Here are the hottest magazine cover girls of 2008, and their rich collection of body art.

Alyssa Milano

Alyssa Milano graces the cover of Jezebel Magazine March 2008 issue looking all the more gorgeous with age. Could it be that this Charmed lady’s lovely tattoos, which are prominently located on her right wrist and lower stomach, give her a youthful glow?

Alyssa has a tattoo of a snake biting its tail on her right wrist. The actress says it’s a symbol of rebirth. On her left wrist is the Buddhist symbol of Om, which reminds her of her ex-husband. She also has rosary beads on her back, an angel tattoo on one ankle and a vine of flowers on the other. She has a fairy on her hip, and sacred heart on her lower back.

Angelina Jolie

Clearly the most popular tattooed female celebrity in the world, Angelina Jolie covers Harper Bazaar’s December 2008 issue with pure glamour.

Angelina’s stunning looks and acting prowess have won the hearts of many, especially with her tough-chick flicks such as “Tomb Raider” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” This gorgeous actress is also gifted with at least a dozen tattoos.

She has a huge tiger tattoo for a tramp stamp, and the famous coordinates of the origins of her adopted kids on her shoulder. Angelina’s tats are a reflection of her personality - exotic with a hint of dangerous sensuality.

Anna Kournikova

Anna Kournikova covers Maxim October 2008 wearing a shiny gold bikini. This tennis queen sports a stunning tribal flower tattoo on her lower back.

Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce Knowles is on the cover of Marie Claire Magazine October 2008 issue. Rocking the blogosphere with her alleged name change (Sasha Fierce anyone?), Beyonce rocks a tribal tat on her left thigh.

Britney Spears

Comeback queen Britney Spears covers the December 2008 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, showing off her new bod. Clearly, Britney has marked her presence in the music scene once more with her latest album entitled “Circus.” Britney’s songs Womanizer, and Kill the Lights are already climbing the charts; proof of just how much the world has missed the pop star.

The rebellious Britney has a number of tats on her now-again gorgeous body. She has a fairy on her back, butterfly tattoos on her foot, a small daisy on her right foot, Hebrew characters on her neck. The singer is also said to have gotten a flower tat and a pair of pink dice inked somewhere on her body.

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera lands on the cover of Us Weekly in its June 2008 issue. Sharing her secrets on how she got her body back, Christina wore a seemingly Mariah Carey-inspired pink ensemble that flaunted her dangerous curves.

Xtina also loves to flaunt her pretty tattoos. The pop diva has ‘Xtina’ tattooed prominently placed on the back of her neck. She also has a small flower on her left wrist, an intricate design on the inside of her left forearm, and an unknown tattoo just below her bikini line.

Not only is Christina inked, but she also is pierced. Known body piercings of the four-octave singer include one on her left nostril, a labret, her right nipple, and several alleged genital piercings.

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci was Hobo Magazine cover girl for its July 2008 issue. The “Black Snake Moan” star has a number of tattoos on various parts of her body. She has the famous Aslan tat on her right shoulder blade. She also a fairy tattoo on the inside of her right wrist, praying hands on her left hip, sweet peas on her lower back, a sparrow on her right breast, and the words Move or Bleed on the left side of her ribcage.

Denise Richards

Shape Magazine employed the cover girl prowess of sexy Denise Richards for its May 2008 issue. Though her career is not in a very good shape as of late, Denise still manages to stay in tip-top physical shape, making it hard to ignore the cute fairy ink and ‘Charlie’ tat taking residence on her shapely body.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore opened the US Presidential Election month by gracing the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Magazine November 2008 issue clad in patriotic colors. Drew herself is quite the patron of tattoos; she has at least 5 known tattoos on different parts of her anatomy.

Drew has a bouquet of flowers on her left hip, a butterfly on her tummy, a small black crescent moon on her toe, a stylized cross tattoo on her lower right leg, and two angels on her lower back.

Halle Berry

Esquire Magazine posed Halle Berry on the November 2008 issue cover. The sexy actress, who played Storm in the X-Men trilogy, tattooed the name of her first husband onto her right buttock. After the divorce, she has the tattoo changed into a sunflower.

Why a sunflower? Halle told the UK edition of Cosmopolitan Magazine: “I chose a sunflower because when darkness descends they close up to regenerate. But I really wish I’d never had the tattoo in the first place. Clean, clear skin is always better.”

Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum is the cover girl of InStyle Magazine’s December 2008 issue. The gorgeous Victoria’s Secret supermodel decided to tattoo her husband’s name ‘Seal’ on the inside of her right arm, to show her utmost love and devotion.

Janet Jackson

Superstar Janet Jackson covers the February 2008 issue of Ebony Magazine, proving that she still has it. Well, if ‘has it’ means she has a nipple piercing, then she definitely has it. Thanks to that wardrobe malfunction, the whole world is well aware.

