Irish TikTok twins Roisin and Eimear taking the world by storm with make-up tutorial vids

Now the 22-year-olds, who have clocked up over a million views of their make-up videos on the platform, are showing off another skill with an Irish TV channel.

They already get messages from followers all over the world who love the looks they create.

But Roisin reveals their success has come at a price and they've had to learn to ignore the online trolls.

"It used to be really bad at times. We'd get hate about being a catfish, that 'you're really ugly without make-up but with it you're a different person'.

"At this stage they have said everything that could be said that could hurt you," says Roisin.

"One of the first really tough comments was that I had horsey teeth and I burst into tears. My dad asked what was wrong and when I told him he told me to wise up.

"The amazing thing is that if there are a lot of hate comments on a video, which doesn't happen so much now, it does really well because people come in with so much positivity."

Before the pandemic hit in 2020 Roisin shared videos of herself doing other people's make-up with her 800 Instagram followers. The sisters had been watching TikTok for two years before Eimear shared a make-up video which took off.

The twins were guests at the recent launch of Northern Ireland brand BPerfect's foundation range in Belfast and Roisin realised just how successful they've become.

"People were coming up to me at the launch saying they didn't know I was from here. They assumed we were American because the following is so big. We're always asked where we're from.

"We have followers now from the most random places. We get messages from South Africa or Germany and I'm asking how do you even know my name? How did you even find me?

"It's lovely at Christmas and Easter when people go out of their way to message us. We get so many messages from people who say they are doing make-up now because they have been watching us.

"Some of our videos have had over a million views which is just amazing."

Roisin, who has completed make-up legend Paddy McGurgan's training course, has now gone full time with her brushes at Kuku Nails and Beauty in Portadown. She also with works with IGTV, Instagram's video app. Eimear is studying for a master's in nursing.

They're set to reveal another side to themselves with TG4's BLOC, on its YouTube and Instagram channels, showcasing influencers who speak Irish in Mise, Me Féin & M'Aghaidh.

Both women studied Irish at university after dad Pearse taught them a few words and phrases during a rainy childhood holiday in Donegal.

"I didn't really enjoy it at first. It wasn't until we went into first year that I really started enjoying it," says Roisin.

"TG4 wanted young influencers who do make-up who also have Irish. A lot of people associate it with being older and in the Gaeltacht. We can show that it's still important in young people's lives. We did a 'get to know you' video with them and some filming in the salon and then a challenge to do make-up in the year 3000."

Even though they're now on different career paths, the pair intend to keep up the TikTok videos. They spend hours scrolling online to spot emerging trends to lead the way in make-up looks.

Roisin also has a passion for working behind the scenes on TV.

She worked in salons to hone her skills and learned techniques from YouTube at the start, but it was mum Colette who put them on the path to TikTok stardom.

"When we were younger, we used to sit and watch our mum doing her make-up, with us sitting on the stairs.

"Now I get young girls coming to me who have never worn it in their lives. One 16-year-old girl recently was nearly in tears when I finished her make-up and it was so sweet to work with her," says Roisin.

roisin.gorman@sundayworld.com