Tori cotten

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My latest tattoo is an outline of my Shiba Inu, Simba—my grief dog after my brother was killed. We shared a birthday, and oddly, so did Simba. He brought me hope when I felt lost. Though I had to give him away, I got his tattoo on my right ribs—his favorite spot to lay. Now, even in absence, he's still with me. A symbol of love, loss, and the quiet strength to keep going.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

If my tattoos could speak, they’d say: you are not alone. Through scars and scripture, faith and pain, they whisper hope. They’d tell you that beauty can rise from brokenness, that everything happens for a reason—even when it doesn’t make sense yet. They’d remind you to be strong, stay grounded, and trust that after every storm, the light will return. My tattoos are my voice when words fall short.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I won $25,000, I’d finally have peace. I’ve been homeless, assaulted, and abandoned—but I’ve never stopped dreaming. I’d use it to rebuild my life, find safe housing, and invest in my dream of owning a spa and launching POCA Beauty. I want to help others again, but first, I need to help myself. I’m ready to heal, grow, and live—not just survive. This would give me my life back.