Name or Alias: Missy Anderson (a.k.a Ruby Rose)
Age: 31
Occupation: Stay Home Wife/Mommy/Head Doll of The Michigan Modified Dolls
Age of first tattoo: 18
Favorite tattoo: That's a tough one! ;) I guess it would be my son's name and footprints on my inner right forearm. No matter how big he gets, I can look at my arm and remember exactly how small he once was.
Featured tattoo/location: Start of tropical themed sleeve / upper right arm
Artist/shop/location of feature tattoo: Roman Costa / Timeless Tattoo / Kansas City, MO
About your featured tattoo - is there a background story about why you chose it, or maybe a special meaning? I have always wanted a tropical sleeve with bright colors, flowers, etc. I had a hibiscus vine done on each arm years ago by another artist at Timeless Tattoo. In the vines, I have my husband's name (right arm) and late Grandma's name (left arm) in an old form of Celtic lettering called Ogham. So, being that my husband and I spent our honeymoon in tropical Jamaica, I wanted the sleeve to be on my right arm, around his name. I went to Roman and told him that I wanted to start a sleeve on the right arm, but didn't want to lose the vine and name in it. I told him some flowers I wanted, that I wanted a waterfall, etc. and told him to use he creative mind and draw something up. And he came back with something more than I imagined! I had the flowers done in my Mom's favorite colors, for a little tribute to her. I love everything about the start of my sleeve, especially how he kept the vine as a central focal point and how he took my waterfall idea and made it double awesome (literally - he made a double waterfall). I can't wait to get back to KC and have him finish it up! :-)
2) Do you have any other tattoos? If so, what do you have and where? I have a large fairy across my upper back, small tribal on my lower back, a butterfly & rose on my right ankle and an owl above my right knee.
3) Do you plan on getting more? For sure!! I want to finish the sleeve on my right arm, get another owl above my left knee, add more to my back piece...and so many more, lol!
4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them? My family has always been very supportive. My Mom has several, as well as my sisters and cousins. In fact, my Mom, sisters and I are planning on getting matching tattoos together. We all live far apart, so whenever we're missing each other, we'll be able to look at our tattoos and know we're always together in spirit.
5) What's the most interesting experience you've ever had in regards to your tattoos? When I was working a convention for The Modified Dolls in Las Vegas, some older business men came by and was asking about who we were and what we were doing. I told him about the organization, etc. They then asked me, how we all got jobs, with the amount of tattoos we had. So, I told him that before I became a stay home mom/wife, I was a Senior Executive Assistant, and that I had many tattoos but never showed them due to my profession. A lot of my co-workers didn't know about my tattoos until we were out for a non-work related event, and I wore a sleeveless shirt. I even worked for one of the top three executives for a National bank. I kept my hair one simple color (nothing bright), was only allowed to wear one pair of earrings, had to remove my nose ring and had to wear a suit daily. Again, my boss and co-workers had no idea how decorated I was underneath. The men were shocked, speechless. I simply told them having tattoos and piercings have no effect on how professional one can be or change their work ethic. And I am proof of that! ;)
6) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet? Do your research - make sure the artist/shop is reputable (clean, etc.) and make sure what you are getting is something you'll still want to see when you're 80. Don't let people talk you out of it. If you want it, get it...if you don't, then don't...it's your body, your decision.
7) What is your least favorite part of being tattooed? Do you have any stories/advice to people who are not tattooed? My least favorite part is the healing process. I'm an impatient healer, lol! I will gladly sit in the chair and under the needles longer if that meant there was no itchy, ugly peeling afterwards. ;)