Kate Moss has her Lucian Freud swallows, Cara Delevingne has a lion etched on her knuckle and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s cute heart inking is seen dotted throughout her latest Vogue shoot.
It seems tattoos on models no longer carry the stigma they once did. In fact, a tattooed model is becoming the norm for high fashion both on the catwalks and in front of the camera.
And fashion photographer Christian Saint believes the tattooed model will reign supreme in the future.
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Fashion photographer Christian Saint believes the tattooed model, likeSwedish Cleo Wattenstrom pictured here, will reign supreme in the future
The New Yorker has been photographing solely inked models for eight years, after becoming disillusioned with what he calls ‘narrow-minded ideals of beauty’ after 20 years of working in the commercial fashion and beauty world.
He set his sites on the tattoo community, using his experience as a successful photographer to help bring ‘alternative’ to the mainstream and his new book Tattoo Super Models celebrates this alternative kind of beauty.
The compendium documents his work from 2007-2015, what he describes as his seminal years as a tattoo photographer.
The women featured have incredible bodies, but it is the intricate artwork etched onto them that makes them interesting.
A brunette shows off her head-to-toe designs as she poses in a cut-out swimsuit and striped sun hat.
And a pouty blonde displays dozens of colourful designs on her arms, stomach and thighs whilst a vampy redhead shows off two ‘sleeves’ of sketches.
New Yorker Saint has been focusing on inked models for eight years, pictured here Vanessa Lake
He set his sites on the tattoo community using his experience as a successful photographer to help bring ‘alternative’ to the mainstream. Pictured here, Hattie Watson
His book Tattoo Super Models, featuring women like Seventy Jane, celebrates an alternative kind of beauty
Christian told the MailOnline: ‘There’s something about tattoos that remind me of beautiful lingerie, the way the beautiful artwork hugs the human form.
‘I think people are realising that tattoos are not that different from fashion itself. Their artwork is as much of who they are as the clothes they wear.
‘I first started in 1993, while working on a personal project. But it was difficult finding tattooed models back then.
‘All of these models [Cara, Kate, Jordan] have tattoos but are not “tattoo models”. They are hired in spite of their tattoos not because of them. Rick “Zombie Boy” Genest, on the other hand, has made a career in the fashion industry from his tattoos.
Christian told the MailOnline: ‘There’s something about tattoos that remind me of beautiful lingerie, the way the beautiful artwork hugs the human form
‘I hope tattooed models won’t completely take over the runways. Diversity is what makes the world interesting. I do hope that one day everyone can be who they want to be without prejudice or labels,’ he added.
‘In my book, ironically enough, I wanted to use my skills in advertising, celebrity and fashion photography to bring the tattoo sub culture to forefront, creating super models from women that were once viewed as “alternative”.’
He says: ‘I wanted to use my skills in advertising, celebrity and fashion photography to bring the tattoo sub culture to forefront, creating super models from women that were once viewed as “alternative”.’
And the boys are getting in on the act with Rick Genest (left) and Bradley Soilea (right) rocking serious sketches around their bodies