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4 weeks ago
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An army veteran has become the world's most tattooed woman after a ten year journey to ink 99.98 per cent of her body - and she's still not finished.
Esperance Fuerzina, 36, from Bridgeport, Connecticut, has now officially been declared the most tattooed female ever.
The veteran - who got her first tattoo on her hip at 21 years old - has also been awarded the Guinness World Record for most body modifications for a female.
Now, her tattoos span from her scalp to the soles of her feet - including her eyelids, eyeballs, gums and tongue.
The first body modification Esperance had was a 'tongue split' and she went on to have five facial implants, and a wide range of piercings on her ears, nipples, labia and gums.
Esperance Fuerzina (pictured right), 36, from Bridgeport, Connecticut , has now officially been declared the most tattooed female ever. Pictured left, before her journey of tattoos started
The veteran - who got her first tattoo on her hip at 21 years old - has also been awarded the Guinness World Record for most body modifications for a female
Esperance has also had parts of her ears removed to create her unique look.
Her 89 body modifications smash the previous record, which was held by Maria José Cristerna for over 10 years, by 40 modifications.
While some people store precious memories in photo albums or diaries, Esperance uses her tattoos to remember her experiences.
She said, 'I have had a pretty nomadic life, and not much room in my (army) pack, I felt I could take this with me wherever I go'.
Each new tattoo has helped Esperance understand her life and she says they 'turn dark times into light', reminding her what she has lived through and helping her evolve both spiritually and mentally.
Over the past 10 years, Esperance has learnt to manage the pain of tattooing with meditation, believing the discomfort to be 'a small moment in time for something I can keep for life.'
Now, her tattoos span from her scalp to the soles of her feet - including her eyelids, eyeballs, gums and tongue
Esperance (pictured) has also had parts of her ears removed to create her unique look
Her 89 body modifications smash the previous record, which was held by Maria José Cristerna for over 10 years, by 40 modifications
While some people store precious memories in photo albums or diaries, Esperance uses her tattoos to remember her experiences
Esperance (pictured getting a tattoo) does draw looks and attention from people when she is out and finds negative responses from people can be difficult
But she says she wisely realises that other's cruelty and judgement is a reflection on 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 what she has lived through and helping her evolve both spiritually and mentally
There have been some regrets and she has learned along the way, her very first tattoo being her first 'cover-up' - replacing it with a beautiful, huge Phoenix.
The cover-up made her realise that she preferred large, cohesive, flowing tattoos - and it has brought her to the look she has today.
Esperance does draw looks and attention from people when she is out and finds negative responses from people can be difficult.
But she says she wisely realises that other's cruelty and judgement is a reflection on them, rather than herself and believes that kindness always wins.
On achieving her Guinness World Records title, she said: 'To be the most tattooed woman and to have the most body modifications feels a little crazy, I am grateful and excited for the future - and of course I am not done!'
English (US)