Chinese grandpa works as beauty influencer to fund disabled grandson’s costly treatment

A 75-year-old grandfather became a beauty influencer to raise money for his grandson with a rare disease, saying he did so out of love for…

A 75-year-old grandfather became a beauty influencer to raise money for his grandson with a rare disease, saying he did so out of love for his only daughter.

Zhu Yunchang, from eastern China’s Jiangsu province, looks after his nine-year-old grandson Cao Jingyan during the day and live‑streams at night.

Zhu usually live‑streams until midnight, and his wife stays up to keep him company.

Zhu is doing this to raise money for Jingyan’s treatment in the form of injections, which cost around 1.4 million yuan (US$206,000) a year.

The treatment, administered via injections, costs around 1.4 million yuan (US$206,000) a year before it was covered by China’s medical insurance in 2021. Photo: QQ.com
The treatment, administered via injections, costs around 1.4 million yuan (US$206,000) a year before it was covered by China’s medical insurance in 2021. Photo: QQ.com

Viewers who watched his live‑stream would sometimes see an elderly man clumsily applying make-up on his face, swatching lipsticks on his forearm to compare colours like other beauty influencers.