Zari Hassan Admits to Facelift, Says Viral "Fox Eye" Look Was Down to Makeup, Not Surgery Ugandan-Tanzanian socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan has confirmed she recently had a cosmetic procedure done on her face, after days of online speculation triggered by a video showing her with a sharply lifted, "fox eye" appearance. The clip, which began circulating on social media around July 13, showed Zari with her eyes pulled dramatically upward at the outer corners — a look inspired by the "fox eye" beauty trend, which is designed to create a sharper, almond-shaped eye. The video quickly sparked heated debate, with some social media users defending the businesswoman while others insisted the change was too dramatic to be explained by makeup alone. Reactions ranged from admiration for her boldness to mockery, with some commenters comparing her altered look to various animals and even extraterrestrial characters. Briefly.co.za Zari, often nicknamed "The Boss Lady," is one of the most recognizable public figures in East Africa. She built much of her public profile through business ventures and high-profile relationships, including her romance with the late Ugandan businessman Ivan Semwanga and her widely followed relationship with Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz. She has also been in the news recently following her marriage and subsequent split from Zambian businessman Shakib Lutaaya. Briefly.co.za Rather than staying silent, Zari addressed the controversy directly, first in a video shared with her audience and later in a separate interview. She explained that her regular makeup artist, identified only as Sammy, had experimented with the fox eye styling technique for the video that went viral, and that the finished look was more extreme than intended. She was careful to defend the makeup artist's overall skill, noting that he has handled most of her makeup work in the past and that this was simply a new style that didn't land the way either of them expected. However, Zari did not deny undergoing a cosmetic procedure altogether. She clarified that what she'd actually had done was a temporal lift — a relatively minor surgery focused on the temple area near the eyes — rather than a full facelift, which was the term much of the online speculation had used. She was firm that this was her first facial cosmetic procedure and pushed back on claims that she had gone under the knife repeatedly. To reinforce her point, she also appeared bare-faced partway through one video, drawing a contrast between her natural look and the heavily styled appearance that had caused the uproar online. Tuko News Zari didn't shy away from addressing her critics either. She argued that decisions about her own body and appearance are personal, and expressed frustration that so much public attention had been directed at a routine cosmetic choice. She maintained that the criticism had been unnecessary and driven by people determined to scrutinize every change in her appearance, adding that she was comfortable with her decision and had no regrets about the money she'd spent on it. Galaxy FM 100.2 She also framed the procedure as a normal part of aging and self-care rather than something to be ashamed of, saying she has always considered herself attractive and views the lift as simply an enhancement rather than a transformation. She used the moment to encourage others to be less judgmental of people who choose cosmetic procedures, arguing that such decisions should be free from public shaming. This isn't the first time Zari's appearance and cosmetic choices have made headlines. She has previously spoken publicly about investing significant sums in cosmetic enhancements as part of maintaining her look, a topic that continues to generate strong reactions from fans and critics alike whenever it resurfaces. As of now, Zari appears to be moving past the controversy, having addressed it head-on rather than avoiding the subject — a pattern consistent with how she has handled previous instances of public scrutiny over her personal life and appearance