I got my first tattoo when I was 18. It was actually my 18th birthday present from my sister and was part of an amazingly wild May 2-4 weekend. But as crazy as the weekend was, the tattoo part of it was extremely planned out.
I had wanted a tattoo forever, and although my mom was okay with it, she made sure I had found a reputable (i.e. clean and capable) place to get it done and had really, really thought about what I wanted.
She talked to me about how having a tattoo visible in certain places could effect aspects of your life like your career. She explained to me that what I may want now might not be so cool 20 years down the road. She even drew examples on my back so I knew exactly where I wanted my tattoo placed.
To this day, I love my tattoo (and each that has followed) and have no regrets.
But that’s just me.
Kimberley Vlaminck on the other hand…
The 18 year old Belgian girl is in a bit of trouble after lying about the circumstances surrounding getting 56 stars tattooed on her face.
Kimberly had initially loved the tattoos when they were finished, but when her father freaked, she lied and told him that she had only asked for 3 stars. She claimed the tattoo artist, Rouslan Toumaniantz, had misunderstood her request because of a language barrier, and when she fell asleep during the tattooing he went ahead with all 56.
The truth has now come out (after Kimberly was caught on tape admitting it), and it seems no one really believed her story in the first place. Frankly, I don’t know too many people who could fall asleep while having their face tattooed!
I post this here not to say anything bad about Kimberly (she made some bad choices and now has to face up to them…excuse the pun!), I’m posting this as a cautionary tale.
For goodness sake, really THINK about your tattoo before you get it inked on your skin!
I’ve never had it done myself, but I’m guessing that getting a tattoo like Kimberly’s removed is not fun!!!
Although she could just keep them. She doesn’t get my respect for lying (or then threatening to sue tattoo artist Toumaniantz), but keeping those stars would be pretty hardcore…I guess. Though they can’t come close to Toumaniantz himself:
So what do you think?
Was Kimberly’s biggest mistake not considering the consequences of her tattoos? Was it lying about them and blaming someone else? Or was it letting society (and her dad) convince her there was something wrong with her tattoos when she initially loved them?
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21 comments
This is a tough one, because I am having an extremely visceral reaction to her facial tattoos, which I find ugly, but I'll admit that I find facial tattoos in general to be in very poor taste. Still, I think the biggest problem I have with this story is the fact that she tried to lie and blame someone else for her own stupidity. As you say, there's no way someone could fall asleep while getting a tattoo--especially on one's face! And trying to blame the tattoo artist for your own poor judgment is just plain lame.
I think the artist himself should be questioned, however, with respect to his decision to give an 18 year-old girl an extensive facial tattoo. While I don't think tattoo artists should have to serve as artistic police, they DO have to make sure that you're in a sober, sound state of mind so that you won't regret your decision later on. For a first tattoo, this is pretty serious, and I think he made an error in judgment himself in allowing such a young customer to go ahead with this design. But then, as you can see in his photo, he's hardly one to uphold the standards of convention, so it's a bit of a circular problem!
Posted by Laura Roberts
June 25, 2009, 2:56 PM
Okay the tattoo artist's face gives me the heeby jeebies for realz. the lip rings the neck tattoo holy cats!
But I actually really like the 56 stars. They are cute and well spaced - they are a bit intense, as a starter tattoo but at least it's not in my opinion super ugly.
So I think she should just dig in for the long haul and get used to them.
It was probably poorly thought out to get them in the first place, but all the reacting/lying/regretting she is doing is only going to leave her with star shaped scars on her face and a life-long addition to concealer. Maybe she'll grow to love them again in two weeks when all the fuss dies down?
Anyways just so long as no-one tells her she looks like a my little pony's butt it should all be fine.
Posted by Mir
June 25, 2009, 5:09 PM
I think that for this girl personally, her biggest mistake was not being truthful. It's unfortunately true that as girls and women we're constantly under pressure to adhere to rigid societal standards of behavior and appearance, and when we decide to break out of the mild we get a lot of fallout. Women with tattoos are constantly judged and face objections from family and friends. I can't count the number of times my family has criticized my tattoos.
