Christina Cook

What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My tattoo is for my grandpa. He passed in 2022, and not a day goes by that I don’t feel that empty space he left behind. He was my anchor, the kind of presence that made the world feel less heavy. He left when I needed him most, and it broke something in me. This ink is more than art—it’s a scar I chose, a way to carry him with me when life feels too loud and I just need a reminder that I was loved that deeply.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

My tattoos would probably tell you I’m still searching for something. I’ve got a few some I got on a whim, chasing a feeling I couldn’t name, and others carry pieces of my pain, my healing, my truth. They’re scattered maps of who I’ve been and what I’ve survived. Not all of them make sense, but together, they’re me—unfinished, honest, and still becoming.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the $25,000 to further my education. I’m currently in college pursuing a degree in nursing, and this support would help me stay on track and continue building my career. I’m working as a CNA right now, which has shown me how much I truly love caring for others—but I want to do more, both for myself and for the people I help. Nursing is more than a job to me—it’s a calling, and this would bring me one step closer to making that dream a reality.