Man Spends Years Doing Girlfriend's Makeup—Leads to 'Shocking' Realization

Newsweek

16-05-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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When a blind woman needed help getting glam for her virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic, her partner didn't hesitate to pick up a makeup brush—despite having zero experience.
Five years later, Arthur Gwynne (u/The_Alchemys), 40, has become his best friend's go-to beautician, with the subreddit "Makeup Addiction" cheering them on every step of the way.
"The first attempts were... Not great. But I asked the community how I could improve and they were super supportive and helpful. I took into account their suggestions and would try them on Lachi and post again. We quickly reached a point of 'acceptable,' and about a year into it we started getting some real traction, both in the subreddit community and in real life," Gwynne told Newsweek.
Their dedication paid off. Gwynne's most recent Reddit post, showing Lachi in a dazzling purple look to host a Webby x Adobe creator event, racked up 9,700 upvotes and widespread praise. The bold makeup featured a vibrant purple eyeshadow paired with a rich wine-red lip.
"It's just been shocking to learn how passionate I am about fashion and style these days. And it's been a real boost for our relationship too: it's intimate, it's fun, and even if we're under high stress, we can grab the calm moment of trust makeup artistry brings before diving back into our chaotic lives," he said.
Gwynne, 40, is the head of operations at RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities). His best friend and creative partner, Lachi, is the CEO and Founder of RAMPD, a recording artist, media personality, and disability advocate. Lachi is a legally blind, neurodivergent singer and public figure who uses music, media, and storytelling to amplify disability culture and identity.
One of the pair's biggest achievements came when Lachi was chosen as the host of Renegades, a PBS American Masters series created by Day Al-Mohamed, which won a Webby award. The show explores unsung revolutionaries with disabilities who shaped American history.
As the two filmed across the U.S.—from Philadelphia to Hawaii—Lachi was simultaneously writing her upcoming Penguin Random House book I Identify as Blind, a pop-culture dive into disability identity. "The whole experience was transformative for both of us!" said Gwynne.
"Lachi has received many recognitions, from USA Today's 2024 Woman of the Year to Adcolor Innovator of the Year... but this was the first award for being part of such a bigger collaborative project and as a personality," he said. "It shows that the disability story told by us is engaging, marketable, and award-worthy."
Gwynne and Lachi recently celebrated 20 years of friendship. Although they didn't begin working together until 2020, their bond has always been strong. He left his corporate career in executive recruitment to become her business manager and sighted companion full-time.
A split image showing Lachi's purple make-up look and posing with her partner and MUA, Arthur Gwynne.
A split image showing Lachi's purple make-up look and posing with her partner and MUA, Arthur Gwynne.
Arthur Gwynne/Arthur Gwynne
"Today, Lachi refuses to let anyone else do her makeup, even on film shoots," Gwynne shared. "My looks have been on editorial shoots, magazine covers, national television, awards ceremonies, Getty, red carpets, oh my! And the r/MakeupAddiction is an integrated part of my continued growth as an MUA."
Their post from the 2025 GRAMMYs even became the subreddit's top post of all time, with nearly 5 million views.
Lachi's own journey with blindness has also deeply informed her work and activism.
"I was born legally blind. So while I have far less acuity than I did when I was younger, I was always navigating the world with vision loss," she shared. "I once felt an overwhelming sense of shame, and hid much of myself, due to my blindness and other differences when I was younger. Today, I am super confident, outgoing and energetic, but I am still blind and neurodivergent, so obviously the disabilities were never the problem. The problem was societal stigma and inaccessibility."
She now embraces her identity fully, navigating with rhinestone-covered Glam Canes and using tools like ZoomText, magnifiers, and screen readers to do her work. "As long as I am accommodated, I may be disabled, but I am not impaired."
Reddit Reacts
Support from the Reddit community continues to be a meaningful part of the journey for both Gwynne and Lachi.
"I remember seeing you in this sub before and you rock at doing her makeup. She is stunning and the purple is great on her!" wrote one user.
"'Purple for purple's sake' is the motto my aunt lived by, I think, so I'm here for it! Also, you always do such a good job on your partner!" said another.
"Your posts always make me smile," added another.
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