'Old People Say My Tattoos Have Ruined Me, And I Won't Look Good At 60'

In recent years, tattoos have become increasingly popular and widely accepted as forms of self-expression. However, some individuals, particularly older generations, still hold negative perceptions regarding tattoos and their long-term effects.

Taylor Paige Courtenay, a 26-year-old from South Devon, has numerous tattoos all over her body, including her neck, face, stomach, and legs. She has gained a significant following of 314,000 on TikTok, where she recently opened up about the negativity she faces from people on the platform.

Under the username taypaigec, she posted a video with a caption: “Karen will say I’ve ruined myself.”

One person commented: “Karen was always a jealous one.”

Taylor made a follow-up video specifically calling out older people, saying they target her most frequently.

She shared she has heard from the older generation: “Your tattoos are not going to look good when you hit 60.”

But instead of taking it to heart, Taylor hit back: "That's bold of you to assume you even look good at 60."

She added to the clip: ‘I wish they’d keep their opinions to themselves.’

A tattooed commenter said: "This is my comeback now when my family start talking about them."

instagram.com/taypaigec

Taylor revealed that, unfortunately, it is often the older generation who make such comments.

"Personally, I think they see a young healthy female and obviously it was never the 'norm' to them to see a female with a lot of tattoos in very outstanding places back when they were younger."

"So I guess they just presume that I haven’t thought about my decisions and therefore 'I’ve ruined myself'."

In another video, she proudly showcased her remarkable tattoos on her chest and torso area.

instagram.com/taypaigec

She has a large tiger and cheetah on her stomach, the year 1996 on her chest, a Medusa head on her neck, floral designs down her arms, and much more.

Taylor shared that during a recent visit to a local café with her grandparents, she experienced being stared at and whispered about by strangers due to her tattoos.

"I feel like I have to be overly nice, polite and smile more to show that just because of my choice to get work done all over my body, it does not mean I'm a different person with or without them," she said.

"One of my main aims is to talk and change older people's opinions on tattoos, how they’re seen and the assumptions that come with it."

"I have the same personality; I am always polite and courteous and it doesn’t change me as a person."

Taylor has previously shared her experiences of men criticizing her for having tattoos, stating that they believe she is ruining her appearance.

Following her response to the individuals who made such comments, one person left a comment saying, "I bet your father is proud."

In response, Taylor shared a video expressing her astonishment at the amount of negative energy people invest in mocking her.

“I know my dad’s f*****g proud of me … I live life how I want, I do what I want, I look how I want.”

She wrapped up her explanation by declaring: “I’m proud of myself.”

Now, Taylor is determined to challenge and transform the perceptions of tattoos held by older individuals. Research indicates that older Britons are generally less accepting of tattoos compared to younger generations.

According to a YouGov study conducted in August of the previous year, which surveyed 2,224 UK adults aged 18 and above, it was discovered that 59% of individuals aged over 55 had a negative perception of any type of tattoo.