In my prior article, Forbidden Ink: When Religious Doctrine Collides with Tattoo Culture in the Bible Belt, Kim Sanchez was kind enough to give us an interview. Kim Sanchez has grown up in Missouri, specifically a little town called Crane. After moving from Crane, she resided in the tri-county area, which includes Christian, Taney, and Stone County in Southern Missouri. She currently lives in Branson, a famous area known for its wholesome family entertainment.

 In a town of roughly 1,500 residents, Kim grew up with a unique perspective of the world and tattoos. “You didn’t see a whole lot of tattooed people when I was growing up. If you did, they were bikers, veterans, or criminals.” Kim, now fifty-two, says that the attitude has changed a lot since she was a kid. “Now, it’s rarer to see someone (even tourists) who doesn’t have a visible tattoo,” says Kim. Kim, along with her daughter Darrien, both sport multiple tattoos.

Kim attributes the change towards tattoos based solely on the number. “Eventually, so many people had them that it was hard for people to judge them as much. Now it’s just a normal thing and people realize it isn’t a big deal.”