My tattoos tell the stories my tears and words never could. They are the visible marks of an invisible journey wounds turned into art.
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My latest tattoo is on my rib, beneath my heart a fairy holding a spider hanging from my breast. Growing up, my mom and I didn’t have a close bond; she had me young, and it led to years of self-harm. This past year, we’ve reconnected deeply. This is my first tattoo for her, not pain. The fairy is me—free. The spider is my mom—wise, strong, a storyteller. The web ties her to my heart, where my trauma and healing live. I finally have my rib back. I love my mom.
If your ink could speak, what would it say?If my tattoos could speak, they wouldn’t say I’m strong; they’d show the many weak moments I survived. They mark the times I chose life over death, and art over pain. Each piece is a reminder that expression saved me when nothing else could.
What would you do with the $25,000?With the $25,000, I’ll start building Kasanova’s Creative Kampus through my brand @Kasanov.aa—a safe space for creatives like me who’ve faced addiction, homelessness, or lacked a place to be themselves. This creative space will be a home for healing, expression, and growth. I want to give others the support I never had and help save kids from the pain I once endured.
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Body art deserves to be shown off.
