A mum-of-two has opened up about how people tend to clutch their kids closer upon seeing her tattoo-covered body. Kyla, who has a passion for ink, has spent an eye-watering $330,000 (£240,095) on tattoos and has around 90% of her skin adorned with them.
Despite the love she and her partner hold for her tattoos, she’s faced negative reactions, including being labelled a “circus freak”. There have even been instances where her ability to parent has been called into question, leading to unfortunate events such as being ejected from restaurants due to her looks.
In an interview with Truly TV on YouTube, she discussed growing up in a Mormon church with a conservative backdrop which curtailed self-expression. As she aged, she began to rebel against those early constraints and now is often found under the tattooist’s needle as often as twice a week – quite different from her past conservative lifestyle.
“I never in my life pictured that I would be this heavily tattooed,” Kyla said, revealing too that her partner Vampiro is similarly tattooed. She spoke about their experiences with prejudice, recounting, “We’ve been kicked out of restaurants for having face tattoos, before I even open my mouth we’re assumed to be bad parents.” Yet, she maintains: “We’re actually very normal, just like everybody else.”
Kyla has brushed aside the negative reactions she receives online, sharing: “The most common comment I see is – ‘you were so beautiful until you ruined yourself with tattoos’.”
Shrugging off the negative comments, she said: “None of that stuff bothers me – it’s not for attention, I just like the way I look.”
Yet, Kyla has been on the receiving end of judgment on social media, with one disapproving commentator saying: “What a good example for your kids! I just don’t understand these people! ” and another calling her decision “stupid”. Questions also arose, with someone asking: “What type of example are you setting? ,” and another expressing sympathy: “I feel sorry for her kids”.
On the flip side, voices of support emerged. A champion of non-conventional looks said: “Tattooed and pierced people are the most incredible individuals I have ever met. If my kids are ever lost, I tell them to go find someone that’s heavily tattooed or pierced or find a biker. These amazing people will help you find home.”
Moreover, an advocate for parents who sport ink added: “Tattoos don’t make you a bad parent.” One commenter reassured: “I never doubted you weren’t a good parent.”
Praise also came pouring in from YouTube, where a fan delighted over Kyla’s appearance, declaring: “She is absolutely gorgeous with or without tattoos”.