That still doesn't justify what Kimberly did--which was to consciously falsely accuse another person of a very serious breach of professional ethics.
I do agree with Laura Roberts: I'm confused as to why the artist would have agreed to do the tattoo at all. Most artists, even if they're heavily modded themselves, won't touch a client's face or hands unless that client is older and very experienced with tattoos. On the other hand even if it was a lapse of judgment to agree to do the tattoo, Kimberly was the one who wanted the design and went ahead with it. It's her body; it was her choice to get the tattoo and the artist did the job he was requested and paid to do.
Posted by Denise
June 26, 2009, 12:17 AM
KV may have blamed the artist for breaching ethics because of a lie but looking at this situation he did breach a serious code of ethics in the tattoo industry. Just as Denise said, hands, faces, etc are rarely ever tattoo'd on someone who doesn't have VISIBLE other in. Is the recession so tight on tattoo shops that they'd make choices like this? GR!
As for tattoos in general I have lots of them and some I've thought about a lot and others I just got them because I love them.. BUT I've made good choices (or I think I have) and have made an effort to get tattoo'd by women artists in clean shops etc. I'm even at the point where I'm getting them because I like the style. But, it is a serious decision and unless you're OK with commitment and being judged constantly and people always wanting to talk to you about why you have a huge pin cushion tattoo'd on your chest don't do it. oi!
Posted by Diandra
June 26, 2009, 2:30 AM
hahahaha! this article is hilarious. i can totally relate. i have 3/4 sleeves on both arms and the top half of my back is done. i was 16ish when i started, i'm 27 now.
i do not identify with tattoo culture whatsoever and i wouldn't be caught dead at a tattoo convention. i don't regret (italics) my tattoos, per se, however some days i do wish i didn't have to consider the pattern of my shirt so it doesn't clash with my skin.
i think the important thing is that just because you are 100% positive you want one and think there is no going back, does in no way mean you won't change your mind in the future. think of how many times you have been so sure your partner is "the one", only to end 4 months later. let's save ourselves the humiliation and keep those relationship statuses blank on the old fb.
people are always changing and evolving, as is society. when i first got them the big question was how am i ever going to get a respectable job? now tattoos are so acceptable that is barely an issue. my problem is now i worry people will fail to look past them and view them as just another self promotion tool. i hate the idea that someone may see my tattoos as a cry for attention or a way to fit in, because often times this is what i think a lot of the time when i see people with tattoos.
hypocritical - obviously. but maybe that's secretly why i got mine so young and i didn't even realize it. who knows.
if i could go back and do it all over again, would i?
tough call. depends on my mood.
Posted by amy
June 28, 2009, 9:44 PM
I don't understand why some people can't just get temporary or henna tattoos. Even if you want a permanent one, why wouldn't you get the temporary one first to get an idea of what it will look like and people's reactions. I don't have any tattoos and would never get one simply because I change my mind too often, but if I was to get one, there is no way I would not get a temporary one first to make sure. I mean, before you make a permanent change to your body, it's only common sense to make sure that's what you want.
She shows serious lack of maturity by lying to avoid her father's anger. Anyone with that kind of immaturity should definitely not be getting a tattoo. I bet her father's real happy now... (rolls eyes)
Posted by Alyson
July 1, 2009, 11:59 AM
I love my tattoo. I had the idea in mind for about a year, and I got it designed and done by a brilliant woman (www.eroby.net) who I knew would do it justice. I've had it for over a year now and I fall more in love with it every day. I know it's totally possible that at some point in my life I might not relate to it in the same way, but it will always represent a certain part of me and a period in my life that I value - I think it's impossible to get a tattoo that reflects who you want to become; it makes more sense to commemorate who you have been.
One thing that drives me crazy is when people say "Yeah, but how's it going to look in fifty years on an old wrinkly arm?" To which I say: "Like an old wrinkly arm, with a tattoo on it."
