Body Piercer Daoine Morte (30) from Phoenix, Arizona got her first piercing, a snake bite piercing, at just 13 years old and her first tattoo at the age of 17.



A snake bite piercing is a double lip piercing that sits near the outer corners of the lower lip's edge. As the name suggests, the placement of the piercing resembles a snake bite.



Since then she has gone under the needle for a long 70 hours and has spent so many thousands of dollars on them that she has lost count of them.



“I have snakebites, modified septum, stretched nostrils, philtrum, four nipple piercings, four inch earlobes, helix, double tragus, and two lower helix piercings,” said Daoine



“I have one arm completely blacked out, the outline of a cathedral on the other which I'm currently blacking out.



“Two horror portraits on one thigh, two original horror creatures created by my fiance tattooed on that same leg. A giant planchet and a broken heart shaped face on the other, I have a cat skull in a hexagon on my knee, another creature by my fiance on that calf.



“My back is outlined soon to be covered. I have ‘Sinner’ in huge script across my lower stomach, blackwork across my chest, neck, and jaw.



“Facial tattoos, including my birth flowers, my brother and sisters birth flowers on both sides of my face, script across one side of my forehead, a mandala on the other side of my forehead, the script "baby" along my jaw, and a heart on my cheek.



“Beautiful flowers on my shoulders. Also, the name of my goddaughter on my palm and my fingers tattooed.”



Daoine grew up in a conservative, religious Mexican family and always found ways to rebel against them.



From painting her nails dark to drawing on herself, from sneaking out of the house to wearing dark coloured clothing, she was infamous for going against her parents' rules.



“I grew up in a conservative and religious Mexican family and was a very normal girl," said Daoine.



"I always rebelled against everyone by doing things like painting my nails dark, drawing on myself, sneaking out and wearing dark clothing.



"I definitely always got in trouble for going against the rules my parents had for me.



“I spent every day drawing, painting, playing guitar, anything artistic I could get my hands on. Art and music were my outlets when fashion and makeup couldn't be.



"I was very insecure, shy and always hid myself before I started my modification journey."



A shy and insecure child, Daoine loved piercings and tattoos from the very beginning.



"I always loved seeing piercings and tattoos done," she said.



“So I gave myself a snakebite piercing at 13,” she said.



“My first tattoo, I was 17 in a garage, I got a treble clef on my hand, and script on my inner upper arm. I do not recommend this.



“I couldn't give an exact number, but I've spent thousands of dollars modifying myself over the years.



“The sessions for my arms took six plus hours.



"I have spent around 70 hours under the needle but there are many more to come.



“It's taken 17 years so far and there is more to come, at this point I have too many mods to count.



“All of my tattoos have kind of become one big one, and mods, so many piercings, tongue split, stretched ears, it's a lot.



“The most painful was probably my second tongue split.



“My last mod was my helix and I got a tattoo about a week ago of Regan from the Exorcist by my Fiance. She's a professional tattoo artist.”



Daoine receives a mixed bag of reactions to her transformation and probably the most divisive part of her look is her face tattoos.



“People's reactions vary from curiosity to lots of staring and questions to many compliments,” she said.



“In person I've only had one bad experience with a woman criticising me. When I worked at Lush years ago, an older woman came up to me, and looked at me with disgust asking, ‘why would you ever do that to yourself?’



“And I told her because I'm an adult and do whatever I like to myself that makes me happy. Smiled at her, and walked to the back room.



She was asked to leave, but it still bothered me. I was also a less modified version of myself now back then.





"Online a few trolls make their comments, but for the most part it's all love. I've been called an alien, the devil, ugly, a freak, told my parents must hate me, I'll be single forever, they hope I never have children, that I'm pretty but I've ruined myself.

“My family mostly asks me to stop where I'm at and not to add anymore tattoos. Mostly on my face.



“My mum specifically tells me she doesn't want me to make my face ugly, and to become unapproachable if I ever need to find love again in the future. I think I'm past that point and anyone who should love me will love me as I am.



“Facial tattoos are hit or miss and the many facial piercings can be a lot to some people, but I think I'm just right for the right people. And myself of course.



"The best compliments I receive are definitely hearing I inspire people to be themselves, and want to be more open and be their true selves."



Daoine's family has grown to accept and love her, even with all her tattoos.



“My family hated them at first but they accept my tattoo now. I still get lectured for every new facial tattoo, even at 30 years old," she said.



“My friends love and are always excited to see what new modifications I get.



“They love my courage to not care about other people and do what makes me happy in life.”



Daoine not only has a lot of body modifications but she is a specialist in the industry and she has this advice for people looking to begin their modification journey.



“Definitely go to a professional, really think about what you want, and do what makes you happy,” she said.



“As long as you aren't hurting anyone else, life is short, and our bodies are temples to be decorated. We only get one life, might as well live it and look the way we want.



“Hopefully lots of folks see this, and are inspired to try something new. Tattoo and piercing pain is temporary, but the happiness after is long term.”



ENDS