Lesya Toumaniantz’s radical facial tattoo has recently gone viral, posted on thousands of Facebook pages with captions like “next level face tattoo” from Russia. So I thought it was time to tell the real story behind this remarkable tattoo.
About a month ago, Rouslan Toumaniantz, a well known and sometimes notorious Belgium-based tattoo artist (of Tattoo Box in Kortrijk), and Lesya, a designer living at the time in Saransk, a city in central Russia started talking via chat (Rouslan speaks fluent Russian) and realized they had a lot in common, and quickly began falling head over heels in love. About a week ago they met in person in Moscow and decided to get married — their plans for their life together include her learning to tattoo (Rouslan tells me she’s already a talented artist), apprenticing under her husband-to-be, while she also gets the full-body ink that she’s always dreamed of (biomech is the current plan) — and of course a family.
Her new facial tattoo that’s getting all the attention, a huge commitment for both a person with limited experience as a publicly modified person and for a new relationship screams out the intensity of their commitment to their new life, reads “RUSLAN”, the name of her betrothed. At first glance the tattoo echoes Latin American gang tattooing — MS-13 is the first thing that’s come to many people’s minds — and I worry that it could complicate future travel in the Americas, to say nothing of putting her in danger in some cities (of course, these are places where deaf people speaking sign language occasionally are stabbed when foolish gangmembers assume they’re throwing rival gang-signs). But to be clear, the tattoo has nothing about committing to a life in a gang — it’s a commitment to love.
I know that there are people who are terrified that Lesya has made a rash decision that she’ll regret horribly, but sometimes the best decisions are the ones you make in an instant with your heart rather than the ones long-debated in your mind. I know many people whose favorite mods are the ones they got “on a whim”, and who are still happily married to the person they fell for the instant they saw — “love at first sight” is an old truism — and proposed to within the week. I wish them the best of luck and hope that their life plays out as they dream it to be.
Edit/Update: People have asked why it says “RUSLAN” when I’m writing his name as “Rouslan”. It’s simply because one is the French spelling, and the other is the Russian/English spelling of the name — they chose the latter because it fit better on her face.
Continue after the break for a more explicit photo.
Comments
435 responses to “Lesya and Rouslan”
First of all, the story doesn’t mention that the tattoo was given to her within 24 hours of their FIRST TIME MEETING in real life. Ugh. You can’t love someone if you don’t KNOW them. :/
First of all, the story doesn’t mention that the tattoo was given to her within 24 hours of their FIRST TIME MEETING in real life. Ugh. You can’t love someone if you don’t KNOW them. :/
You look a sight that is is worst thing you could of done, getting a name but all across your face. Hope you wont do that do your children, plus wait till your older it will look F’ing hideous
You look a sight that is is worst thing you could of done, getting a name but all across your face. Hope you wont do that do your children, plus wait till your older it will look F’ing hideous
You look a sight that is is worst thing you could of done, getting a name but all across your face. Hope you wont do that do your children, plus wait till your older it will look F’ing hideous
I support her commitment. I am skeptical of his and echo
A lot of the control, irresponsibility, misspelling, imperfect artwork, and unilateral commitment issues raised by many commenters. I picture the full body photo without him; beautiful. I picture it without her; boring and in-impactful. I picture her without his brand on her face; full of promise. I wish them both success
And continued happiness.
I support her commitment. I am skeptical of his and echo
A lot of the control, irresponsibility, misspelling, imperfect artwork, and unilateral commitment issues raised by many commenters. I picture the full body photo without him; beautiful. I picture it without her; boring and in-impactful. I picture her without his brand on her face; full of promise. I wish them both success
And continued happiness.
I support her commitment. I am skeptical of his and echo
A lot of the control, irresponsibility, misspelling, imperfect artwork, and unilateral commitment issues raised by many commenters. I picture the full body photo without him; beautiful. I picture it without her; boring and in-impactful. I picture her without his brand on her face; full of promise. I wish them both success
And continued happiness.
So, are they married now?
So, are they married now?
So, are they married now?
My grandparents married within a month of meeting each other in their early 20s. They are now in their mid 80s and have had 4 sons and a very good life. Anything is possible.
My grandparents married within a month of meeting each other in their early 20s. They are now in their mid 80s and have had 4 sons and a very good life. Anything is possible.