I also hate it when people tell me I'll regret it later in life. If my tattoo is my biggest regret ever, I'll have had a pretty dull and risk-free existence.
But I LOVE when people ask questions about it, though they rarely do - it seems like it's maybe a little taboo, like asking about one's religion or income. But if you run into me and want to know more about the eagle and the weasel, I will be happy to extrapolate for you.
Posted by Anna
July 2, 2009, 12:18 AM
I also have a bit of an obsession with/soft spot for really bad tattoos:
http://media3.guzer.com/pictures/mr_c...
Posted by Anna
July 2, 2009, 12:23 AM
Anna, I feel completely the same way! If the site had been letting me leave comments, I'd have written pretty much the same thing. Except maybe not the part about the eagle and the weasel - which by the way I will *definitely* ask you about if we run into each other! :)
Posted by Desiree (D. Cole)
July 2, 2009, 8:55 AM
Life's too short to regret tattoos is what I say to people when they tell me I'll regret the three leaves on my forearm... but then I saw this girl's face.
Most tattoos aren't going to change your life. At most you'll have to look for clothing to conceal/ compliment it, or explain to people your thinking at the age of (fill in blank).
But this one certainly will, and Kimberley knew that. The outpouring of cautionary advice that followed this story doesn't really apply to most tattoos, so I'll modify it a bit with a rule I hope we can all agree on: If you're going to tattoo an entire side of your face as your first tattoo, think again.
As her lying showed, Kimberley's got a problem with using common sense and responsibility. There are a million ways she could have manifested this; let's not blame tattoos for it.
Posted by Kasia
July 2, 2009, 3:05 PM
Curiously enough, since I wrote that post above three different people have asked me about my tattoo. Is it murphy's law? Or is it just that I'm in a different city? Are Torontonians less reticent than Montrealers? Is the famed Upper Canada Coldness just a myth? Seems unlikely, but...
Posted by Anna
July 7, 2009, 11:13 AM
I think that it was terrible for her to lie about getting the tattoos, and if she loves them then (wants them) then that is her decision to make. They do not make her a different person, a lesser person, or anything of the sort. In fact, she is the same person as she was before she got them.
Yes, the tattoo artist should have had more discretion about the placement of the stars, possibly even suggesting only a few stars around the hairline at first to make sure that they are something that they want.. but it was not his body to decide that. She is of consenting age, and she was not intoxicated.
I have a lot of tattoos, that my family does not always agree with. I am responsible about getting them, and take proper care of them. When I am 60 years old, I will love them just as much (if not more) than I do now. It is very frustrating when people think that I can not be a productive member of society, or assume that for some reason I will not want them some day down the road. My tattoos means a lot to me and my history.
Just because she has facial tattoos, does not affect her character. Her lying about the cirucmstances of getting them however does.
Posted by Kaden
July 12, 2009, 6:33 PM
What a nightmare. I'm more sympathetic toward her than most after reading the comments. It sounds like she unwittingly found herself speedily backed into a corner. People make mistakes under that kind of pressure. Poor father, poor Kimberly and, most of all, poor tatoo artist! You have to wonder how angry the father actually got, to drive his daughter to such extremes as lying in court. Cope with the stars Kimberly. Every woman has something on her face to make peace with and these things make our lives more interesting. This really makes me wonder what some of the unique experiences are of folks who get facial tatoos.
Posted by Myra
July 12, 2009, 10:12 PM
I've always wondered what sort of careers you can have with tattoos on your face: artist, rocker, celebrity, circus freak, ebay business owner, telemarketer, bill collector, self-made millionaire with a brigade of followers who will worship your tattoo..
Careers you can't have with that kind of tattoo: president, doctor, nurse, face-to-face customer service representative, bank teller, politician, a person who relies on first impressions to make a living/or just to be respected.
Just live with the mistake. It's really not the end of the world. She just has to learn from it, and hopefully other people would too.
As for me, I just prefer not to get a tattoo because I get sick of designs so easily. I don't want anything permanent on my ever-changing body.
