Tattoos have long sparked debate—especially between generations—but attitudes are gradually shifting. More people are embracing body art as a form of self-expression. Still, not everyone is on board, and for one woman in particular, the backlash has been intense. Meet Melissa Sloan, a mom who’s faced harsh judgment for her tattooed appearance—so much so, she was once mistaken for a bank robber. Her story is a bold example of living authentically in a world full of stereotypes.

Melissa has faced serious bias because of her tattoos.

Melissa Sloan, 46, from Wales in the U.K., used to work as a restroom cleaner. But now, she says, she can’t get a similar job—not because of her skills, but because of how she looks. Covered head-to-toe in tattoos, especially on her face, Melissa has been turned away from multiple jobs.

“I can’t get a job,” she told reporters. “I even applied to clean toilets locally, and they still wouldn’t hire me because of my tattoos.”

She’s baffled by the judgment she receives.

Melissa, a mom of two, says she doesn’t understand why people are so bothered by her appearance. “People say I’ve never had a job, but I have—it just didn’t last long,” she explained. “If someone offered me a job tomorrow, I’d take it. I’m willing to work.”

She got her first tattoo at age 20, and it quickly became a full-blown obsession. She’s especially passionate about face tattoos and now has no bare skin left on her face. In fact, she’s tattooed over her old ink three times, creating what she calls a “layered collage” across her features.

Still, she refuses to give up on what she loves.

Despite the criticism and job rejections, Melissa hasn’t slowed down. She gets at least three new tattoos a week and proudly calls herself “addicted.”

“If I live to 70, I’ll still be getting them,” she said. “Every inch of my skin will be covered. My face is already turning blue—I look like a Smurf!”

Melissa’s story is about more than just body art. It’s about resilience, passion, and standing up to the pressure to conform.

If you enjoy stories about people breaking stereotypes, check out our feature on a tattoo-covered doctor who proves that appearance doesn’t define a person’s talent or professionalism.