My grandparents married within a month of meeting each other in their early 20s. They are now in their mid 80s and have had 4 sons and a very good life. Anything is possible.
Not even well thought out, artistic or creative…..the work isn’t even well done or even, does not “modify” her, it consumes her…covers her up. NO IMAGINATION at all….and certainly not from her image of herself. She is his possession…not a creative expression of herself. Can anyone say irresponsible, narcissitic sociopath brainwashing an impressionable and submissive little girl???? YUK!!!!!! This IS the startling beginning of an abusive relationship. She will feel like she needs him. He has isolated her and is already taking control of her future in an instant. She’s been branded. Nothing less. He’s sick.
Too bad he didn’t just piss on her…she could have washed that off.
Not even well thought out, artistic or creative…..the work isn’t even well done or even, does not “modify” her, it consumes her…covers her up. NO IMAGINATION at all….and certainly not from her image of herself. She is his possession…not a creative expression of herself. Can anyone say irresponsible, narcissitic sociopath brainwashing an impressionable and submissive little girl???? YUK!!!!!! This IS the startling beginning of an abusive relationship. She will feel like she needs him. He has isolated her and is already taking control of her future in an instant. She’s been branded. Nothing less. He’s sick.
Too bad he didn’t just piss on her…she could have washed that off.
Not even well thought out, artistic or creative…..the work isn’t even well done or even, does not “modify” her, it consumes her…covers her up. NO IMAGINATION at all….and certainly not from her image of herself. She is his possession…not a creative expression of herself. Can anyone say irresponsible, narcissitic sociopath brainwashing an impressionable and submissive little girl???? YUK!!!!!! This IS the startling beginning of an abusive relationship. She will feel like she needs him. He has isolated her and is already taking control of her future in an instant. She’s been branded. Nothing less. He’s sick.
Too bad he didn’t just piss on her…she could have washed that off.
If he wanted to mark her he could have just pissed on her face…..atleast you can wash that off…smh
If he wanted to mark her he could have just pissed on her face…..atleast you can wash that off…smh
If he wanted to mark her he could have just pissed on her face…..atleast you can wash that off…smh
It was rash and impulsive, and she should have thought it over.
However it is very beautiful on her.
It was rash and impulsive, and she should have thought it over.
However it is very beautiful on her.
It was rash and impulsive, and she should have thought it over.
However it is very beautiful on her.
I think it is a wonderful and EXTREMELY sexy tattoo…
I think it is a wonderful and EXTREMELY sexy tattoo…
I think it is a wonderful and EXTREMELY sexy tattoo…
I think they are both seriously lunatic 🙁
I think they are both seriously lunatic 🙁
I think they are both seriously lunatic 🙁
Pathetic and ruined for life. What a waste, I may understand the psychotic guy, what an abuse… sad, very sad. Tattoes is not that and it’s not “posing” that way. Obviously he has some deep problems, bah.
Pathetic and ruined for life. What a waste, I may understand the psychotic guy, what an abuse… sad, very sad. Tattoes is not that and it’s not “posing” that way. Obviously he has some deep problems, bah.
Pathetic and ruined for life. What a waste, I may understand the psychotic guy, what an abuse… sad, very sad. Tattoes is not that and it’s not “posing” that way. Obviously he has some deep problems, bah.
Mental disease no doubt. Most of us have a filter that helps us refrain from extreme or impulsive actions like this even when we are head over heels. Manic episodes can often times remove that filter and not only prevent our refrain from these self harming actions, but actually instigate them. Very sad. Beautiful girl who made a horrible mistake. No sense trying to sugar coat it.
Mental disease no doubt. Most of us have a filter that helps us refrain from extreme or impulsive actions like this even when we are head over heels. Manic episodes can often times remove that filter and not only prevent our refrain from these self harming actions, but actually instigate them. Very sad. Beautiful girl who made a horrible mistake. No sense trying to sugar coat it.
Mental disease no doubt. Most of us have a filter that helps us refrain from extreme or impulsive actions like this even when we are head over heels. Manic episodes can often times remove that filter and not only prevent our refrain from these self harming actions, but actually instigate them. Very sad. Beautiful girl who made a horrible mistake. No sense trying to sugar coat it.