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”
Holy christ, i know people can be a bit daft when in love or a new relationship, maybe rush in to somethings or do something spontaneous or out of the ordinary, most of us could be found guilty of it. Seriously though ?! Tattoo your name on me ? Oh in big writing ? Oh and also on my FACE?! And i mean ALL OVER MY FACE? This girl looks a lot younger than the guy and for this guy to do this to her, i mean there is definitely something wrong with him and probably her (although clearly suggestible), or he is just a flat out prick. It seems like some weird branding, or some form of ownership of her? Seriously, it’s fucked up, stop congratulating them, its fucking stupid!
Holy christ, i know people can be a bit daft when in love or a new relationship, maybe rush in to somethings or do something spontaneous or out of the ordinary, most of us could be found guilty of it. Seriously though ?! Tattoo your name on me ? Oh in big writing ? Oh and also on my FACE?! And i mean ALL OVER MY FACE? This girl looks a lot younger than the guy and for this guy to do this to her, i mean there is definitely something wrong with him and probably her (although clearly suggestible), or he is just a flat out prick. It seems like some weird branding, or some form of ownership of her? Seriously, it’s fucked up, stop congratulating them, its fucking stupid!
Holy christ, i know people can be a bit daft when in love or a new relationship, maybe rush in to somethings or do something spontaneous or out of the ordinary, most of us could be found guilty of it. Seriously though ?! Tattoo your name on me ? Oh in big writing ? Oh and also on my FACE?! And i mean ALL OVER MY FACE? This girl looks a lot younger than the guy and for this guy to do this to her, i mean there is definitely something wrong with him and probably her (although clearly suggestible), or he is just a flat out prick. It seems like some weird branding, or some form of ownership of her? Seriously, it’s fucked up, stop congratulating them, its fucking stupid!
I see this is disguised misogyny. I don’t see why your expression of love needs to shown in such an extreme manner. To me this is disgusting, she has submitted herself to be HIS property. You are never the property of someone else no matter how in love you are… she looks like shes now his slave.
She seems smart, sensible (from looking on her facebook) and the world just knows him to be some crazy tattoo artist. Why would she let him do this to her?
Maybe I have these views because I view a lot of things through feminist eyes, but I think anyone who lives and functions and a “normal” society would see that this tattoo is beyond reasonable. Lesya is beautiful now and she was really beautiful before but a dramatic change like this could easily put someone into depression, especially with the viral media covering this story. People are speculating, not only from a public standpoint but also her friends, family.
People can do as they please but for now this story makes me feel weak. I wish them all the best and hope their love survives because tattoo removal for that would be so fucking painful and would cost you 6 figures.
I see this is disguised misogyny. I don’t see why your expression of love needs to shown in such an extreme manner. To me this is disgusting, she has submitted herself to be HIS property. You are never the property of someone else no matter how in love you are… she looks like shes now his slave.
She seems smart, sensible (from looking on her facebook) and the world just knows him to be some crazy tattoo artist. Why would she let him do this to her?
Maybe I have these views because I view a lot of things through feminist eyes, but I think anyone who lives and functions and a “normal” society would see that this tattoo is beyond reasonable. Lesya is beautiful now and she was really beautiful before but a dramatic change like this could easily put someone into depression, especially with the viral media covering this story. People are speculating, not only from a public standpoint but also her friends, family.
People can do as they please but for now this story makes me feel weak. I wish them all the best and hope their love survives because tattoo removal for that would be so fucking painful and would cost you 6 figures.
I see this is disguised misogyny. I don’t see why your expression of love needs to shown in such an extreme manner. To me this is disgusting, she has submitted herself to be HIS property. You are never the property of someone else no matter how in love you are… she looks like shes now his slave.
She seems smart, sensible (from looking on her facebook) and the world just knows him to be some crazy tattoo artist. Why would she let him do this to her?
Maybe I have these views because I view a lot of things through feminist eyes, but I think anyone who lives and functions and a “normal” society would see that this tattoo is beyond reasonable. Lesya is beautiful now and she was really beautiful before but a dramatic change like this could easily put someone into depression, especially with the viral media covering this story. People are speculating, not only from a public standpoint but also her friends, family.
People can do as they please but for now this story makes me feel weak. I wish them all the best and hope their love survives because tattoo removal for that would be so fucking painful and would cost you 6 figures.
If they are together after 20 years and she has her fullbody suit it will look great.
it’s not my place to question this, i know. but i don’t believe in these “romantic” name tattoos, and she has one on her face. as a first tattoo. why their relationship would need his name to be on her face, covering it. like a burka.
but anyways, all the best and new adventures for the future!
If they are together after 20 years and she has her fullbody suit it will look great.
it’s not my place to question this, i know. but i don’t believe in these “romantic” name tattoos, and she has one on her face. as a first tattoo. why their relationship would need his name to be on her face, covering it. like a burka.
but anyways, all the best and new adventures for the future!
