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The Collegian

4/28/04 • Vol. 128, No. 37

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The Tattooed Lady

The Tattooed Lady

Once considered a rebellious form of expression, tattoos are becoming more popular than ever, springing up in large numbers, especially among women

For centuries, tattoos have played an important role in cultures across the globe. They have expressed many different ideas: a mark of royalty, a symbol of religious devotion, a pledge of love and even a means of marking slaves, outcasts and convicts. Today, however, 19-year-old Tanya Mendoza is not thinking about the history of the tattoo she is preparing to get. As she browses through booklets of tattoos at Fresno’s Uptown Tattoo and Piercing, she admits she is only thinking of the pain. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old Valerian Navarrl, who bears 18 tattoos, sits with her and tries to calm her nerves. “ Tattoos are exciting to get,” he said. Navarrl is considered a regular at the parlor, but tonight he is here to support his girlfriend.More>>