Her ex called her ‘ugly’ whenever she wore makeup — after their breakup, she uncovered a betrayal that exposed the disturbing reason why
People are allowed to have certain preferences about their partners, but when the latter curbs the freedom of choice, it becomes toxic. That was the experience of Tracylyn C. Sorensen, who shared her story on Instagram through her account @treycmodel on May 20, 2026. She explained that her former partner disliked it when she wore makeup and repeatedly made comments about her appearance. At first, she believed it was only his personal preference and did not think there was another reason for it. She later discovered something about his actions that left her completely shocked.
The woman recalled him saying, "I like you so much better without makeup," and explained that she initially thought he simply preferred a natural look. Eventually, things got worse to a point where he called her "ugly" every time she used cosmetics. Later, she understood that his comments were connected to his own fears rather than her appearance. Tracylyn discovered that her ex's concern came from jealousy because he worried she would receive attention from other men. The truth surfaced after she learned that he had cheated on her while criticizing her looks. A mutual friend told her that he had complained about her wearing lipstick and eyelashes because she attracted more attention.
At first, she thought he didn't understand the idea of makeup, and how concealer, mascara, and so on were used to give a flawless, minimal look. Later, the woman learned he was trying to reduce her confidence instead of supporting her choices. She also reflected that she believed he was competing with her in an unhealthy way. A relationship should allow both people to feel comfortable expressing themselves without feeling controlled by the other person. Tracylyn continued sharing that his actions left her questioning why she stayed with him. She described feeling that her ex tried to limit her instead of appreciating her personality. "I guess in his mind he just wanted to suppress me," she noted. On top of that, for him to cheat on her was even more appalling.
Sometimes, a toxic relationship may not seem obvious to the person experiencing it until someone from outside helps them see the situation clearly. In another incident, a woman shared how a neighbor’s simple observation changed the way she looked at her marriage. During a double date, her partner's behavior raised concerns, and the next day, the woman told her, "Your husband is controlling." The comment made her reflect on the moments when he questioned her choices, monitored her plans, and made her feel guilty for spending time away from him. It showed her that an unbiased perspective can sometimes help reveal issues that are difficult to notice while being emotionally involved.
For more relationship content, follow @treycmodel on her Instagram account.