A woman dubbed ‘Britain’s most tattooed mum’ says she regrets her 800+ inkings and wants to get them removed – but can’t afford the cost.
Melissa Sloan has made headlines in the past for her elaborate ink, which attracts “stares, pointing and kids running away” when she is out in public.
She won’t leave the house without covering herself in make-up for fear of “scaring” children.
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The mum-of-seven now admits that she wishes she hadn’t gone under the tattoo needle to begin with.
“I wear makeup to cover my tattoos every time I go out now,” said the 46-year-old, from Kidderminster, told What’s The Jam.
“I wish I never got them.
“I’m sick of people judging me.
“They look at me like I’m crazy and say I ruined my face.
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“I think I was pretty before I got tattoos.
“Now, I’m spending a lot of money on makeup like foundation to cover them.
“I’d like to remove my face tattoos but it would cost a lot of money.
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“People get scared of me when I’m outside and at the shops, but when I have makeup on they look at me differently.”
Melissa says that, when she has successfully covered up her ink with cosmetics, she becomes a “different person”.
She said: “I either stay in or, if I’m going out, I have a full face [of makeup] on and people don’t know that I’ve got tattoos.
“It’s so funny, I’m two different people – Melissa with tattoos and Melissa with makeup.”
During the last heatwave, Melissa reported avoiding the beach and public spaces for fear of the judgement she receives when she goes out with her tattoos on show.
She said: “I think my tattoos scare them and parents will also look at me strangely, so it’s usually an awkward outing that I’d rather avoid.
“My ink confuses most people and I don’t care, this is who I am.
“But even so, it can be tiring to have to be on alert for any negative comments or looks.
“So for my wellbeing, I sometimes avoid things I enjoy, like going to the beach or a public pool when it’s sunny.
“It’s a sacrifice I accept and my family accept me for who I am – my kids included.
“But I wish I didn’t have to hide my skin because others can’t accept that we don’t all have to look the same.”
But while she has previously wished for people to accept her extreme look – tattoos included – she now wishes she had never gone under the needle.
