A homeless person who looked like a new man after a stylist gave him a free makeover has been reunited with his sister after she recognised him when the pictures went viral.

Homeless man Joao Coelho Guimaraes, 45, spent most of his days in search of discarded cans he could sell for small change in the city of Goiania in the west-central Brazilian state of Goias.

However, he looked completely different after a menswear and barbershop owned by country singer Alessandro Lobo, with whom he regularly chats and jokes, decided to give him a free makeover and new clothes for Christmas.

Guimaraes, who previously sported a straggly beard and threadbare clothes, had only been expecting a trim on 12th December, but instead was treated to a complete makeover.

Lobo told local media: “It was spontaneous. He passed by the door with a full beard and asked for a razor. I’ve known him for two months. He always passes by here. So, I had the idea of giving him a makeover.”

Guimaraes was treated to a hair, beard, and moustache trim and was gifted a blazer, three shirts, a pair of trousers, and a pair of shoes, rendering him almost unrecognisable from his previous image.

Furthermore, after the story was picked up by local media, Guimaraes’ long-lost sister Maria recognised her brother and travelled from the capital Brasilia to find him.

The pair was reunited after 10 years apart without contact, and they shared a hug in Lobo’s store where the sister revealed that Guimaraes had three other siblings.

She told local media she hopes to persuade him to move back with his family: “He said he doesn’t want to go. I respect that. Love isn’t by force.”

She added that they would now stay in touch and that was enough for now: “Just knowing he’s here, asking him to not be a stranger, and to keep in touch.”

Maria has since returned to Brasilia and will keep in touch with her brother and visit him when she can.

Lobo, who sings in the popular musical duo Cesar e Alessandro, decided to open the store after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the pair to cancel concerts.

Lobo hopes to be able to resume his 19-year musical career after the pandemic.

However, he also hopes to keep his new, now-famous business venture running simultaneously.

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