Getting a tattoo can be a big, if risky, statement. But for Mexican lawyer Maria Jose Cristerna, a little bit of artwork was the perfect way of celebrating her divorce.
However, several years later, the hobby has grown into a near obsession, with her body almost totally covered in images, dozens of piercings, and several metal implants in her skull.
She has been dubbed Mexico's "vampire woman", a nickname which started as a biting insult but which she has since taken to heart.
"'Vampire Woman' was a total put-down. I don't dislike it and I am thankful for this nickname because I overcame and can pass on my message," she told reporters.
"I do like vampires, but I didn't want to be one; it was just a fantasy. My transformation is, above everything, a consequence of loving tattoos and body modification."
Maria has now becoming something of a sensation in the America's, and currently features as a major draw at the Venezuelan Tattoo Expo in Caracas.
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