Every endeavor in life carries the risk of failure.

But failure has such a stigma attached to it which is why a lot of people tend to avoid risk and stick to the “safe” paths in life.

Of course, with high risk usually comes high reward and those people willing to take those chances, such as entrepreneurs, end up reaping the fruits of their effort.

Still, most people don’t want to get out of their comfort zones and always create mental and emotional “outs” so that they don’t need to risk much even for something that they really want.

Kayleigh Peach is not one of those people and in fact, took the gutsy step of tattooing the word “cursed” over her eye on her first day as an apprentice tattoo artist when she was 24.

According to her, “Basically, I got it so that I couldn’t get a normal job so I would have to persevere with what I was doing.”

Now 26 and with 60% of her body covered in tattoos, Kayleigh, from Erdington in Birmingham, has made a name for herself as a tattoo artist. Her gamble had paid off.

Of course, acceptance wasn’t handed out on a silver platter. She had to earn respect.

Recalling her experience with her dad, she said, “You do get bad criticism like people to say you look a bit thuggish, it’s intimidating or it’s a bit much. My family isn’t the biggest fan of them.

“My dad got married and I’d just had a big one on my chest and he said I wasn’t allowed to be a bridesmaid.

“But he’s a lot more accepting now that I do it as a job. I’ve actually tattooed him.”

What she loves about the job is that it’s more than just about the art. It’s about helping make people feel good about themselves.

She says, “You’re constantly talking to people and when they are in pain they open up and talk about their problems.

“It’s about making people comfortable. Some people will be very nervous and I help them through it.

“Some of the stories behind some of the people I tattoo are heartbreaking or really joyous.

“It makes you see more clearly in life what matters. It makes you appreciate things a lot more. I have a lot more of a positive outlook on life now.

“I help a lot of people who are really self-conscious about parts of their body, or stretch marks or scars from self-harming.”

Taking the plunge was a big risk but the boost to her self-confidence at being successful in what she loves doing is priceless.

“Growing up I was a very timid and quiet girl. Tattooing has definitely given me more confidence. It’s just the way you hold yourself when you’ve got a certain part of your life on your skin.

“I started doing modeling when I was 19 and it kicked off in a way that I couldn’t believe. I was in a music video and Skin Deep magazine.

“There was so much attention and you get bad criticism as well as good, but I just take it on the chin and I think ‘I’ve got this.’

“The tattoos on my face make me unique. Even when you get old and wrinkled, it makes your skin a bit prettier.

“It’s a nice hobby to have to collect pictures on your skin. You can look back and remember when you got that, where you were and what it means.”

 

 

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