My friends custom skin will be a steve even when trusted skins only are off

Dear Minecraft,

I was roleplaying with my friends on a roleplay map and my friends skin was normal, but the next day he told me he changed his custom skin a bit but it was a Steve. I tried leaving rejoining, Re-booting Minecraft ect, but it still stayed as Steve. He decided to try using Minecraft / community made skins to see if those would show up, and they sure did! He made the conclusion he could only use Minecraft / community made skins so I could see them. If there is any fix to this please let me know as this is bothering me. 

Thanks,

-sincerely Lunar