeup. He applied pressure to a world that told him he couldn’t. And he did it with grace, grit, and a whole lot of heart.