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”
True love shows in many languages!
whatever people say about the meaning behind it, i must admit i absolutely love how it looks on her face. strictly speaking from aesthetics, the placement & stylistic choices are perfect. imnsho & all that.
whatever people say about the meaning behind it, i must admit i absolutely love how it looks on her face. strictly speaking from aesthetics, the placement & stylistic choices are perfect. imnsho & all that.
whatever people say about the meaning behind it, i must admit i absolutely love how it looks on her face. strictly speaking from aesthetics, the placement & stylistic choices are perfect. imnsho & all that.
I wonder how long it’ll be before we see the inevitable cover up/laser removal. Sorry, but this was a horrible, horrible idea & looks absolutely wretched. Poor girl.
I wonder how long it’ll be before we see the inevitable cover up/laser removal. Sorry, but this was a horrible, horrible idea & looks absolutely wretched. Poor girl.
I wonder how long it’ll be before we see the inevitable cover up/laser removal. Sorry, but this was a horrible, horrible idea & looks absolutely wretched. Poor girl.
It’s a beautiful design with a lovely story, and the tattoo fits so well with her face!
It’s a beautiful design with a lovely story, and the tattoo fits so well with her face!
It’s a beautiful design with a lovely story, and the tattoo fits so well with her face!
she’s very very good looking so why you’d do this to your face is insane.
she’s very very good looking so why you’d do this to your face is insane.
she’s very very good looking so why you’d do this to your face is insane.
крута ваще 🙂
крута ваще 🙂
крута ваще 🙂
Oh dear. I agree with those questioning the tattoo. Putting your name on someones face forever, especially if you’re older than them, is really creepy and bordering on abuse. You only have to look at the second photo posted here where he is pretty much fingering her to see the power dynamic in their relationship.
Oh dear. I agree with those questioning the tattoo. Putting your name on someones face forever, especially if you’re older than them, is really creepy and bordering on abuse. You only have to look at the second photo posted here where he is pretty much fingering her to see the power dynamic in their relationship.
Oh dear. I agree with those questioning the tattoo. Putting your name on someones face forever, especially if you’re older than them, is really creepy and bordering on abuse. You only have to look at the second photo posted here where he is pretty much fingering her to see the power dynamic in their relationship.
Oh great.. Another “bright” person to poke every modified person’s sides, as they are trying to play the “career and being taken seriously” Jenga.
No wonder I often have to convince people that I am not a moron, despite my mods.
Oh great.. Another “bright” person to poke every modified person’s sides, as they are trying to play the “career and being taken seriously” Jenga.
No wonder I often have to convince people that I am not a moron, despite my mods.
Oh great.. Another “bright” person to poke every modified person’s sides, as they are trying to play the “career and being taken seriously” Jenga.
No wonder I often have to convince people that I am not a moron, despite my mods.
what’s above her eyebrow to read
what’s above her eyebrow to read
what’s above her eyebrow to read
Obviously, something like this will always raise a debate, and it’s a good thing that it does. However, if there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s (presumably) modified people telling other modified people that they WILL regret their mods in the future, and on a body modification website nonetheless. Intolerant, ignorant and thoughtless. As a modified person I find it extremely disheartening that that kind of stuff is thrown around here, since I’ve always seen BME as sort of a safe place, where you shouldn’t be showered with the stupid comments you hear in every other place on earth.
Anyway, I think the tattoo looks completely amazing! Especially since she has no other work done, it’s really strong. I really hope these guys’ plans work out, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of her, her work and what she gets done!
Obviously, something like this will always raise a debate, and it’s a good thing that it does. However, if there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s (presumably) modified people telling other modified people that they WILL regret their mods in the future, and on a body modification website nonetheless. Intolerant, ignorant and thoughtless. As a modified person I find it extremely disheartening that that kind of stuff is thrown around here, since I’ve always seen BME as sort of a safe place, where you shouldn’t be showered with the stupid comments you hear in every other place on earth.
Anyway, I think the tattoo looks completely amazing! Especially since she has no other work done, it’s really strong. I really hope these guys’ plans work out, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of her, her work and what she gets done!
Obviously, something like this will always raise a debate, and it’s a good thing that it does. However, if there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s (presumably) modified people telling other modified people that they WILL regret their mods in the future, and on a body modification website nonetheless. Intolerant, ignorant and thoughtless. As a modified person I find it extremely disheartening that that kind of stuff is thrown around here, since I’ve always seen BME as sort of a safe place, where you shouldn’t be showered with the stupid comments you hear in every other place on earth.
Anyway, I think the tattoo looks completely amazing! Especially since she has no other work done, it’s really strong. I really hope these guys’ plans work out, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of her, her work and what she gets done!
really, really stupid. she looks awful. her life is ruined. the tattoo “artist” that did this is a prick.
really, really stupid. she looks awful. her life is ruined. the tattoo “artist” that did this is a prick.
really, really stupid. she looks awful. her life is ruined. the tattoo “artist” that did this is a prick.
