Even though people make fun of her and call her a “freak,” a mother with 800 tattoos is still deeply loved by her two children. She doesn’t have any physical disabilities; her tattoos are all “prison-style” designs. Despite having trouble finding a job and facing harsh criticism every time she goes out, she can’t stop getting more tattoos, saying she’s addicted to them.
Melissa Sloan, a 46-year-old from Wales, has been getting tattoos since she was 20 and has no regrets about her 26-year obsession. She admits that society shuns her because of her tattoos, and even though she knows it makes life harder, she can’t stop.
“It’s like being addicted to cigarettes or alcohol,” Sloan said. “I can’t stop, it’s addictive for me.” She also mentioned that tattoo shops started refusing to serve her, so she bought her own tattoo equipment and keeps it in her car, ready to use anytime.
Even though Sloan can’t find a job, she still has her partner give her three “prison-style” tattoos each week. This has led to a rather messy collection of tattoos on her face and body, totaling over 800 tattoos.
Sloan shared that she once worked as a restroom cleaner but has since turned down similar jobs. She says, “I can’t find work. I was even turned down for a cleaning job in my hometown because of my tattoos. People think I’ve never worked, but I’ve had one short job. If someone offered me a job tomorrow, I’d take it.”
Sloan also faces verbal abuse, ridicule, and unwanted attention because of her tattoos. She feels people treat her as if she’s strange, and it bothers her. “I expected this,” she said. “I can’t fit in with others because I choose to be authentic. I’ll keep being myself.”
She has also been banned from school events and local places where her children, ages eight and ten, might go. Despite this, she remains positive. Her children are already interested in tattoos, and she supports their interest. “They got some temporary tattoos on their arms last night. They’ll need to remove them for school,” she said. She plans to let them get permanent tattoos when they’re older, promising they’ll have even better ones.
Before she got her tattoos, Sloan looked quite different. She posted photos of her pre-tattoo look on Instagram, and she says she’s barely recognizable from back then.
