An army veteran has become the most tattooed woman in the world after a decade-long journey to ink 99.98 percent of her body – and she’s not done yet.
Esperance Fuerzina, 36, from Bridgeport, Connecticut, has officially been declared the most tattooed woman in history.
The veteran, who got her first tattoo on her hip at age 21, also received the Guinness World Record for the most body modifications performed by a woman.
Now, her tattoos extend from her scalp to the soles of her feet, including her eyelids, eyeballs, gums and tongue.
Esperance’s first body modification was a ‘tongue split’ and she later had five facial implants and a wide range of piercings in her ears, nipples, lips and gums.
Esperance Fuerzina (pictured right), 36, from Bridgeport, Connecticut, has officially been declared the most tattooed woman in history. Pictured left, before she began her tattoo journey.
The veteran, who got her first tattoo on her hip at the age of 21, has also been awarded the Guinness World Record for the most body modifications for a woman.
Esperance also had parts of her ears removed to create her unique look.
Her 89 body modifications break the previous record, held by María José Cristerna for more than 10 years, with 40 modifications.
While some people store precious memories in photo albums or journals, Esperance uses her tattoos to remember her experiences.
She said: ‘I’ve had a pretty nomadic life and I don’t have a lot of room in my (military) backpack, I felt like I could take this with me wherever I went.’
Each new tattoo has helped Esperance understand her life and she says they “turn dark moments into light,” reminding her of what she has been through and helping her evolve both spiritually and mentally.
Over the past 10 years, Esperance has learned to manage the pain of tattooing with meditation, believing the discomfort is “a small moment in time for something I can hold onto for a lifetime.”
Now, her tattoos extend from her scalp to the soles of her feet, including her eyelids, eyeballs, gums and tongue.
Esperance (pictured) also had parts of her ears removed to create her unique look.
Her 89 body modifications break the previous record, held by María José Cristerna for more than 10 years, with 40 modifications.
While some people store precious memories in photo albums or journals, Esperance uses her tattoos to remember her experiences.
Esperance (pictured getting a tattoo) attracts stares and attention from people when she goes out and finds it difficult to receive negative responses from people.
But she says she wisely realizes that the cruelty and judgment of others is a reflection of them, rather than herself, and believes that kindness always wins.
Each new tattoo has helped Esperance understand her life and she says they “turn dark times into light”, reminding her of what she has been through and helping her evolve both spiritually and mentally.
There were some regrets and she learned along the way, with her first tattoo being her first ‘cover-up’ – replacing it with a beautiful, huge Phoenix.
The cover-up made her realize that she preferred large, cohesive, flowing tattoos, and has given her the look she has today.
Esperance attracts attention and stares when she goes out and finds it difficult to receive negative responses from people.
But she says she wisely realizes that the cruelty and judgment of others is a reflection of themselves, rather than her, and believes that kindness always wins.
On achieving her Guinness World Record title, she said: ‘Being the most tattooed woman and having the most body modifications feels a bit crazy, I’m grateful and excited for the future, and of course I’m not done!’
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