Woman with 14 face tattoos says people assume she’s a ‘bad mum’ and a ‘criminal’

A mum-of-four with 14 face tattoos has revealed that people assume she’s a ‘bad parent’ due to her inkings, with some people even branding her a ‘criminal’.

Claire Elsie-Rose, 33, who works a tattoo artist, said that she’s often questioned about her aesthetic choices but has no regrets over her body modifications.

The business owner, lives with her four children aged between six month and 13, and her partner of three years Jonny, 30, a driver. 

She insists that there’s a ‘huge misconception’ around face tattoos, as people think anyone with them is ‘wild and irresponsible’ or ‘a criminal’.

‘I’ve also had questions like “why would you do that?” and comments like “you used to be so pretty!” implying I’ve somehow ruined my looks,’ she told the Sun.

Claire Elsie-Rose, 33, who works a tattoo artist, said that she’s often questioned about her aesthetic choices but has no regrets over her body modifications. Pictured at the beach with her children. The business owner, lives with her four children aged between six month and 13, and her partner of three years Jonny, 30, a driver

‘I used to argue back but I just ignore it now. I don’t have to defend myself and it’s not worth my energy.

Claire, from Lincolnshire in the UK, said she use to find the comments frustrating but now pays them no attention as she ‘knows she’s a good mum’.   

‘I have a successful business and I’m in a secure relationship – there’s nothing wild about my life and I love nothing more than a night in, in my pyjamas!’ she added.

The mum-of-four added she got her first tattoo when she was 15, paying just £10 ($19) to get a little fairy on her wrist.

Claire insists that there’s a ‘huge misconception’ around face tattoos, as people think anyone with them is ‘wild and irresponsible’ or ‘a criminal’

Claire, from Lincolnshire in the UK, said she use to find the comments frustrating but now pays them no attention as she ‘knows she’s a good mum’. She is pictured before getting any tattoos

That is one of her only regrets.

‘I was too young, and don’t advise getting one at that age – I loved it back then, but it’s covered up now!’ she said. 

Claire now has 60 per cent of her body covered in tattoos, spending £8000 ($15,107) in total, despite getting many of her tattoos done for free.

After her firs tat as a teenager, she gradually built them up including a chest tattoo of ‘loads of stars’ and a mermaid tattoo on her neck when she was 18.

While working in offices after school, she had to be covered up – wearing high-necked tops and scarves even in the heat of summer. 

But at the age of 25, Claire was rushed to hospital with breathing problems, where they found a tumour on her lung.  

‘It turned out to be benign but I didn’t know that for some time, and it was terrifying,’ she said. 

‘It made me realise we don’t know how long we’re here for and it was then I decided then to get a face tattoo,’ she said.

She explained that despite being ‘heavily tattooed’ she was afraid to get ink on her face, as she thought she’d be judged.

However, eight years on she doesn’t care, now with 14 tattoos on her face.

‘It was so empowering – I could finally be myself and that was liberating,’ she added.

Her first face tattoo was ‘Queen’ written over her eyebrows.

Despite feeling much freer, she says the ‘judgement is really upped’ with a tatted face saying she gets ‘ten times as many looks’. Pictured while pregnant 

Despite feeling much freer, she says the ‘judgement is really upped’ with a tatted face saying she gets ‘ten times as many looks’.

‘Even going to the shop with my kids, I get followed by the security guard, or people would cross the road because they didn’t want to walk past me.

‘I used to find it quite triggering, and it was frustrating to be judged on my face tattoos, especially given the reason why I had them done.’

‘The last thing I’d want is my parenting to be judged. Having a tattoo doesn’t affect what I’m like as a mum at all’ she added.