Kenyan makeup artiste Dennis Karuri has sparked a wave of conversation online after sharing throwback photos of himself sporting chiselled abs, long before he became the flamboyant beauty personality his followers know today.
In a selfie-style TikTok video posted on September 28, 2026, Karuri sat in front of decorative shelving, pendant lights and flower arrangements and delivered a raw, reflective monologue about identity, loss and finding purpose.
The video featured brief cutaways to an old, blurred photo and an outdoor clip, with caption text burning key phrases onto the screen throughout.
Dennis Karuri’s life before makeup
Karuri revealed he studied a degree in agribusiness economics and food industry management at university, a world away from beauty.
“Beauty was nowhere close to anything that I thought I would have done,” he said.
He described himself as masculine and mature throughout his campus years, with no inkling that a career in the industry would eventually define him.
After graduating, he landed a government office job, but the experience left him hollow.
“Is this the job that I really want to do in my whole life?” he recalled thinking.
He said almost nothing of substance happened in the office from day to day, and the lack of purpose gnawed at him.
The most painful chapter of that period, he shared, was losing his mother while he was in his second year of university.
She had been his biggest cheerleader, regularly telling him he would be a superstar and that he would build her houses one day.
Her death hit him so hard that, by his own admission, he briefly considered ending his life.
“I kind of felt like I’ve lost myself for a minute,” he said.
How modelling brought him back to life
The turning point came when Karuri drifted into modelling and had makeup done on him for the first time. Something shifted.
“That feeling came back of like I was born again,” he said, describing it as rediscovering a version of himself he had buried.
He closed the video with a message to his audience:
“Find who you are and stay authentic. In my own opinion it’s the most fulfilling way to live.”
The video drew an outpouring of support from followers, with many moved by his honesty about grief and identity.
@Dannny jakes said:
“Ladies, learn beauty tips from this guy. Just look how beautiful he is.”
@babygirl said:
“Find who you are and stay authentic” this has nothing to do with his sexuality. Be good wadau.”
@Crystal Chela said:
“I’m so sorry for losing your mom so young. Kwanza that she was the person who truly understood you. She would be so proud of you.”
@Eunah said:
“Uko mrembo sanaa.”
@Tety said:
“Wazazi wengine wanataka therapy walai, wanapitia mengi hawasemi tu.”