If they are together after 20 years and she has her fullbody suit it will look great.
it’s not my place to question this, i know. but i don’t believe in these “romantic” name tattoos, and she has one on her face. as a first tattoo. why their relationship would need his name to be on her face, covering it. like a burka.
but anyways, all the best and new adventures for the future!
and i completely forgot my first point to comment this. Their feet look incomplete! 😛
and i completely forgot my first point to comment this. Their feet look incomplete! 😛
and i completely forgot my first point to comment this. Their feet look incomplete! 😛
I wonder if this guy has some sort of Charles Mason type of appeal to women. The tattoo is amazing and looks really good on her. The guy just weirds me out, something about him thats dark
I wonder if this guy has some sort of Charles Mason type of appeal to women. The tattoo is amazing and looks really good on her. The guy just weirds me out, something about him thats dark
I wonder if this guy has some sort of Charles Mason type of appeal to women. The tattoo is amazing and looks really good on her. The guy just weirds me out, something about him thats dark
Oh dear, this is so naive. The whole story – and the tattoo is just the icing on the cake. She is very young and clearly hasn’t yet realised that relationships rarely last more than a few years. She really can’t know after a MONTH of chatting online that this will last forever. Many horrendous marriages start off with a swift courtship and proposal like this.
Oh dear, this is so naive. The whole story – and the tattoo is just the icing on the cake. She is very young and clearly hasn’t yet realised that relationships rarely last more than a few years. She really can’t know after a MONTH of chatting online that this will last forever. Many horrendous marriages start off with a swift courtship and proposal like this.
Oh dear, this is so naive. The whole story – and the tattoo is just the icing on the cake. She is very young and clearly hasn’t yet realised that relationships rarely last more than a few years. She really can’t know after a MONTH of chatting online that this will last forever. Many horrendous marriages start off with a swift courtship and proposal like this.
I think it looks awesome on you!! I am tattooed from top of neck to toes… I’m out of skin..I’m 55 and don’t regret any of it!! I have been with other women like July from California and her whole face is tattooed! It’s not for me but it was cartoons.. I’m not a cartoon person! I love oriental work and angels, flowers! I can’t judge you for your face! And I think it is a personal choice! 🙂
I think it looks awesome on you!! I am tattooed from top of neck to toes… I’m out of skin..I’m 55 and don’t regret any of it!! I have been with other women like July from California and her whole face is tattooed! It’s not for me but it was cartoons.. I’m not a cartoon person! I love oriental work and angels, flowers! I can’t judge you for your face! And I think it is a personal choice! 🙂
I think it looks awesome on you!! I am tattooed from top of neck to toes… I’m out of skin..I’m 55 and don’t regret any of it!! I have been with other women like July from California and her whole face is tattooed! It’s not for me but it was cartoons.. I’m not a cartoon person! I love oriental work and angels, flowers! I can’t judge you for your face! And I think it is a personal choice! 🙂
This is disturbing. This very naive needy young girl has lost her face at the hands of this man. Her eyes look like they peek out of black prison gates. She was perfectly lovely before and now she has this permanent Halloween mask etched onto her face. It looks like a form of punishment or branding from medieval times or a dark sic-fi movie. She has gone from looking so beautiful to looking like that man’s slave woman. Tragic. How could she have gone along with this?????????????
This is disturbing. This very naive needy young girl has lost her face at the hands of this man. Her eyes look like they peek out of black prison gates. She was perfectly lovely before and now she has this permanent Halloween mask etched onto her face. It looks like a form of punishment or branding from medieval times or a dark sic-fi movie. She has gone from looking so beautiful to looking like that man’s slave woman. Tragic. How could she have gone along with this?????????????
This is disturbing. This very naive needy young girl has lost her face at the hands of this man. Her eyes look like they peek out of black prison gates. She was perfectly lovely before and now she has this permanent Halloween mask etched onto her face. It looks like a form of punishment or branding from medieval times or a dark sic-fi movie. She has gone from looking so beautiful to looking like that man’s slave woman. Tragic. How could she have gone along with this?????????????
She just Fracked up a pretty face. What a shame.
She just Fracked up a pretty face. What a shame.
She just Fracked up a pretty face. What a shame.
ppl saying the photographer prob staged the photo? come on now? a guy that is willing to put this sort of thing on his girlfriends faces ( leysa is not the only one, the other girl at least got to keep some of her face) is not going to let a photog boss him around. He’s trying to brag in that photo. The lewdness is not a lewdness that shows the beauty of love, it shows the start of mind control. If he didnt want the media attention he could have posted the face photos without telling the personal back story, keeping the naked stuff for he and his lady to enjoy. He got drunk off of the 56 star thing. If the tattoo had been done by someone else who doesnt have the prof issues he has been shown to have before i would have almost been okay with this story, but he’s showing a pattern and i only hope that Leysa’s friends and family are keeping an eye on their “love”.
