A young British woman is clapping back at the “older generation” who insist that when she’s 60, she’ll regret covering her body with tattoos.
Though she admits she’ll never “be the girl [men] take home to their parents,” Taylor Paige Courtenay says she loves her inked skin and warns users to keep their “opinions to themselves.”
Taylor Paige Courtenay, from South Devon, England, is challenging societal beauty norms and speaking out about the judgment she faces, particularly from the “older generation,” for her extensive tattoos.
The 27-year-old woman, who has body art covering her neck, arms, stomach, and legs, often describes her skin as a tapestry of memories and expressions, illustrating her belief in owning her story.
But being visibly tattooed comes with challenges, and the woman – who frequently boasts her scantily clad body on social media – is often seen addressing the negativity directed at her inked identity.
‘That girl’
In one of her TikTok clips, the young woman reveals she had “come to terms” with “the fact that she’ll never be “that girl.”
“I’ll never be the girl they take home to their parents; I’ll never be the girl they talk about with their friends; I’ll never be the girl to be invited round for dinner, I’ll never be the girl they show off.”
The buxom blonde added: “I’ll always be the temporary fix, I’ll be the girl they use to pass the time, I’ll always be the girl that’s hidden.”
Still, she insists that she doesn’t “even care,” as her “skin makes [her] happy.”
‘Graffiti’
Despite her bold proclamations of her satisfaction with her body art, she’s often the target of the judgemental online community, many who suggest she’ll regret covering so much of her body.
Speaking to her critics, specifically members belonging to the “older generation,” Courtenay shared a clip with the caption, “Your tattoos are not going to look good when you hit 60.”
She added, “Bold of you to assume you even look good at 60…I wish they’d keep their opinions to themselves.”
Dismissing her requests to keep quiet with harsh opinions, online users jumped into the comments section and offered their thoughts.
“We will keep our opinions to ourselves if you keep you tattoos to yourself,” one user writes to the Daily Mail, referring to her barely-there attire. Adding to that, a second user writes, “If you don’t want other people’s opinions, keep your clothes on.”
“Honest question for you. Do you not worry at all what they will look like when [you’re] 60?” writes a third netizen on Courtenay’s social media. And another user shares, “Any tattoo takes from natural beauty. I cannot understand how someone with such a beautiful body will cover it with graffiti?”
But some members of the online community celebrated her storytelling canvas and praised her confidence.
“Screw them. Got my first ink at 17 and now 15 years later got sleeves, chest and back piece. Love them and no regrets. Will still think this at 60,” offers one.
A second supporter remarks, “Exactly. Your body is yours to do with what u want. Not everyone will like it, but they don’t have to.”
While she seemed to thrive in her individuality, the woman has disabled comments, denying online users the option of sharing their thoughts on her social media.
And, according to a December 2024 post, Courtenay is now “that girl” to the father of her baby, who was born in the summer of 2023.
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