Mother with more than 800 tattoos including her FACE fires back at critics who say she's a 'bad mom'

Publish date: 2024-10-21

A mother with more than 800 tattoos - including multiple ink designs on her face - has fired back at critics who assume she's a 'bad mom' because of all her body art.

Valerie Watson, 34, a painter from San Diego, California, has covered 78 per cent of her body with tattoos. 

She got her first one at the age of 14, and has gone on to get hundreds more over the years - spending thousands of dollars in the process.

They now cover almost her entire body and are present on her legs, stomach, back, arms, and face.

She has no plans on stopping any time soon and is determined to cover her entire body with tats - estimating that it will cost her $50,000 more to finish the job.

A mother with more than 800 tattoos - including multiple ink designs on her face - has fired back at critics who assume she's a 'bad mom' because of all her body art

A mother with more than 800 tattoos - including multiple ink designs on her face - has fired back at critics who assume she's a 'bad mom' because of all her body art

Valerie Watson, 34, a painter from San Diego, California, has covered 78 per cent of her body with tattoos

Valerie Watson, 34, a painter from San Diego, California, has covered 78 per cent of her body with tattoos

The mom-of-two sometimes receives negative attention over her prominent body art, with some online trolls accusing her of not setting a good example for her kids

The mom-of-two sometimes receives negative attention over her prominent body art, with some online trolls accusing her of not setting a good example for her kids

But she wants people to know that she's still a great mom to her two sons - Wolf, three, and Xavier, 15 - and wants to clear up the 'misconceptions' about face tattoos

But she wants people to know that she's still a great mom to her two sons - Wolf, three, and Xavier, 15 - and wants to clear up the 'misconceptions' about face tattoos

The mom-of-two sometimes receives negative attention over her prominent body art, with some online trolls accusing her of not setting a good example for her kids.

But she wants people to know that she's still a great mom to her two sons - Wolf, three, and Xavier, 15 - and wants to clear up the 'misconceptions' about face tattoos. 

Valerie got her first one at the age of 14, and has gone on to get hundreds more over the years - spending thousands of dollars in the process

Valerie got her first one at the age of 14, and has gone on to get hundreds more over the years - spending thousands of dollars in the process 

'Most of the misconceptions are mental health issues - that only crazy people tattoo their faces,' she explained to Truly recently.

'But I'm comfortable in my own skin. It's a look that I'm comfortable with.'

On top of the online backlash, Valerie admitted that strangers often stare at her in public - but it doesn't bring her down.

'I forget that I have face tattoos. I walk down down the street and I'm like why are these people staring at me?' she explained.

'I legit ask my son, like, "What's on my face?" And he's like, "You have these tattoos." I forget, they're just a part of me.'

She explained that the obsession started when she was just a teen, after spending years feeling like she wasn't fitting in.

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Share They now cover almost her entire body and are present on her legs, stomach, back, arms, and face

They now cover almost her entire body and are present on her legs, stomach, back, arms, and face

She has no plans on stopping any time soon and is determined to cover her entire body with tats - estimating that it will cost her $50,000 more to finish the job

She has no plans on stopping any time soon and is determined to cover her entire body with tats - estimating that it will cost her $50,000 more to finish the job

Valerie loves Halloween so she has many ink designs to commemorate the spooky day, including portraits of famous horror movie killers like Mike Myers, Jason, and Leatherface

Valerie loves Halloween so she has many ink designs to commemorate the spooky day, including portraits of famous horror movie killers like Mike Myers, Jason, and Leatherface 

Valerie, who describes herself as a modern day Harley Quinn, uses her tats as a way to express herself and her art, and she loves to experiment with her look by also changing up her hair Valerie, who describes herself as a modern day Harley Quinn, uses her tats as a way to express herself and her art, and she loves to experiment with her look by also changing up her hair

Valerie, who describes herself as a modern day Harley Quinn, uses her tats as a way to express herself and her art, and she loves to experiment with her look by also changing up her hair

Valerie explained that the obsession started when she was just a teen, after spending years feeling like she wasn't fitting in. She is pictured as a teen Valerie explained that the obsession started when she was just a teen, after spending years feeling like she wasn't fitting in. She is pictured as a teen

Valerie explained that the obsession started when she was just a teen, after spending years feeling like she wasn't fitting in. She is pictured as a teen

'When I was younger, I was like, I'm gonna rebel. I never felt normal or felt like I was gonna fit in,' said Valerie.