Posted by ja.mie
July 13, 2009, 10:14 PM
Well I have to reply to jamie there on this one I have full sleeves on both my arms to the tops of my hands and up my neck to my throat I wear a short sleeved button up shirt to work everyday, I am respected where I work because I have proven myself and not to brag but were I live in the US I make 65,000.00/yr as a Goverment employee. I have 3 kids who absolutly adore me a loving wife of 6 years I am well off in my career and my life. The only mistake she made was lying getting a tattoo is not a mistake it a personal preference. I treat people the way I would like to be treated and believe it or not they treat me the same most people I talk to in my neighborhood forget that I even have tattoos because they like and respect me. So really I am trying to say you just spilled a line of BS to this poor girl she can be whatever she wants with or without her stars and now for you my famous motto after being tattooed for almost 15 years and working as a tattoo artist for 5 of them before I got my career job I have a little saying for Anna, me and anyone else with body art...............The only difference between people with tattoos and people who dont have tattoos is this people with tattoos DONT CARE OR JUDGE people without tattoos they judge you for who you are.....thank you for making that stament so much sweeter to me.
Posted by keith
September 3, 2009, 9:53 PM
My cat's veterinarian, and the staff at her office, all have visible tattoos, piercings and mods, including some on the face, neck and hands. Every single one of them has something. The nurse at my asthma clinic also has visible tattoos and purple hair. Are there politicians on the local City Council with tattoos? Yes there are. I've seen plenty of professional people with body art, facial piercings and mods, and so on.
It's true that tattoos may not mix with some particular working environments. However, that's just one of many variables, isn't it? Some jobs ban certain hair styles, some jobs expect a certain form of dress, others tend to hire those who share their ideology.
People with tattoos simply find careers and working environments which suit them; the same way everyone else does. Getting a tattoo, including one on the face, does not preclude someone from having a fulfilling career in a field they enjoy. I have tattoos and frankly, any employer who would judge me for them would not be an employer I'd want to work for in any case.
Posted by Denise
September 5, 2009, 4:42 PM
I think that it is absolute nonsense that she would try to lie about something like a "language barrier", for ending up with 53 more stars than what was agreed apon.
I think that it would be awsome if she kept them... But I also think she should be punished for trying to ruin an artists creditibility for something as trivial as an upset father... Skin art is his way of life, its how he feeds his family.. She could have taken that away from him.
I think that if you are bold enough to get a facial tattoo... You should be grown enough to take the responsibility for it as well
Posted by Kelly
September 15, 2009, 10:45 PM
I think that she freaked out about telling her dad, but the tatto looks rad. Moer power to her.
Posted by Joe
September 22, 2009, 1:39 PM
Yeah I will admit having the face tattooed is a bit out there! I personally wouldnt have it done, BUT if it is what you really want and you are prepared for the discrimination that will undoubtedly come your way go for it! Kimberleys tattoo is well done and looks fantastic, but maybe wasnt the right tattoo for her! But to be honest I have seen much, much worse.
Posted by Emma :0)
September 23, 2009, 3:27 PM
well, i think the stars are pretty. but she should have thought thought about gettin the tattoos before she got them.... so i mean, now she gotta face the facts and next time you think about gettin a tattoo... think before you do it!!!!!!
Posted by kisha
January 8, 2010, 9:48 AM
Of course it is a good idea to spend time thinking about how a tattoo will work with your personal values, peers, career plans, etc. I got four of them over a 15-year period and I have never regretted them. They are in areas that could all be covered by some article of clothing, and the images depict things most meaningful to me, that have always been part of me: my religious faith, my love of cats, my 'inner child', and a certain intimate proclivity. I don't care about having to swim in a T-shirt around my family, just because the religious symbol conflicts with their beliefs. Small sacrifice! I love my tattoos and I feel I always will. My husband does, too, and by now I'm not planning to storm the corporate world. I wish only the best for Kimberly as she grows and changes; she will have many challenges and must make the best of her impulsive permanent decision. I myself would choose 56 stars, not 56 removal scars.
Posted by PENNY
January 10, 2010, 4:06 AM
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