Woman with 14 face tattoos says people assume she’s a ‘bad mum’ and a ‘criminal’
A mother of four with 14 facial tattoos has revealed that people assume she’s a “bad parent” because of her inking, with some people even labeling her a “criminal.”
Claire Elsie-Rose, 33, who works as a tattoo artist, said she is often questioned about her aesthetic choices but has no regrets about her body modifications.
The business owner lives with her four children between the ages of six months and 13, and her partner of three years Jonny, 30, a driver.
She insists there’s a “massive misconception” surrounding facial tattoos because people think anyone who wears them is “wild and irresponsible” or “a criminal.”
“I’ve also had questions like ‘why would you do that?’ and comments like “you were so beautiful!” suggesting that I somehow messed up my appearance,” she shared the sun.
A mother of four with 14 facial tattoos has revealed that people assume she is a ‘bad parent’ and because of her inking, some people are even calling her a ‘criminal’
Claire Elsie-Rose, 33, who works as a tattoo artist, said she is often questioned about her aesthetic choices but has no regrets about her body modifications. Pictured with her kids on the beach. The business owner lives with her four children between six months and 13 years old, and her partner of three years Jonny, 30, a driver
“I used to argue back, but now I just ignore it. I don’t have to defend myself and it’s not worth my energy.
Claire, from Lincolnshire in the UK, said she used to find the comments frustrating but now pays no attention to them because she “knows she’s a good mum”.
“I have a successful business and I’m in a secure relationship – there’s nothing wild about my life and I love nothing more than a night in my pajamas!” she added.
The mother of four added that she got her first tattoo when she was 15, paying just £10 ($19) to get a little fairy on her wrist.
Claire insists there’s a ‘massive misconception’ surrounding facial tattoos because people think anyone who carries them is ‘wild and irresponsible’ or ‘a criminal’
Claire, from Lincolnshire in the UK, said she used to find the comments frustrating but now pays no attention to them because she “knows she’s a good mum”. She is pictured before getting tattoos
That’s one of her only regrets.
“I was too young and wouldn’t recommend buying one at that age – I loved it then, but it’s covered up now!” she said.
Claire now has 60 per cent of her body covered in tattoos and spends a total of £8,000 ($15,107) despite getting many of her tattoos done for free.
After her first tattoo as a teenager, she gradually built them up, including a chest tattoo of “lots and lots of stars” and a mermaid tattoo on her neck when she was 18.
While working in the office after school, she had to be covered up – she wore high-necked tops and scarves even in the heat of the summer.
But at the age of 25, Claire was rushed to the hospital with breathing problems, where they found a tumor on her lung.
“It turned out to be benign, but I hadn’t known that for a while, and it was terrifying,” she said.
“It made me realize that we don’t know how long we’ve been here and that’s when I decided to get a face tattoo,” she said.
She explained that despite being “heavily tattooed,” she was afraid of getting ink on her face because she thought she would be judged.
However, eight years later she doesn’t care, now with 14 tattoos on her face.
“It was so empowering — I could finally be myself and that was liberating,” she added.
Her first face tattoo was “Queen” written across her eyebrows.
Despite feeling much freer, she says the “judgment is really heightened” with a tattooed face saying she “gets 10 times the stares.” In the photo during pregnancy
Despite feeling much freer, she says the “judgment is really heightened” with a tattooed face saying she “gets 10 times the stares.”
“Even when I go to the store with my children, the guard follows me, or people cross the road because they don’t want to pass me.
“I used to think it was pretty exciting, and it was frustrating to be judged on my face tattoos, especially given the reason I got them.”
“The last thing I want is for my parenting to be judged. Having a tattoo doesn’t affect how I am as a mother at all,” she added.