This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hofstra chapter.
Over the past few decades, the percentage of people who have tattoos has skyrocketed. In the year 2015, nearly 20% or one in five of all Americans have at least one tattoo. And for young people, the percentage is even higher with 35% of Americans under thirty having at least one tattoo and 20% of that number having at least three or more tattoos. The tattoo trends that we see most on young people tend to be small and easily concealed, yet there are a small number of collegiate’s who dare to be boldly inked. One of those tattooed college students, Jackyln Signorile of Queens, is here to share with Her Campus her experiences being heavily tattooed at the New York Institute of Technology.
HC: How long have you been interested in tattoos and was their anyone that inspired you to become tattooed?
Jackyln: I’ve wanted to be tattooed since I was 11 years old. And as far as people who have inspired me, I love the work of David Tevenal (of Sacred Tattoo in NYC) and Courtney Raimondi (of Undead Ink in Oceanside).
HC: What are your favorite styles of tattooing?
Jacklyn: I love neo-traditional and sacred geometry style tattoos.
HC: What inspired you to join Suicide Girls and what has that been like?
Jackyln: I’ve always been very comfortable in my own skin and I love being able to show off my tattoos. I think that my artists did great work. (And HC agrees!)
HC:What are your life plans aside from modeling?
Jacklyn: I am in school for nursing at the New York Institute of Technology. But I also love working with an organization called STAPAW or Support Tattoos and Piercing at Work. I discovered this org through Morgan Joyce (a heavily tattooed youtube personality) and I strongly believe in what they’re working towards. I want to be both a nurse and a heavily tattooed person without having to give up one or the other.
HC: Back to life at college, what would you say are the best and worst parts about being heavily tattooed in college?
Jacklyn: I am definitely the most tattooed person on my campus and the best part of being so tattooed is the compliments that I get on my tattoos. At the same time, the worst part about being heavily tattooed in college is the compliment. The tattoos on the back of my thighs (which read Elegant and Poised in elegant script) get a lot of attention for sure and that can be pretty awkward. Also a lot of the time people don’t think that I’m smart because I have so many tattoos. Professors make assumptions that you’re stupid and it can be fun to prove them wrong by how interested in science and nursing I am.
HC: As someone who advocates for tattoos in the workplace, tell me how you feel about the controversies facing many tattoo professionals.
Jacklyn: I think it’s stupid to be honest. Just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean I won’t make a great nurse one day even though the industry says that tattoos and nursing don’t go. I want to help change work dynamics for myself and other tattooed people.
HC: Now for our last question, what is your favorite tattoo and what are your tattoo plans for the future?
Jacklyn: My favorite tattoo would have to be the deer on my thigh. I just love the style and the beautiful pastels that my artist used. It also has a lot of meaning behind it and it was my first big tattoo. I plan to get my whole back done which I am really excited about. It is going to be really painful but awesome in the end.
* This past weekend Jacklyn attended the United Ink Tattoo Convention in Garden City where she finished a dot work style sternum piece by Aaron Is, a season 5 contestant on Ink Master!
Her Campus wants to thank Jacklyn for sharing her tattoo story with us. Message Her Campus Hofstra on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages to share your own tattoo stories with the hashtag, #hercampustattoostory.
And don’t forget to follow Jacklyn @jakiichu on Instagram!