Janet allegedly has many more body piercings as well, such as her ears, her septum, her navel, her tongue, and her genitals. Janet also has several body tattoos. She has a Borneo-style scorpion design on the small of her back, a Kanji tattoo on the back of her neck and a “Sankofa” on the inside of her right wrist.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba covers Elle Magazine’s February 2008 issue. The star of “Dark Angel” and “Fantastic Four” sports various tattoos on her body, specifically Sanskrit, Lotus Flower, Daisy, and Ladybug.

Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel is the cover girl for the Marie Claire December 2008 issue. Jessica sports her famous dove tattoo located at her lower left tummy. The tat stands out in a pair of jeans or in a hot bikini. Jessica goes for small tats with huge impact.

Kate Hudson

The Cosmopolitan Magazine October 2008 issue features Kate Hudson on the cover. Kate has one little star tattoo on her foot. Though it’s not very noticeable, she did try to showcase it in one of her pictorials.

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore lands on the cover of Elle Magazine in a white ensemble. Totally immaculate at a glance but wait to till you see her hammerhead shark tat and tribal armband - she’s one edgy cover girl.

Megan Fox

GQ October 2008 cover girl is none other than”Transformers” hottie Megan Fox. Megan did care to explain what her tattoos are. Here’s how she did it: “…a poem I wrote on my ribcage and a symbol for strength on my neck, and my boyfriend Brian’s name tattooed next to my pie”. Now that’s hot.

Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz covers W Magazine August 2008 issue. Penelope has an ankle tattoo that says ‘883.’ What does that mean? Well, it looks like we need a numerologist to decipher the code. Pen is really planning to give us a hard time huh.

Numerologist Christine Delorey who wrote the book “Life Cycles” has this to say about Pen’s ankle tat: “In her chart, eight and three pop up as her main numbers in life. Eight stands for money, power and success and three stands for skill in communications and creativity. The second eight is to strengthen the power of the first. Penelope wants to win - she is very aggressive in terms of her career.”

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos

You can be pregnant and be a cover girl without getting naked. That’s what Rebecca Romijn-Stamos did for Page Six magazine in its November 2008 issue. This gorgeous supermodel has a cute tat on her ankle.

Rihanna

Rihanna is on the cover of Elle Magazine’s June 2008 issue. Rihanna is definitely an ink lover, as proven by her 11 precious tattoos. She currently rocks a music note tattoo on her ankle, a Pisces sign behind her right ear, a Sanskrit prayer going down her hip, a star in her left ear, the word ‘love’ on her left middle finger, an Arabic phrase on her ribcage area, meaning ‘Freedom is God,’ a trail of stars going down the back of her neck, a cute skull tattoo with a pink hair bow, the phrase ’shhh…’ on her right index finger, the date ‘4.11.1986′ on top of her left shoulder, and the last but not least, a henna-style dragon claw, complete with Hawaiian hibiscus flowers.

Who knows? Rihanna might have a fresh tat in the works before the year ends?

Rose McGowan

Rolling Stone Magazine features two roses on one cover - Rosario Dawson and Rose McGowan. The latter is sporting a pinup girl tattoo on her shoulder that appears to embody Rose McGowan’s personality.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar looks stunning on the cover of Movieline Magazine. In real life, Buffy has at least 3 tattoos. She has a heart / dagger design on her right ankle, a dragonfly on her lower back, and a hieroglyphic symbol located on her left hip.

Scarlett Johansson

“The Other Boleyn Girl” star Scarlett Johansson covers the December 2008 issue of Allure Magazine. The actress sports a brightly colored tat on her left forearm. The tat has a design of a sun setting over an ocean with a star shining in the sky. This celebrity tattoo looks quite cartoonish, but we love it over Scarlett’s pale skin.

Sienna Miller

Elle Magazine featured Sienna Miller on a memorable 2008 cover. Sienna sports a 3-star tattoo on her right shoulder and a medium-sized swallow design on her left wrist.

Victoria Beckham

Victoria ‘Posh’ Beckham started the year right with her Elle January 2008 magazine cover. The infamous Posh Spice has had several tats for several reasons. Her latest addition is a Hebrew text taken from the Song of Songs 2:16 that says, “I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.” That was for her 6th wedding anniversary with husband David.

Victoria also has a tattoo on her lower back. It started with three stars symbolizing each of the family members. When her two younger sons came, the three stars became five. The actress / model also has a Roman Numeral tattoo for May 8 1997, the day Victoria and David had sex for the first time.

Check out more industry icon and celebrity tattoos here.

Chubby, Korean, and bisexual (she admits to all three) in a business that typically has a hard time swallowing that list, Cho’s rank as one of the biggest female comedians on the planet is the result of a one-woman battle, built from her fi rst stand-up comedy gigs in a club near her parents’ book store in San Francisco to tours with Jerry Seinfeld and a showcase full of awards.

