A body positivity advocate with a passion for tattoos has revealed that among her extensive ink collection, one holds a particularly dear place in her heart.
Angel Pinner, 24, a vampire enthusiast from Bradford who works in finance, says some relatives aren’t fans of her tattoos, but her grandmother is an exception.
The two share a matching tattoo, a result of Angel persuading Sue to experience the tattoo artist’s needle alongside her.
Angel embarked on her tattoo journey at 18 and now boasts over 30 designs on her skin, with no intention of stopping. Speaking to the Mirror, she expressed her lifelong fascination with tattoos, saying: “I knew from a young age that I wanted to be covered in tattoos.
“I’ve always thought they looked awesome, and being able to have a piece of art on your body forever is incredible to me – and having tattoos has given me significantly more confidence.”
Despite mixed feelings within her family, Angel remains undeterred, saying: “Some of my family hate it… my mum doesn’t mind and has accepted the fact I’m going to be covered eventually – but it did take her some time.”
Her grandmother, however, fully supports her. She said: “My grandma on the other hand isn’t bothered at all. We actually have a matching tattoo and we’ve always been very close for as long as I can remember. So we got a meaningful tattoo together.”
When asked about convincing her grandmother to get inked, Angel shared: “I remember asking if we could get a matching tattoo together and I explained to her that she means a lot to me and I wanted to get something that had a real meaning behind it.
“She asked for some time to think and I can remember exactly what she said a week later. She had just taken me home from a day out, we parked outside my house and as I was sat in her little pink car, I asked if she had thought any more about the tattoo.
“She paused and said ‘I’d like to get the tattoo with you, I think it’s really lovely and I can’t wait’.”
Angel designed the ankle tattoo herself which is a butterfly, a strawberry and the words ‘I love you’. Sue has the same piece but with the words ‘I love you more’.
Asked to explain the meaning, Angel said the pair used to do butterfly kisses where they would rub their noses together. The strawberry meanwhile symbolises the best strawberry tart they had ever eaten on a cruise from when she was a child. And the words were something they always said to each other.
For Angel, it is her favourite piece of art, saying it is a reminder of a great childhood that was filled with love.
And although the buttery fly piece might stand out to her, it is the massive tattoo on her neck that grabs the attention of others. The vampire skull, with bright red flowers and a bat, can prompt strangers to ask questions but the majority of conversions have been positive.
But she added: “The one negative reaction was when someone said ‘you’re a bit dangerous for here’ at my place of work where my look is very toned down as it is.”
“But if they knew me as a person they’d know I’m actually incredibly soft and friendly.”