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A WOMAN has claimed a priest once performed an exorcism on her because of her “demonic” tattoos.
Heavily tattooed DeeDee Villegas, 30, from Cebu, Philippines, first got into tattoo culture due to peer pressure – and is now covered in inkings that took 200 hours to complete.
She got her undergraduate degree from the University of San Carlos in Bachelor of Fine Arts, where the students expressed their individuality in extremes.
DeeDee’s first tattoo was a tribal design on her neck of no special significance.
However, she got entrenched in the culture when she discovered the rich historical significance and importance tattoos had in cultures around the world.
Over the last 12 years, DeeDee has spent more than £20,000 tattooing 60-70 per cent of her body – including her eyeballs.
Her tats have taken more than 200 hours to complete and cover her entire body except for her stomach and legs.
In addition to her body art, which DeeDee considers as one continuing interconnected work of art, she also has 12 facial piercings.
Being heavily modified and lesbian in the Philippines is said to come with a number of challenges.
DeeDee was once exorcised on public transport by a priest and frequently has people quote bible quotes at her for her or their own “protection”.
“I got my first tattoo during my emo goth college phase, mainly due to peer pressure,” DeeDee said.
“At first it was a fashion stance and later it evolved into an outlet for me.
“When I felt extreme emotion or suffered from bouts of depression or anxiety tattoos became my coping mechanism.
“It did not last very long, and I underwent rehab to overcome my depression, but tattoos became a permanent form of expression for me.
“I got permanently invested in them when I did a course on art appreciation and learnt the rich historical significance of tattoos.”
Throughout her adult life DeeDee has advocated against “tattoo discrimination”, but says things have started to improve.
She claims the Philippines have evolved in terms of accepting heavily modified as well as LGBTQ members over the years.
VERBAL ABUSE
“In the Philippines, it is a challenge still, I am to this day regularly verbally abused on the street,” DeeDee said.
“However, there is a change noticeable, there are careers that the heavily modified can apply for and thrive in.
“There was a time when you would not get a face-to-face interview with a visible tattoo and that has changed.”
DeeDee believes social media has been the greatest influencing medium in the journey of heavily modified individuals being accepted in Philippine society.
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