Gabriela Saenz

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My most recent tattoo is the lily of the valley on my forearm—my birth flower. I plan to get my dad’s birth flower on the opposite arm. Though he’s passed, it will symbolize how he still lives on through me. Though in different places, we exist in parallel—forever connected.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

If my ink could speak, it would share the stories I carry—not just my own, but those of others who’ve shaped me. Each tattoo holds memory, emotion, and meaning—of love, loss, resilience, and growth. It speaks for the artists who created them, whose visions live permanently on my skin. Together, we’ve created a living archive—one that honors the past, embraces the present, and carries the memories of those who walk with me still.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I were awarded $25K, I would use it to pay for my education—a weight I carry on my own. It would ease a burden I rarely speak about but constantly feel. I’d also share it with my family, whose love and support have shaped the person I am. Even a small gesture toward them would mean everything. If anything remained, I’d set it aside for the future I’m working so hard to build.