from @Remarkable-Dot6528
Hey guys, im an really anxious person, so the problem is, i have a new woman portrait tattoo, i really liked this style many years ago i really thought about it long, but now when i made it, all my friends, some family members and my gf are saying that is stupid to make a portrait of a random woman, my gf said she doesnt like it but isnt against it. My self esteem is really low now and i dont know what to do. And i didnt thought about it that i will someday have kids and they will be asking who this girl is…
Editor’s Opinion by Kate Turnipseed
Okay, first off: take a deep breath. You’re the one wearing the tattoo. No one else needs to like it. I can FEEL your anxiety in your post. So breathe.
Let’s address the tattoo itself (pictured above) before we go through your other questions: it’s gorgeous. The face is soft and smooth and it looks like an old portrait of a movie star. You may need a touch up eventually because there isn’t a lot of deep black or lining, but the work is amazing. Portraits can go wrong so quickly, and yours didn’t. That’s a huge win!
Now, a large part of your anxiety is that “all your friends, some family members, and [your] gf” think it’s stupid to get a portrait of a random woman. There are so many people out there wearing woman portraits and pinups of some random lady. Pinup tattoos gained popularly in the 1930’s and 40’s in the United States, so “random woman” tattoos gained popularity about the same time professional football did in America. And look, even if they had a point (they don’t, but for argument’s sake let’s say they do), people don’t have to like your tattoos. Only you do. I have close family members that do not like my ink. At all. That doesn’t stop me from loving it or adding to my collection. Be proud of your ink. It looks great and you got something you liked for you!
What to do if your kids ask about who the girl is… you have two routes here. (1) You say you just loved the style and “didn’t the artist just do such a great job?!” As a mom of three, believe me, that will derail them. Even if they push “but why that girl?”, you can say “because I just love how peaceful she looked! I just really like it! Why do you like pink? Because it’s pretty, right? Well, that’s why I liked this design when my artist showed me!” (2) “It’s based on Aphrodite! She’s the Greek goddess of love and she represents how much I love your mom!”
No matter what you choose, I hope you grow to love your ink!