An army veteran has become the world’s most tattooed woman after a ten-year journey to tattoo 99.98% of her body – and she’s still not finished.

Esperance Fuerzina, 36, has now officially been declared the most tattooed female ever.

Also awarded the Guinness World Record for most body modifications for a female, Esperance got her first tattoo on her hip at 21 years old.

Now, her tattoos span from her scalp to the soles of her feet – including her eyelids, eyeballs, gums and tongue.

The first body modification Esperance had was a ‘tongue split’ and went on to have five facial implants, punches (to stretch the tissue) and a wide range of piercings on her ears, nipples, labia and gums.

Esperance has also had parts of her ears removed to create her unique look.

Her 89 body modifications smash the previous record, which was held by Maria José Cristerna for over 10 years, by 40 modifications.

While some people store precious memories in photo albums or diaries, Esperance uses her tattoos to remember her experiences.

She said, “I have had a pretty nomadic life, and not much room in my (army) pack, I felt I could take this with me wherever I go”.

Each new tattoo has helped Esperance understand her life, she says they “turn dark times into light” reminding her what she has lived through and helping her evolve both spiritually and mentally.

Over the past 10 years, Esperance has learned to manage the pain of tattooing with meditation, believing the discomfort to be “a small moment in time for something I can keep for life.”

There have been some regrets and she has learned along the way, her very first tattoo being her first ‘cover-up’ – replacing it with a beautiful, huge Phoenix.

The cover-up made her realize that she preferred large, cohesive, flowing tattoos – and it has brought her to the look she has today.

Esperance does draw looks and attention from people when she is out and finds negative responses from people can be difficult, but wisely realizes that other’s cruelty and judgement is a reflection on them, rather than herself and believes that kindness always wins.

On achieving her Guinness World Records title, she said ‘To be the most tattooed woman and to have the most body modifications feels a little crazy, I am grateful and excited for the future – and of course I am not done!’

Produced in association with SWNS Talker