ppl saying the photographer prob staged the photo? come on now? a guy that is willing to put this sort of thing on his girlfriends faces ( leysa is not the only one, the other girl at least got to keep some of her face) is not going to let a photog boss him around. He’s trying to brag in that photo. The lewdness is not a lewdness that shows the beauty of love, it shows the start of mind control. If he didnt want the media attention he could have posted the face photos without telling the personal back story, keeping the naked stuff for he and his lady to enjoy. He got drunk off of the 56 star thing. If the tattoo had been done by someone else who doesnt have the prof issues he has been shown to have before i would have almost been okay with this story, but he’s showing a pattern and i only hope that Leysa’s friends and family are keeping an eye on their “love”.
ppl saying the photographer prob staged the photo? come on now? a guy that is willing to put this sort of thing on his girlfriends faces ( leysa is not the only one, the other girl at least got to keep some of her face) is not going to let a photog boss him around. He’s trying to brag in that photo. The lewdness is not a lewdness that shows the beauty of love, it shows the start of mind control. If he didnt want the media attention he could have posted the face photos without telling the personal back story, keeping the naked stuff for he and his lady to enjoy. He got drunk off of the 56 star thing. If the tattoo had been done by someone else who doesnt have the prof issues he has been shown to have before i would have almost been okay with this story, but he’s showing a pattern and i only hope that Leysa’s friends and family are keeping an eye on their “love”.
If it wasnt his name id be okay with this. Big lettering tattoos like this look gang land like tho, but if she had gotten some big black work piece across her face, tribal or even traditional western tattoo images, and even if her so called fiance did it, id support her and him. The setup behind all of this tho as it stands now is just way to creepy.
If it wasnt his name id be okay with this. Big lettering tattoos like this look gang land like tho, but if she had gotten some big black work piece across her face, tribal or even traditional western tattoo images, and even if her so called fiance did it, id support her and him. The setup behind all of this tho as it stands now is just way to creepy.
If it wasnt his name id be okay with this. Big lettering tattoos like this look gang land like tho, but if she had gotten some big black work piece across her face, tribal or even traditional western tattoo images, and even if her so called fiance did it, id support her and him. The setup behind all of this tho as it stands now is just way to creepy.
The 56 Star-tattoo girl admitted that she had ASKED for the 56 stars and then made up this lame lie when her father freaked out.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/tattoo-girl-kimberley-vlaminck-lied-fearing-angry-father/story-e6freuy9-1225739479740
Just for completeness, and with no reference to lesya’ tattoo
The 56 Star-tattoo girl admitted that she had ASKED for the 56 stars and then made up this lame lie when her father freaked out.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/tattoo-girl-kimberley-vlaminck-lied-fearing-angry-father/story-e6freuy9-1225739479740
Just for completeness, and with no reference to lesya’ tattoo
The 56 Star-tattoo girl admitted that she had ASKED for the 56 stars and then made up this lame lie when her father freaked out.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/tattoo-girl-kimberley-vlaminck-lied-fearing-angry-father/story-e6freuy9-1225739479740
Just for completeness, and with no reference to lesya’ tattoo
I am a fan of extreme tattoos myself but still i was shocked when i read this story.
It is very obvious what is going on:
She is young and naive and thinks this kind of “commitment” will get her something from him. The fact that she is talking about a family etc. proves that point.
But he is a psychopath who just wants to impose his power on young women by disfiguring their faces. From his point of view, she is just another victim of his power games and she will not get anything from him. Like his former girlfriend who also had his name on her face she will just get dumped and he will look for another victim.
I am a fan of extreme tattoos myself but still i was shocked when i read this story.
It is very obvious what is going on:
She is young and naive and thinks this kind of “commitment” will get her something from him. The fact that she is talking about a family etc. proves that point.
But he is a psychopath who just wants to impose his power on young women by disfiguring their faces. From his point of view, she is just another victim of his power games and she will not get anything from him. Like his former girlfriend who also had his name on her face she will just get dumped and he will look for another victim.
I am a fan of extreme tattoos myself but still i was shocked when i read this story.
It is very obvious what is going on:
She is young and naive and thinks this kind of “commitment” will get her something from him. The fact that she is talking about a family etc. proves that point.
But he is a psychopath who just wants to impose his power on young women by disfiguring their faces. From his point of view, she is just another victim of his power games and she will not get anything from him. Like his former girlfriend who also had his name on her face she will just get dumped and he will look for another victim.
Wow!
Wow!
Wow!
I think it looks beautiful on her and I wish them the best of luck for the future.
I think it looks beautiful on her and I wish them the best of luck for the future.
I think it looks beautiful on her and I wish them the best of luck for the future.
He’s a dog marking his territory.
He’s a dog marking his territory.
He’s a dog marking his territory.
We can have some fun working out she can modify these if the worst happens to the relationship.
We can have some fun working out she can modify these if the worst happens to the relationship.