Inked up: Abby Betty Kennerson, 25, has been putting ink to skin for seven years. Picture: ADV Photography
ABBY Betty Kennerson has a unique — and very visual — way of telling her life story. With her body as her canvas, Ms Kennerson's elaborate tattoos delve into the story of her life.
The Blacktown resident, who lives by the saying "My body is a temple and my tattoos are its stained-glass windows", got her first tattoo at 18. She will represent the state in the Miss Ink Australia finals this Friday.
"Tattoos help define who I am," said Ms Kennerson, who has over 15 tattoos.
"Every single one of them has a story behind it and reflects something significant in my life."
Tattoo artist TMD Taylor inks most of her tattoos but her left arm is devoted to telling the story of her travels — she gets a tattoo in each country she visits. "Instead of collecting shot glasses I collect tattoos." Her favourite, the half sleeve on her right arm, is a reminder of her travels cruising down Route 66 in America in a convertible Mustang.
The Miss Ink Australia competition fuses tattoos and tiaras with participants competing in three pageantry rounds and judged by tattoo and modelling industry experts. They're judged on tattoo quantity and quality, outfits and personality. She will also model at the Australian Tattoo and Body Art Expo for tattooist TMD Taylor from March 8.
■ Details: Miss Ink Australia competition is at The Vanguard in Newtown on February 15 at 7pm. Cost: $23.80.