It all started when Meri, a TikTok influencer from Turkey, made fun of the makeup style of Turkish women living in Germany. She claimed they were easily recognizable by their heavy bronzer, thick blush, false eyelashes, and plumped lips. She added sharply that this look, favored by the diaspora, had “nothing to do with how real Turkish women look.”
The response from the diaspora was quick and sharp. One person replied, “You’re just jealous because we live in Germany.” Another warned, “If we stop coming to Turkey, your economy will collapse.” Soon, a full-blown social media feud erupted, filled with insults and mutual mockery. Although it began with makeup, the argument went much deeper, revealing long-standing tensions around gender, class, politics, nationalism, and economic power.
As prominent Turkish-German writer Hatice Akyün noted in Stern magazine, “It was soon clear a proxy war had broken out: a symbolic conflict actually dealing with something else, something deeper—which offered insights into Turkish society.”
Turks form the largest ethnic minority in Germany, with 1.54 million Turkish nationals and an additional 1.4 million German citizens of Turkish descent, making it the biggest Turkish diaspora community worldwide.
Most Turkish Germans trace their roots back to the Gastarbeiter (guest worker) program of the 1960s and 70s, when West Germany invited Turks—many from poor rural villages in Anatolia—to help fill labor shortages.
Akyün pointed out that educated elite women in Turkish cities often look down on the daughters and granddaughters of these guest workers. She also noted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s party relies on support from Turks in Germany, with over 60% of Turkish voters in Germany backing the AKP, despite its crackdowns on media freedom and political opponents.
Can Dündar, a Turkish journalist living in exile in Germany, sees the social media clash as a useful indicator of both historical and current tensions. “It’s obvious this is about a lot more than style and taste—it’s an old conflict,” he told Die Zeit.
Dündar explained that the guest workers who unexpectedly stayed in Germany and brought their families over “don’t fit into the classic categories ‘German’ or ‘Turkish.’ They’ve spent four generations trying to make themselves understood in both Germany and Turkey, and suffer because they’re not fully accepted in either place.”
Many comments aimed at the diaspora carry classist undertones. One user criticized the Almancı—a derogatory term for Turkish Germans—by writing, “They clean toilets and spend their money on makeup.”
Journalist Ayşe Yıldız highlighted that the dispute also has racist elements, with some Turkish German women being dismissively called ‘Afghans’ or ‘Arabs’ as an insult targeting their darker skin, which is often accentuated by bold makeup. “It’s a way of denying their cultural identity,” she wrote in Berlin’s Tageszeitung.
Yıldız added that sexism plays a role too, with harsh judgments about appearance reflecting “internalized misogyny” in both groups. These discussions often attract men who freely share their opinions on the women’s attractiveness.For more details, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
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Turkish-German writer Çiğdem Toprak suggested that the preference for bold makeup among Turkish Germans is a form of resistance against marginalization and, in some cases, against strict social and sexual control by their families. “Their makeup sends a clear message with strong lines: I am here,” she stated on the online platform Aposto.
At the same time, Akyün noted that liberal Turkish women feel increasingly threatened and may envy the freedoms available in Germany. “More and more Turks are seeking asylum in Germany to escape the influence of the president,” she added.
In 2024, Germany received almost 30,000 asylum applications from Turkey, making it the third-largest group of asylum seekers after Syria and Afghanistan, in addition to skilled workers arriving for employment.
Naika Foroutan, a professor of integration research at Berlin’s Humboldt University, observed a global trend of “ethnization” among younger migrants in recent years, partly fueled by the rise of the far right and growing anti-Muslim sentiment. These young people have seen their parents strive to integrate into German society only to face rejection. “So they adopt a different approach: making themselves more visible and identifiable as Turkish, Muslim, or Arab,” she told the Stuttgarter Zeitung.
She added, “Youth culture is now heavily shaped by a desire not to be ‘Alman’ [German]. Instead, young people with migrant backgrounds confidently present themselves as ‘foreigners.'”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the Turkish TikTok makeup feud and its connection to Germanys Turkish community with clear and concise answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is the Turkish TikTok makeup feud
Its a major online conflict that started between two popular TurkishGerman makeup artists on TikTok Their public argument and the reactions to it highlighted deeper cultural and political divisions
2 Who was involved in the feud
The main figures were two influential TurkishGerman beauty influencers Their specific identities are less important than the larger community debate they sparked
3 Why did this feud become such a big deal
It went beyond personal drama The argument tapped into sensitive topics about Turkish identity loyalty and political views especially regarding Turkeys government which resonated with millions in the diaspora
4 What does this have to do with Germany
A large portion of Germanys population has Turkish roots This feud acted like a spotlight revealing the different opinions and tensions that exist within this community living abroad
5 What were the two main sides in the argument
While simplified the sides often broke down between those who strongly support the Turkish government and those who are more critical of it or feel a stronger connection to their German identity
Advanced Impact Questions
6 How did a makeup feud reveal political strains
The influencers and their followers used the platform to debate not makeup but patriotism nationalism and political allegiance This showed how social media can turn any topic into a political battleground for diaspora communities
7 What are the common strains within Germanys Turkish community
Key strains include divided loyalties between Germany and Turkey generational gaps integration levels and differing opinions on Turkish politics and President Erdoan
8 Did this event create new problems or just reveal existing ones
It primarily revealed and amplified existing deepseated problems The feud didnt create these divisions but gave them a very public and viral platform making them impossible to ignore
9 What is the role of social media like TikTok in these community dynamics
Platforms like TikTok accelerate and magnify conflicts They allow diaspora members to engage directly with homeland politics creating intense echo chambers that can deepen divisions rather than encourage dialogue
10 Are these tensions specific to the Turkish community in Germany
While the specific context is unique
