Tattoos seem to be one of the most divisive topics. People say they affect your chances of finding a significant other, getting a job and ageing beautifully. But many like to challenge these opinions, especially as tattoos have become more prevalent and accepted. But do some people take it too far?
Amber Luke, a 24-year-old Australian body-piercer, has spent more than $25,000 on modifying her body over the years.
Amber started getting inked at 16. Since then, she's gotten more than 100 tattoos, most of which have been in this past year. She's also dyed her eyes and split her tongue, earning her the nickname "Blue Eyes White Dragon" and 120,000 followers on Instagram to boot.
Watch Amber talk about her body modifications:
Amber got six more tattoos last weekend at a Brisbane tattoo expo, including one on her chin. Because she knows her look is controversial, she captioned one of the photos with #jobstoppers and #sorrymum.
Though Amber loves her look, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. She couldn't eat or speak for a week after getting her tongue pierced, and she risked going blind when she dyed her eyes. Though she couldn't see for three weeks after the procedure, her vision eventually returned.
Amber was diagnosed with depression at 14 and says she uses body modification as a way to cope and feel more like herself. She told Daily Mail earlier this year:
"Back when I was 14, I didn't know who I was or what I wanted from life. I was catatonic and couldn't see what was best for me. I was naive. But I now have a backbone and I can stand up for what I believe in. I also have the confidence to look however I want too."
Meet another of the world's most modified youths, Ethan Bramble:One of her most recent tattoos of a noose received enough backlash on Instagram for Amber to again open up about her mental illness, and edit her caption to read:
"Two years ago, I hung myself in a local park. My demons got the best of my mentality and ate me alive. When I was blacking out after hanging myself, I heard a voice - it said 'it’s not your time,' and that’s when I felt someone grab my legs, lift me up and unravel the noose around my neck. I knew from that moment i was put here on this earth to do something special."
With the mix of supportive and negative feedback she gets online, Amber has learned to only care about what she thinks of herself, and her unique image: "I absolutely hate the way I used to look. It wasn't me. But I've evolved myself over the years into what I want to be and look like, but in saying that, I still have a long way to go."
With as many tattoos as Amber has, it is unlikely she'll stop here, especially because she hopes to be completely covered in ink by the end of next March.
Well, she doesn't have far to go.
