In the realm of social media, Chinese influencer Ah Hua stands out among the crowd of young women who share makeup tutorials. Unlike many peers who focus on enhancing their appearance for social outings, Ah Hua’s makeup artistry serves as an act of resistance.
At 47 years old, Hua revealed the harrowing story behind her unique makeup journey. A victim of domestic abuse due to an arranged marriage, she endured months of violence before summoning the courage to leave her abusive husband. Despite her escape, her ex-partner managed to locate her and subjected her to a horrific acid attack, resulting in the loss of one eye and severe facial disfigurement.
Discovering a newfound purpose through Douyin, a popular Chinese platform similar to TikTok, Hua stumbled upon a special effect that sparked her creativity. Inspired by a digital outline of an eye generated by the app, she embarked on a mission to recreate her missing eye using makeup techniques, symbolizing her resilience and defiance against her past trauma.
Although not a skilled artist initially, Hua persevered through trial and error, seeking guidance from her daughter to refine her eye-drawing skills. Despite acknowledging imperfections in her recreations, she continues to improve daily, garnering a vast global audience with her online makeup tutorials and aiming to empower others who have faced similar adversities.
Hua, hailing from Shandong, China, shared her story with a hopeful message of inspiration. Following the tragedy with her ex-husband, she found solace in a loving relationship with a compassionate man, who unfortunately succumbed to a terminal illness, leaving her to support their child alone.
The alarming prevalence of acid attacks in the UK has raised concerns, with a significant rise in assaults involving corrosive substances. Women bear the brunt of these attacks, comprising half of the victims and the majority of targeted threats. Shockingly, only a small fraction of perpetrators face legal consequences, primarily due to the reluctance of victims and witnesses to report such crimes, fearing reprisals or retraumatization.
For individuals affected by domestic violence or coercive control, Refuge offers a free 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline at 0808 2000 247, providing critical support and resources.