Aussie tattoo artist to stars like Miley Cyrus and Post Malone reveals why she was forced to cover up her ink to make a living
- Lauded tattoo artist Lauren Winzer, 31, has amassed a list of celebrity clients
- In a few years, she has opened a shop and become a well-renowned tatooist
- But before her days of rolling with the rich and famous, she struggled to get work
- Ms Winzer said she had to cover up to get office-based jobs while she studied
- The skin decorator has inked Miley Cyrus, Joe Jonas, Post Malone, DJ Tiger Lilly
A popular celebrity tattoo artist has revealed she was forced to cover up her ink to score office-based jobs while completing her tattooing apprenticeship.
Sydney woman Lauren Winzer, 31, has amassed more than 200,000 Instagram followers online and opened her own business in Alexandria, showcasing her work -all in the space of a few years.
Known for her use of colour and one-off designs, the skin decorator has become well-renowned in her field, inking the likes of Miley Cyrus, Joe Jonas, Post Malone and DJ Tiger Lilly.
Lauren Winzer, 31, is a celebrity tattoo artist counting clientele such as Miley Cyrus, Joe Jonas, Post Malone and DJ Tiger Lilly
But as she worked her way up to becoming a sought-after artist for the famous, the creative admits she hid her body art to increase her chances of gaining employment.
‘I had tattoos on my arms and leg and when I went for interviews I would wear long sleeves because I knew otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t have got the job, or even be given a chance,’ Ms Winzer told News.com.au.
Ms Winzer said she was eventually offered a job at a company and soon realised that covering up had been vital to her securing the position after seeing her boss’s reaction to her coloured hair.
She said the woman continually criticised her hair to the point she felt pressured to dye it a more neutral tone- which was met with a standing ovation by her boss when she returned to the office.
The skin decorator has revealed that prior to her short and successful career in the tattoo world that she would hide her ink to secure jobs
‘She definitely wouldn’t have given me the job if she saw my tattoos. I was a really hard worker, my commitment to my job never changed, I was still the same person, doing the same amount of work,’ the star
‘It bothered me a lot at the time and still does, especially talking about it now.’
The tattoo artist, originally from NSW’s south coast, said she noticed people would stare at her as they walked past when she first moved to the city six years ago.
She said over the years the attention has decreased, which she believes comes from reduced stigmas over tattoos.
Ms Winzer and Miley Cyrus became friends five years ago when the Aussie added to the Hollywood starlet’s tattoo collection
Ms Winzer’s works often feature pop culture icons, glitter, florals and galaxies.
Five years ago, while Miley Cyrus was touring the country, her assistant procured Ms Winzer for a tattoo after seeing her work on Instagram.
Once it was complete, Miley requested to have some done too, adding to her collection a cat, watermelon, alien and an eyeball.
The popstar fell in love with the tattooist’s work, Ms Winzer said, and told her she would only go to her from then on for pieces requiring colour.
The two women became good friends and the Hollywood local often flies her overseas when she would like a new design.
In January, the Australian tattooed a playboy bunny on Post Malone’s face.
Post Malone imprinted himself with one of Ms Winzer’s one-off designs in January and requested a play boy bunny symbol be tattooed on his right cheek