A grandma who spent $30,000 on tattoos has shared images of what she looked like before she inked herself up.
Tattoos are a personal choice that for whatever reason still splits opinion. What some view as body art and an external showcasing of their personality, others view as graffiti and don't like it all.
The art is now being more accepted as the younger generations take over - but that doesn't mean that those who aren't in their youth can't get on board either.
Kerstin Tristan, a 56-year-old grandmother from Germany, clearly has a passion for tattoos as she's covered herself in $30,000 worth - and she started getting them later in her life!
To demonstrate the extent of her transformation, the 56-year-old shared striking photographs taken nine years apart. In the first image, Kerstin's body appears entirely unadorned by tattoos.
Fast forward to a recent picture taken this month, and Kerstin's transformation is nothing short of astonishing. Her body now boasts a vibrant tapestry of tattoos, including a butterfly and flower design gracing her head.
Leopard print patterns adorn her arms, and mandala illustrations decorate her hands. Piercings accentuate her ears and nose, while bolder makeup choices, including a smokey eye, bold lipstick, and long fluttery eyelashes, draw attention to her features. Even her hair has undergone a transformation, now showcasing a more ashy shade of blonde.
People in the comments section were naturally taken aback by the change, as one person wrote: "You are quite a beautiful woman, but even more so with all your amazing tattoo work!
A second said: "Whether with or without tattoos, always very charming," while a third added: "Gorgeous - but you definitely look more comfortable with the tattoos."
In another story about being inked from head to toe, a mother has recently spoken to the Daily Star about how she wishes she could remove her face tattoos so she can start inking herself all over again.
Melissa Sloan, a 46-year-old mother from Wales, boasts an astonishing collection of more than 800 tattoos that adorn her body.
Determined to fill in the remaining gaps, she explained: "I’m putting more colors on my face, some yellow and orange. All the blank spaces will have bits in, I’ll have it red, orange, and yellow and probably some green in it."
Melissa revealed her commitment to her inked identity, stating: "I’m just addicted, aren’t I? But that’s who I am."
She acknowledged the scrutiny she faces for her tattooed appearance, with some people saying she's "going blue." To counter this, she intends to add more vibrant colors to "liven it up and sparkle it up a bit."
Despite her commitment, Melissa admits that if she could turn back time, she'd be even bolder with her facial tattoos, envisioning designs like a "Playboy bunny and a cross in the middle" or "barbed wire across my forehead." To truly express her thoughts, she even contemplated permanently inking phrases like "f*** off" and "f*** you."
Both women are clearly dedicated to their art!