What a beautiful girl. I think she actually pulls the tattoo off quite well….but i think a girl this radiantly beautiful could pull off having anything tattooed on her face. That being said, i truly wish she didnt have a man’s name (or a partners name is what i mean) on her face. I do agree with the “ownership” issue comments, and i find the concept disturbing. I truly hope for her sake the relationship works…. My dad told my mom the day after he met her he loved her and they are together 37 years later, all old and tattooed up. lol So you never know. 🙂
What a beautiful girl. I think she actually pulls the tattoo off quite well….but i think a girl this radiantly beautiful could pull off having anything tattooed on her face. That being said, i truly wish she didnt have a man’s name (or a partners name is what i mean) on her face. I do agree with the “ownership” issue comments, and i find the concept disturbing. I truly hope for her sake the relationship works…. My dad told my mom the day after he met her he loved her and they are together 37 years later, all old and tattooed up. lol So you never know. 🙂
What a beautiful girl. I think she actually pulls the tattoo off quite well….but i think a girl this radiantly beautiful could pull off having anything tattooed on her face. That being said, i truly wish she didnt have a man’s name (or a partners name is what i mean) on her face. I do agree with the “ownership” issue comments, and i find the concept disturbing. I truly hope for her sake the relationship works…. My dad told my mom the day after he met her he loved her and they are together 37 years later, all old and tattooed up. lol So you never know. 🙂
That tattoo does not spell “Ruslan”, the next the first letter on the left side of her face is obviously an “s”,done in the same style as the first “s”.She has”Russia” tattooed on her face, not that dumb man’s name
That tattoo does not spell “Ruslan”, the next the first letter on the left side of her face is obviously an “s”,done in the same style as the first “s”.She has”Russia” tattooed on her face, not that dumb man’s name
That tattoo does not spell “Ruslan”, the next the first letter on the left side of her face is obviously an “s”,done in the same style as the first “s”.She has”Russia” tattooed on her face, not that dumb man’s name
This guy looks like he’s fucking insane. I completely agree with the comment regarding the power dynamic, and how obvious it is that a large degree of dominance and submissiveness was necessary for such a ridiculous decision. Her first tattoo. Because she plans to get covered anyway. Well thats just fucking dandy. I can’t help but think large amounts of drugs/mental disturbances are always playing a role here. Cunts fucked. It looks shit too. Like idk if it was done well wouldn’t know, but it looks like complete anus.
This guy looks like he’s fucking insane. I completely agree with the comment regarding the power dynamic, and how obvious it is that a large degree of dominance and submissiveness was necessary for such a ridiculous decision. Her first tattoo. Because she plans to get covered anyway. Well thats just fucking dandy. I can’t help but think large amounts of drugs/mental disturbances are always playing a role here. Cunts fucked. It looks shit too. Like idk if it was done well wouldn’t know, but it looks like complete anus.
This guy looks like he’s fucking insane. I completely agree with the comment regarding the power dynamic, and how obvious it is that a large degree of dominance and submissiveness was necessary for such a ridiculous decision. Her first tattoo. Because she plans to get covered anyway. Well thats just fucking dandy. I can’t help but think large amounts of drugs/mental disturbances are always playing a role here. Cunts fucked. It looks shit too. Like idk if it was done well wouldn’t know, but it looks like complete anus.
What a fucking mess! pretty girl now looks like a freak, and i’m covered in tattoo’s, this weirdo has done this to make her his property..that is all….you would not do this to someone you loved!!
What a fucking mess! pretty girl now looks like a freak, and i’m covered in tattoo’s, this weirdo has done this to make her his property..that is all….you would not do this to someone you loved!!
What a fucking mess! pretty girl now looks like a freak, and i’m covered in tattoo’s, this weirdo has done this to make her his property..that is all….you would not do this to someone you loved!!
I don’t think anyone is trying to be super critical of her mods, bt this is mentally abusive. She doesn’t realize that and I don’t think he does either. But he knows way more than her about the life of having a mod like this. The body language in that bottom picture says it all.
I don’t think anyone is trying to be super critical of her mods, bt this is mentally abusive. She doesn’t realize that and I don’t think he does either. But he knows way more than her about the life of having a mod like this. The body language in that bottom picture says it all.
I don’t think anyone is trying to be super critical of her mods, bt this is mentally abusive. She doesn’t realize that and I don’t think he does either. But he knows way more than her about the life of having a mod like this. The body language in that bottom picture says it all.
This is the same guy that tattooed (terribly tattooed) the 56 stars on a girl’s face some yars ago…
We all already know what the end we’ll see.
This guy doesn’t desearve the title of tattoo artist.
This is the same guy that tattooed (terribly tattooed) the 56 stars on a girl’s face some yars ago…
We all already know what the end we’ll see.
This guy doesn’t desearve the title of tattoo artist.
This is the same guy that tattooed (terribly tattooed) the 56 stars on a girl’s face some yars ago…
We all already know what the end we’ll see.
This guy doesn’t desearve the title of tattoo artist.
I am fascinated by face tattoos but don’t have the courage to have one myself, even though well on my way to a bodysuit.
This face tattoo makes me uneasy, though. It tends to obliterate a lot of her face rather than enhance it. Also share view that face tattoos are best done only when you have extensive body tattoos.
But I wish her happiness.