Rachel Lepley

What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My grandma inspired my recent tattoo. She loved roses and the cross is for her passing. My grandma raised me as a little kid until she moved away. She taught me how to cook and how to respect my elders. She was from the south so I was brought up by her southern ways of life. I have kept her teachings alive by passing them on to my kids as they have grown up over the years. My grandma was my lifeline and I was there when she passed away. I will always keep her alive in my heart.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

It would tell my life story so far and all I’ve been through. It would tell you about my four kids and my grandma. My Dolphins and butterfly would tell the story of how I gained my freedom from the hell I was living in all throughout my childhood and teenage years. My leg tattoo tells you about my one instructor Sam Wade who designed that tattoo for me. He has since passed away and I will always treasure that tattoo. My kid’s footprint are on the tops of my feet from when they were f

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay ahead on my rent. I would get a new car. I would get some more tattoos that have meaning to me. I would get new furniture for my apartment instead of the used missed matched that I have now. I would give my kids some of my money for them to do what they want to with it and I would start two savings accounts for each of my granddaughters.