For a while, Hollywood won. After a failed TV show attempt, where suits told her she was “too Asian” then hired a coach to train her to be “more Asian,” Cho battled with an eating disorder and alcohol abuse. She returned with a vengeance in 1999’s I’m the One That I Want, her fi rst truly hilarious special, which savaged the suits she experienced in Hollywood. Her follow-up, 2002’s Notorious C.H.O., spawned a best-selling book, DVD, and CD, as did followups Assassin and Revolution. Along the way, she dated Quentin Tarantino and Chris Isaak, launched a clothing company, and took up belly dancing.

Over the last few years, the 39-year-old comedian has also become increasingly linked with the world of ink. She sports original tattoo work by Ed Hardy, LA Ink’s Kat Von D, and Chris O’Donnell. We chatted with Cho about her tattoos (about 50 percent of her body is covered), her spring comedy tour, Beautiful, the secrets of joke telling, and her theories on the proper way to get trashed.

INKED: Your new tour is called . What can we expect?

CHO: I got the idea for the show after a radio interview. The DJ asked me, ‘What would you do if you woke up tomorrow and you were blonde, with blue eyes, and 5′11″ and you weighed 100 pounds and you were beautiful.’ I said, ‘Well, I probably wouldn’t be able to get up because I’d be too weak to stand.’

What an asshole.

I know. But I feel bad for him because that’s the only kind of person he thinks is beautiful. If he doesn’t think I’m beautiful, he is fucking missing out. So the whole show is about wanting to be taken seriously as a beauty. And tattoos are a part of the show. A lot of women my age in Hollywood are getting plastic surgery. But instead, I decided to get tattoos. I want my body to be completely covered when I’m 70 so people won’t be looking at my wrinkles. They’ll be like, ‘Oh my God. Look at her lizard tattoo.’

When did you get your first tattoo?

Just a few years ago. Ed Hardy did it. It covers most of my stomach, my back, and my ribs. It was a huge, ambitious piece for a fi rst tattoo. Since I was a kid, I wanted a Japanese body suit. A guy who worked for my dad has a body suit from Ed. He’s the guy who put me in touch with Ed when I wanted my own.

Are you good at getting tattooed?

I’m a really long sitter. I can sit for fi ve, six, seven hours because I’m really impatient and I want it done. I don’t want to have to keep going back. But tattooing is so hard on the artists’ eyes and their backs. Ed said that he didn’t want to tattoo anymore because he absorbed the pain that people felt. He didn’t want to hurt anybody anymore. It’s sad because he is the greatest, but you can understand that.

When you’re getting tattooed, do you feel like you have to entertain the artist by telling jokes?

Not at all. I try not to distract the artist in any way. I do my best to be quiet, and avoid pulling away or wincing. That’s why I make crazy faces.

Were you worried about the faces you were making while being filmed for ? No, it was great. I love that show and I love Kat. And I love that there are these great women tattooers so I was totally willing to do anything.

Have you ever seen a tattoo on someone and thought, ‘That is the worst tattoo ever?’

Well, my manicurist has this Tweety Bird on her hand. I don’t agree, but I’m never going to say it’s bad. I just wouldn’t do that. Don’t get me wrong. Hands are great to tattoo. Tattoos are great everywhere, even the face, but some tattoos don’t seem to have any emotional resonance, like a Tweety Bird. It’s just a weird choice, but people get what they get. I love most people’s tattoos, even if they’re faded and blurred and old.

You talk a lot about your parents in your routines. How do they feel about your tattoos?

They were really freaked out, my mom especially. My dad saw it coming because the people who they hung around with when I was a kid were tattooed. My mother was like [in Mom voice], ‘Oh! I no like this. I don’t like tattoos.’ But she has her eyebrows tattooed, her eyeliner, her lipstick, so she’s familiar with tattooing too. I mean how do you get your eyelid tattooed? She has eyelid tattoos!

Your dad wrote joke books and you’re a stand-up comedian, so being funny is in your DNA. Give us some tips about telling a joke.

Know the joke you’re telling and don’t laugh while you’re saying it. It’s very important not to laugh.

What’s your favorite joke?

One of my favorites is from The Marijuana-Logues with Doug Benson. He says, ‘I just got some Marvin Gaye weed. It’s called Marvin Gaye weed because after you take one hit, you’re like, ‘What’s going on?” And I love how Chris Rock responded when someone asked him, ‘Do you think America is ready for a black president?’ He replied, ‘Well, why not? America was ready for a retarded president.’

Are comedy tours anything like rock ‘n’ roll tours?

They’re nothing like rock tours. Last year, I did a rock tour and shared a bus with the Dresden Dolls. On comedy tours, it’s just me and my tour manager on a plane fl ying between cities. In rock ‘n’ roll, you’re on a bus watching Jackass ’til six in the morning with the crew. Rock tours lend themselves to alcohol, sex, and drugs.

