Chinese content creator Ah Hua, like many young women globally, shares makeup tutorials on social media. However, her makeup serves as a form of rebellion rather than just enhancing her appearance for a night out.
Following an abusive arranged marriage, Hua, 47, decided to leave her violent husband. Despite her attempts to escape, her ex-spouse located her and viciously threw acid on her face, resulting in blindness in one eye and severe burns.
Discovering a special effect on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, inspired Hua to recreate the digital eye image of her missing eye using makeup. While not a skilled artist initially, she honed her technique through trial and error, even seeking help from her daughter to improve her eye-drawing skills.
Hua, hailing from Shandong, China, acknowledges her ongoing improvement in recreating her missing eye with makeup. Her online tutorials have garnered a vast global audience, aiming to inspire others who have faced similar violence.
After enduring the acid attack, Hua found solace in a compassionate man who became the father of her child. Unfortunately, he was later diagnosed with a terminal illness, prompting Hua to work tirelessly to provide him with quality time with their child before his passing.
In the UK, acid attacks are on the rise, with a 75% increase in assaults using corrosive substances from 2022 to 2023. Women are disproportionately affected, constituting 50% of victims and 59% of threats involving acid attacks. However, only a small fraction of offenders have faced prosecution, partly due to victims’ and witnesses’ reluctance to report the crimes out of fear of retaliation or trauma.
If you are experiencing domestic violence or coercive control, you can contact Refuge’s 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for assistance at 0808 2000 247.