Melissa Sloan, a mother from Wales who is 46 years old, has spent years figuring out how to express herself and meet social standards. She has over 800 tattoos on her body, including ones on her face, which has made it hard for her to find work.

At age 20, Melissa got her first tattoo. It started out as an easy way to express herself and has since turned into a passionate way of life. Her body has turned into a painting, with intricate patterns that show who she is.

However, her scars are now getting in the way. Melissa remembers being turned down for a cleaning job because of how she looked. “They didn’t even consider my skills,” she points out. “It was all about how I looked.”

Melissa has a hard time finding regular work because she is the main breadwinner for her two kids. “People judge you before they know you,” she says. “They see my face and assume I’m incapable, but tattoos don’t define my abilities.”