'I got my first tattoo when I was on vacation, and I just found the first shop. Thankfully they're not there anymore but they were terrible.'

'When I was younger, I was like, I'm gonna rebel. I never felt normal or felt like I was gonna fit in,' said Valerie (pictured when she was younger)

'When I was younger, I was like, I'm gonna rebel. I never felt normal or felt like I was gonna fit in,' said Valerie (pictured when she was younger)

Valerie loves Halloween - she and her husband, Wes, got married on the holiday - so she has many ink designs to commemorate the spooky day, including a pumpkin, ghost, spiderweb, and zombie bite.

On her leg, she also has giant portraits of famous horror movie killers like Michael Myers, Norman Bates, Jason, and Leatherface. 

Valerie, who describes herself as a modern day Harley Quinn, said she uses her tats as a way to express herself and her art, and she loves to experiment with her look.  

'My look is always changing. If my hair is not blue, it's purple. If it's not purple, it's green. But I love that about me,' she continued.

'There's so many ways to express yourself - you can tattoo yourself, you can paint, you can craft. It's endless.'

Her husband, Wes, is supportive of Valerie's obsession - and has quite a few tattoos himself - but admitted that he would prefer for her to not get anymore ink designs on her face.

On top of the online backlash, Valerie admitted that strangers often stare at her in public - but it doesn't bring her down

On top of the online backlash, Valerie admitted that strangers often stare at her in public - but it doesn't bring her down

Her husband, Wes, is supportive of Valerie's obsession - and has quite a few tattoos himself - but admitted that he would prefer for her to not get anymore ink designs on her face

Her husband, Wes, is supportive of Valerie's obsession - and has quite a few tattoos himself - but admitted that he would prefer for her to not get anymore ink designs on her face

'Just get a tattoo but not the face. Stop covering it up. When is it gonna end?' he joked, adding: 'I really do love it. Some people wear emotions on their sleeve, she wears them on her face'

'Just get a tattoo but not the face. Stop covering it up. When is it gonna end?' he joked, adding: 'I really do love it. Some people wear emotions on their sleeve, she wears them on her face'

Valerie said her sons have been nothing but supportive of her tattoos. '[Xavier] would never say anything negative. I just want him to see that I am comfortable in my own skin,' she added

Valerie said her sons have been nothing but supportive of her tattoos. '[Xavier] would never say anything negative. I just want him to see that I am comfortable in my own skin,' she added

Valerie wants to 'keep going' until everything is covered, even the palm of her hands - which she estimated will probably cost her $50,000

Valerie wants to 'keep going' until everything is covered, even the palm of her hands - which she estimated will probably cost her $50,000

'It's gonna keep going. I want to do it to the point where you don't even see the palms of my hands anymore,' she said

'It's gonna keep going. I want to do it to the point where you don't even see the palms of my hands anymore,' she said

'She likes to surprise us with real bold tattoos. Just get a tattoo but not the face. Stop covering it up. When is it gonna end?' he joked, adding: 'But then again, I love it. I really do love it now. Some people wear their emotions on their sleeve, she wears them on her face.'

And Valerie said her sons are her biggest fans.

'Xavier started noticing the tattoos at around six, seven? That's when he started noticing, like, OK, you're the only mom that has tattoos like that,' she recalled.

'But he was really supportive, he would never say anything negative which was awesome. I just want him to see that I am comfortable in my own skin.

'I want the best for them. And I know that they will have the best, I'll make sure.'

Valerie said Xavier can get his first ink when he's 18, but added that it will have to be something they all sit and decide on together.

As for her own body, she wants to 'keep going' until everything is covered, even the palm of her hands - which she estimated will probably cost her $50,000.   

'Probably looking at another $50,000 to cover whatever I don't want to see on my body and to get better work done. My stomach alone was $15,000 and it's not even done,' she revealed.

'It's gonna keep going. I want to do it to the point where you don't even see the palms of my hands anymore.'

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