Kaliyah

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My most recent tattoo symbolizes breaking free from the mask I once hid behind. For years, I wore a face to survive, now I wear truth. The mask no longer protects me I protect myself. This piece honors my growth, resilience, and the power of embracing who I truly am. It’s a reminder that strength isn’t about hiding pain it’s about owning it, healing from it, and showing up as your full, unapologetic self.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

I speak of love that never dies and pain that shaped a warrior. A dragon roars for my father lost to addiction, a queen stands tall for my grandma’s eternal grace, and forget-me-nots bloom where memories ache. A snowflake rests where Tahoe forged my soul. I am a timeline inked in grief, growth, and grit, past on my left, future waiting on my right. Every stroke speaks truth: I’ve survived, I remember, and I rise.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With $25,000, I’d invest in my dream launching a charity that supports older foster youth aging out of the system. Too many face homelessness with no guidance, no safety net. I’ve lived that reality, and I want to be the bridge that helps them heal, find stability, and believe in their worth. This wouldn’t just be a win for me, it’d be a win for every forgotten kid who deserves a fighting chance.