Nikki Candido

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

I carried countless scars from surgeries — constant reminders of how many times I fought for my life. Each mark once told stories of pain, survival, and battles I barely won. But I grew tired of carrying only the weight of what I endured. So we took the pain and turned it into art — a living testament that even the deepest wounds can create something beautiful.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

They marked me with scars like souvenirs from death’s doorstep — but I got tired of being a museum of pain. So we turned the wreckage into art. And if my tattoos could talk, it would laugh and say, ‘Pain tried to bury you, but you made it your canvas instead.’

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I win the competition, I will use the $25,000 to bring my dream to life and build a business that not only creates success, but also inspires others to believe in the power of new beginnings.