Mariel Wilson

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My inspiration for my most recent tattoo was because of my mother's passing. Grief comes in waves and it's hard to recognize when it's happening. At the Chicago Tattoo Convention, I was remembering my mother; her love of being the year of the Rabbit and how could I incorporate that into one of my forearm tattoos. I found a brilliant artist, Shana Hall, who helped fit the two bunnies (one black and one white) to represent my mom and I. We can be together forever and I can honor her memory.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

It would talk about past like my heritage and honoring my family, my childhood, and also my resiliency towards adversity. The flower tattoos are represent my mother's garden, my Dad's national flower, and growing up in Rochester, New York. My hip tattoos explain my adopted Vietnamese background; year of the ox meshed with a Kirin and a charm with lotuses on it. My rib tattoo is a nine tailed fox, or Kitsune, who represent duality and complexity of my life.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With $25,000, I would invest and save some firstly. Secondly, I would love to get an arm sleeve from a very talented artist who I've followed for years, Juan Pablo Mejias. I was able to meet him at the Chicago Tattoo Convention and I can't wait to see what he comes up with for the sleeve. Thirdly, I would use some of the money towards a Masters Degree to become a therapist. I love helping others through their journey for bettering their mental health because it's so important to prioritize it.