She recalled, "There was an old lady who came up to me at an airport before and then sabi niya lang sa akin, 'Iha, ang dami mong tattoo.' Sabi ko, 'Ay oho.' Tapos sabi niya, 'Naku, you have to accept Jesus as your Lord and savior kasi satanista ka ba?'" To further prove that discrimination against tattooed women is rampant in society, another woman questioned Camsy's character when she chanced upon her at the airport. Then sinabi niya, ‘Galing kayang preso ‘yung babaeng ‘yun?’" Courtesy of Camsy Valencia po.’ Tapos sabi niya, ‘May trabaho ka ba, iha?’ Sabi ko, ‘Opo.'"Ĭamsy kept her answers short as she didn't want to "get into the conversation." But it did not stop even when she was about to leave. "I went to a laundry shop to drop off my stuff and there was this lady na nakatingin sa mga tat ko 'tapos sabi niya, ‘Hindi na mae-erase ‘yan?’ Sabi ko, ‘Hindi na. "I remember the story like it was yesterday. One of these instances happened ten years ago when Camsy was in line at a laundry shop and two ladies expressed their skepticism about her tattoos-one on her face and the other, behind her back. Camsy said she has always known that "tattoos are not gonna be 100% acceptable in normal society," with people referring to tattooed women as "skanky or slutty." Yet as much as she finds beauty in tattoos, there are still those who consider it a taboo. "It's about self acceptance and wanting to do the things that you want and doing that regardless of what you may be perceived," she continued. "Just putting yourself forward and presenting yourself honestly is one of the most beautiful things you can do cause it’s living a life of authenticity." Camsy Valencia Courtesy of Camsy Valencia That is why for Sarah, tattooed women are redefining beauty, first and foremost, by " being brave because despite what you expect to be treated as, you are still willing to do it for your own self." Sarah then finds it's disheartening that people are "still letting others dictate what they can or cannot do" when it pertains to "something they want so badly." You look great.’ And then I’ll ask them, ‘Do you have any?’ And then they’ll say, ‘I wish, but my boyfriend won’t let me,’ or ‘I wish but my parents won’t let me.'" She elaborated, " Usually I’m the most tattooed girl in the room and then I’ll go to this event and I’m surrounded by these amazing women, very capable, very smart, funny, and maybe I’ll bump into them in the bathroom, and they’ll say, ‘Oh, I love your tattoos so much. The lack of representation in the local fashion industry is merely a reflection of how many Filipinos still "living a life of judgment or the rules of other people" when it comes to getting inked. She said that this changed in recent years, with some looking at her and would instead say, "Uy, and daming tattoo, ang cool for a girl ah!" Courtesy of Annie Concepcion Through time, they have become supportive of their daughter, in a way that's similar to how society eventually became more accepting of women with tattoos.Īnnie recalled feeling weird about people staring at her from head to toe during her early years as a tattooed woman. Her bold move initially worried her parents who are both doctors and, at that time, were doubtful about the hygiene in tattoo shops. So, I think it’s a good way to commemorate something to help you through the way of life." And it depends on what tattoo, but some tattoos would mean something to you while you were getting it during that period. "Tattoos very therapeutic, actually, ‘cause the pain, it’s always there, and you get something out of that pain that will stay with you forever. "I knew the process is going to be painful so getting through with it was quite an achievement." "It’s a funny story because I got it because my first boyfriend broke up with me and I just wanted something to help me get through the pain," she recounted to L!fe.Įnduring the discomfort of getting inked additionally showed Annie her ability to overcome pain-both physically and emotionally. She opted for the phrase, "This too shall pass," written in cursive font on her right wrist. Annie got her first tattoo when she was 18 years old as a way to cope with her first heartbreak.
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