I'm Addicted To Tattoos

When Amanda Brignall had a mid-life crisis following her divorce, she had a slightly unconventional way of giving herself a new lease of life. She covered eighty percent of her body in tattoos, but now the forty year old from Yorkshire says her tattoos are scaring men off. Amanda: I think it's just that, like a said, just that one time, going in, getting that one done, I thought, "Right, yeah - I'm gonna carry on", and I just keep going back. It's just taken over. Amanda: I don't get chatted up much, I don't know why, but no, I just think, but you know, they're intimidating, you know, intimidate them. Or unless I'm too freaky for them, I don't know. Amanda got her first tattoo when she was 18. Amanda: Down on holiday in Plymouth, 18, spare of the moment and went in there and had a tattoo done. But her habit snowballed after she separated from her husband and her 2 children flew the nest when she was 37. Amanda: I had a Betty Boop there and she sort of said, "Oh, we could do a Betty Boop sleeve", so it just sort of escalated. But living in the sleepy town of Beverly means that Amanda and her tattoos receive a lot of attention form the locals. Amanda: M&S... when I walk in there, the people go like that. I do get quite a lot of abuse through it, yeah. Yeah, and like I say, that's just for being who I am. The attention became so much for the mum of 2 that she added to her tattoos to help her deal with it. Amanda: So for the people that don't like it, like I say, I'll just go, "Talk to the hand", and then I'll just let it ride over my head, but it does hurt sometimes. Amanda: I think do I really look that bad that people do throw abuse? But not everyone is put off by Amanda's alternative style. Cashier: She's a bit of a showstopper to start off with, but I found her being nothing but friendly and charming. Cashier: I think people turn round and look at you - it's frightening because it might be conceptions, but yeah, I think people do look and turn because it is quite a dramatic appearance. Jimmy's Amanda's local tattoo artist and has been tattooing Amanda for the past 4 years. He's lost count of the amount of money Amanda would of spent on body art. Jimmy: Quite a lot of money I think. I couldn't put a figure on it. Amanda: People always ask me, "Does it hurt? Does it hurt? Does it hurt?" I mean, yes it does hurt, but I can sort of switch myself off from it and I love... sounds a bit funny, but I like - I do like the pain of it. And even though Amanda has covered most of her body in tattoos, she's still not done yet. Amanda: I don't think I've got much space left. I think just my tummy and my ribs - that would be it I think. And Amanda's eldest son, Ben, is following in her footsteps. Ben: I've got just over 40 tattoos. Everybody else just blends into the crowd, better to stand out. And Amanda's youngest son, Max, is also tattooed, but he doesn't plan on carrying on the family tradition just yet and still only has 1 tattoo. Max: It was a spare of the moment thing. I just wanted something to see what it was like and that was it. Even though Amanda's only been on 1 date in 7 years, she has no regrets. For her, it's what's on the inside that counts and thought she's still looking for love, she says she wouldn't cover up for anyone. Amanda: Because in that way, he doesn't accept me for who I am.