Dream Big 28 (Special Edition) Tattoos, Modeling, and Me

Being a tattooed model is not as easy as I'd expected to be. Especially since I'm not a typical example one would probably see as such. I'm shorter than most, and am extremely curvy, and I'm definitely not the girl next door. I honestly don't even think I have that many tattoos on my body, but hey that just means there's room for more. I began modeling so to speak when I was 23, thereabouts. I have only recently within the past year had gotten back into it. Although I'd never been published before, I currently have been in seven magazines within only a few months time, with still approximately seven more dated to be published. I by no means brag about it. Perhaps I'm merely humbled by it. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would come this far. I owe it all to my photographers, and my friends and family who believed in me. They gave me the push I needed, helping me to realize that even nearing forty years of age I could still become a tattoo model. The industry has been so kind to me, the magazine editors especially. I have been able to contact them in order to ask the questions I had, and they answered. They have truly helped me through the submission process, as well as letting me know if I'm a right fit or not. Rejection can be hard, it can leave you with a sense of insecurity, but you can't let it stop you. For every one that say no, you can get three more that say yes, I know because it's happened for me. I love what I do. I think that is what keeps me going. It's not that I'm getting attention for it, because I'm not. I've actually not really mentioned it to many people that I'm in print, but perhaps I should to at least help sell magazines. It's the least I could do to repay the kindness they've shown me. Acceptance is a wonderful feeling. I have a sense of accomplishment, and I finally feel like I've found my calling. Granted I didn't get all tattooed up to become a model. I didn't do anything out of my way to have come to this point in my life. I'm standing where I am through hard work and determination. It's not something that occurs overnight, or that will happen rapidly either. It comes with a lot of time, hard work, and patience. Believing in yourself as a model I think is the most important part of it all. If you don't have confidence in yourself it will show through the lens. Beauty doesn't just appear on the outside, in a package of long lean legs, a tight stomach, or a perfect handful of perky breasts, and a strikingly chiseled face, with asymmetrical features. True beauty comes from within, and if you're a beautiful person on the inside, no matter that you're not a runway perfect model, the camera never lies and the real you will shine through. I'm not the best new thing out there, I'm not even sure anyone knows I exist as a model, but I know I'm here and that is what really matters. I'm going to keep trying, keep myself in front of a camera, and keep on getting myself out there for all to see.