Melbourne-based content creator Blue Valentine has invested around $50,000 AUD (about $33,000) into creating a 250-piece tattoo “body suit” over five years.
In an interview, the 28‑year‑old said her tattoo journey started with a small flower on her ribs. Now, her entire body, from chest to feet, is covered in themed ink inspired by 1950s pin‑up art.
While Valentine admitted that her tattoos draw stares and rude questions at times, they still make her “incredibly confident in my skin.”
Valentine planned every tattoo by theme and worked with three artists to achieve her vision
Image credits: Instagram/Blue Valentine
Valentine didn’t treat her tattoos like impulsive purchases. Her ink, which covers her lower half, chest, stomach, and legs, follows a specific theme.
“Each sleeve and collage are designed in different themes: Diner, Military, Sailor, Circus, Garage, Western and Vintage,” she told People magazine.
Image credits: Instagram/Blue Valentine
Valentine’s tattoos are inspired by 1950s pin-up culture, which also influences her day-to-day fashion.
Her creative process is methodical. First, she sketches her ideas on an iPad, then she passes her moodboards to her tattoo artists.
Image credits: Instagram/Blue Valentine
“I knew I wanted to do themes straight away. I like the organization of it.
“I picked my top themes, assessed which ones had the most images I wanted and they got the larger portions of my body,” she said.
She’s collaborated with Australian tattoo artists Ben Tuckey, Ben Koopman, and Allegra Maeva.
Unlike other ink enthusiasts, Valentine stated that she has never tried tattooing herself.
Her favorite tattoos include a bold throat piece that reads, “Not your Valentine,” a nod to her surname and personality.
She is also quite fond of her tattoos that represent her family.
In a TikTok “tattoo tour,” she revealed that her circus-themed ink depicts her parents as conjoined twins. She also has tattoos dedicated to her brother, grandparents, and dogs.
Valentine’s tattoo sessions were long, frequent, and expensive
Valentine admitted that her tattoo journey demanded serious time and money. To achieve her full “body suit” look, she booked marathon, full-day tattoo sessions that lasted six to seven hours each.
Typically, she would schedule appointments weekly or every other week until a particular sleeve or themed section was completed.
“There would also be full-day sessions just focused on filler pieces to close up any gaps, which were usually just free-handed by the artist,” she said.
Valentine estimated that she spent about $800 AUD (around $522 USD) per session to achieve her current look.
Her extensive tattoos have received polarizing reactions from netizens, though some also noted that her themed “body suit” was actually tastefully done.
“Well, she certainly is a sight to behold. Very attention-grabbing. I guess there’s no changing her mind now,” one commenter wrote.
@thebluevalentinex Category is: Garage 🔧 #tattootour #tattoo #traditionaltattoo #tattoogirl #tattoolover ♬ Let’s Have A Party – Wanda Jackson
“Well, don’t squeal when you find no one will employ you! Your choice, your consequences!!” another stated.
“She really put thought into it and didn’t just have them all run together. Her artist did a great job. She is a very beautiful lady,” another commenter wrote.
Judgment and harassment haven’t shaken her self-assurance
Valentine’s bold appearance attracts more than curious onlookers. It also invites judgment and harassment.
“Men definitely stare and ask inappropriate questions,” she said. “I also work in a bar, so there’s not a night that goes by without some form of harassment and comments made towards me and my tattoos.”
Despite this, she doesn’t let public perception weigh her down. “I don’t take anyone’s opinion of it seriously, as my tattoos are everything I planned out and wanted.
“I’m very proud of what me and my artists have achieved, and I’ve become incredibly confident in my skin because of it,” she shared.
Valentine stated that her partner has been supportive during her entire tattoo journey. Thus, she really has zero regrets about her extensive ink.
She noted, however, that she is quite happy that she started her ink journey at 23 years old.
“I’m so glad I waited until I was 23 to start getting tattooed or, my god, I would have some shockers!
“Everything was planned and everything worked out the way I envisioned thanks to my artists,” she said.
Valentine is nearly fully tattooed, but her face will stay off-limits
With hundreds of hours under the needle, Valentine only has the bottoms of her feet, her face, and her ears remaining. In a comment to People, she stated that she plans to get her ears done soon.
But when it comes to her face, Valentine drew a firm line.
@thebluevalentinex Category is: Western 🤠 #tattootour #traditionaltattoo #tattoogirl #tattoo #tattoolover ♬ original sound – Nate Anderson
“I want to keep my face naked,” she said.
Netizens reacted to Valentine’s full tattoo “body suit”
