Meet Zhu Yunchang: The 75-YO Chinese grandpa who turned beauty influencer to save his 9-YO grandson

Social media usually follows the generic perception of popularity: it places young faces in the midst of glamour, and rewards them with lucrative product deals. In the era of content creators and influencer-driven economy, young adults (teenagers even) are landing collaborations that put traditional jobs and paychecks to shame.That’s what makes 75-year-old Zhu Yunchang from eastern China so remarkable.Forget chasing likes for his own ego and seeking internet validation at such a ripe age; Zhu sits down at night, sometimes tired from watching over his nine-year-old grandson all day, to do makeup tutorials that have captured millions of hearts.

Zhu Yunchang’s story of becoming a beauty influencer

Turns out, the 75-YO grandpa’s reason for content creation isn’t fame. It’s love for his 9-YO grandson, who is suffering from a rare disease.Per the South China Morning Post, Zhu’s grandson, Cao Jingyan — son of his daughter, Zhu Wei — was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 1 nine years ago, when he was just a baby of 6 months.Now, for the unversed, SMA Type 1, also called the Werdnig-Hoffman disease, is a severe, early-onset genetic neuromuscular disorder. It’s a rare condition that weakens the muscles and makes even breathing a challenge.

There are reportedly 30,000 living SMA cases in China, with 1,200 new cases each year. Jingyan has SMA Type 1, the most severe form of the condition.Doctors said Jingyan wouldn’t likely see his second birthday; that he would only live 18 months. Zhu watched his only daughter, Jingyan’s mother, fall apart under the weight of it all. He couldn’t let it happen.“She’s my only child," he’s said. “If anything ever happened to her, it would destroy the family.”

So, he stepped up. Zhu learned physical therapy tricks, went to the children’s hospital to watch professionals help Jingyan, and came home to massage and work with his grandson daily. Doctors expected him to fade, but Zhu was determined to fight.As expected, medical bills became their next mountain. Nusinersen, the SMA medication, was life-changing but devastatingly expensive. In 2019, it was approved in China, and over the years, the cost of it has only gone up, as it is said to have significantly increased survival rates and improved patients’ quality of life.Now, it costs 700,000 yuan (US$103,000) per injection. Jingyan needed two a year.The family sold their home, borrowed from relatives, and still struggled.That’s when Zhu looked for any way to help. Nobody wanted to hire a 70-YO, let alone a granddad, in the beauty industry, and traditional jobs weren’t on the table. So, he took his daughter’s old beauty products, opened a live stream on his phone, and started practicing lipstick swatches and foundation blending.Viewers were surprised at first, but soon, they couldn’t get enough. There was something honest, even vulnerable, about a silver-haired grandfather in front of the camera, learning makeup — not out of vanity, but out of necessity. His daughter even jokes that he does his makeup better than she does!Social media in China lit up with Zhu’s story. Viewers saw not just a grandfather, but somebody breaking every stereotype about age, gender roles, and what families do for each other.Thankfully, there’s been some relief on the medical costs as well.In 2021, China’s insurance program finally began covering Jingyan’s medication. Now, treatment costs about 33,000 yuan (US$4,800), which is dramatically lower but still a stretch. Jingyan has surpassed all expectations, too. He’s nine, goes to school, has friends, and dreams of university. On his better days, he could even go to school to study and play with other children.“I’ll support whatever he wants to do,” Zhu promises, as he wishes to see his grandson to be able to stand independently.Meanwhile, the 75-YO’s daughter is as proud of her father as she is thankful for her son’s health. “My father seems to carry a super engine on his back all the time. He is a superman, super dad and super grandad,” Zhu Wei said.Zhu’s devotion has turned him into a national hero. And as for the relationship between a grandson and his grandpa, Zhu senior told his grandson, “I support you no matter what you decide.”