Dennis Karuri opens up about grief, career struggles and his journey into beauty

Kenyan makeup artist and content creator Dennis Karuri has taken his followers down memory lane, sharing throwback photos while reflecting on the difficult experiences that shaped his journey into the beauty industry.

Karuri, who has built a name for himself through makeup artistry, fashion and social media content, shared the reflections in a TikTok video on Monday, September 28, 2026.

The video featured photographs from his younger years, offering followers a glimpse of a period when his appearance, career ambitions and life looked very different from the person they know today.

‘Beauty was nowhere close’

Karuri revealed that he studied agribusiness economics and food industry management at university, saying beauty was not part of the career path he envisioned.

“Beauty was nowhere close to anything that I thought I would have done,” he said.

He described himself during his university years as masculine and mature and said he had no idea that makeup and beauty would eventually become such a significant part of his life.

After completing his studies, Karuri secured a job in a government office. However, the experience left him questioning whether he had chosen the right career path.

He recalled wondering whether spending his entire working life in an office was really what he wanted.

Losing his mother changed everything

Karuri also opened up about the loss of his mother while he was in his second year at university, describing it as one of the most painful experiences of his life.

He remembered his mother as his biggest cheerleader and said she constantly encouraged him to pursue his dreams.

According to Karuri, she would tell him that he would become a superstar and one day build houses for her.

Her death deeply affected him, and Karuri said he went through a period in which he felt he had lost himself.

He also disclosed that, following the loss, he reached a point where he contemplated ending his life.

“I kind of felt like I’d lost myself for a minute,” he said.

How modelling introduced him to makeup

Karuri eventually explored modelling, a decision that introduced him to makeup and opened the door to a different side of his personality.

He recalled the first time he had professional makeup applied to him and described the experience as transformative.

“That feeling came back like I was born again,” he said.

The experience helped him rediscover a sense of purpose and eventually drew him deeper into the beauty industry.

Karuri has since established himself as a professional makeup artist, working with public figures while building a substantial following across social media.

Karuri encourages followers to stay authentic

Reflecting on his journey, Karuri encouraged his followers to discover who they are rather than allowing other people’s expectations to determine the direction of their lives.

“Find who you are and stay authentic,” he told his audience.