You perform all the time in front of thousands of people. Our readers usually only have to stand up in front of people at work or AA meetings. What are some tips on getting over stage fright?

Put yourself in the audience. Think, ‘If I were sitting down I would totally listen to me. I’d be interested in what I was going to say.’ It takes the sting out of it. It becomes less scary. And if you know what you are going to talk about it’s less scary. A lot of times people aren’t prepared, and that’s when they get nervous. It’s too nerve-racking to pull something out of your ass.

You run in celebrity circles. So many stars are screwed up these days. What is going on?

Fame has changed a lot. It’s invasive. Stars are under constant surveillance. There was a picture of Britney Spears online that showed she had a huge period stain on her underwear. I was so pissed. That’s happened to me so many times. In fact, that’s why I haven’t moved in so long, because I have the most period-stained mattress in the world. It looks like I killed somebody on it. If I took it outside, cops would put up “Do Not Cross” tape.

So how do you deal with fame?

I’m certainly not as famous as Britney, but I have learned some survival techniques. Like when you get fucked up, just take one poison at a time. Don’t mix pills with alcohol. Just take pills or drink. If you’re going to smoke something, just smoke one drug. Don’t cross breeds. And don’t smoke pot and drink at the same time. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.

For more cutting edge tattoo coverage, visit InkedMag.com

By Patty Lamberti, photos by Nabil Elderkin - Inked Magazine

From neck tattoos and tramp stamps to ankle tattoo designs, nobody looks better in ink than our beloved female celebrities. And the fact that they are willing to show off their body art to the gaping public makes it all the more alluring to sneak a peek.

Here are 35 of the hottest female celebrities and their equally hot tats.

Adriana Lima

This Victoria’s Secret Angel makes every runway event sizzle with her stylish ankle tattoo.

Alyssa Milano

It’s not at all surprising to see Phoebe Halliwell of the ‘Charmed’ wearing a rosary tattoo on her back. The tat adds spiritual effect to the already mystic/paranormal nature of her role.

Angelina Jolie

Instead of writing Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Vietnam, Angelina Jolie tattooed on her left shoulder the coordinates of the origins of her adopted children, Maddox, Zahara, and Pax.

Anna Kournikova

This semi-retired professional Tennis star who rose to worldwide fame because of her grand slam wins and knockout beauty is sporting a hot tribal tramp stamp tattoo that practically adds attitude to that already hot body.

Beyonce Knowles

An image of a praying angel is what Beyonce chose to put on her upper left thigh. I guess this pop star is one funny girl, considering that something as wholesome as a praying angel gets to be placed very close to her delicate parts.

Carmen Electra

Aside from the ‘Eleven XXII’ tattoo on the underside of her left her wrist, Carmen also has a sexy ‘R’ tattoo behind her left ear. Well we don’t really care what that ‘R’ means cause getting a peek at Carmen’s sexy neck is enough to complete our day.

Cheryl Tweedy

Everything in this ensemble looks great. Looks like Cheryl Tweedy knows how to carry a tramp stamp in a very stylish way.

Christina Aguilera

I think this Dirrrty singer should let hair down more often because it’s a shame to hide this sexy ‘Xtina’ tat.

Christina Applegate

A pair of ankle tattoos and a pair of stylish heels: perfect combo for instant inked-up sex appeal.

Christina Milian

Those little red stars on Christina Milian’s hip really did their part in making their master shine like she’s born to wear that sexy bikini.

Christina Ricci

An ‘Aslan’ tattoo on Christina Ricci’s back isn’t something the general public would consider attractive. But the contrast of the childlike innocence of the tat and Christina’s new sexy image just really does it for me.

Drew Barrymore

This tattoo is proof that a butterfly tattoo can look good on someone other than Mariah.

Eva Longoria

Eva’s shows a classy side to the tramp stamp. Her cross tattoo is sexy but not trashy.

Gisele Bundchen

It seems that less is more and small is sexy for supermodel Gisele Bundchen. She has a tiny star tattoo on the underside of her left wrist, and a small crescent moon and stars on the inside of her right ankle.

Heidi Klum

If not for her stylish and iconic arm tattoo, I wouldn’t have recognized Heidi Klum in this weird robotic frock.

Helen Mirren

Who would have thought a tattoo can be a source of eternal youth? Helen Mirren takes her style up a notch by this youthful little tattoo on her left hand.

Holly Valance

Dead Or Alive star Holly Valance is definitely hot. And it only takes a little tattoo near her pelvic area to take that hotness to greater heights.

Jenna Jameson

Jenna has a ‘Heart Breaker’ tattoo on her bum, but my heart breaks as it is filled with envy over those skillful artist hands that held Jenna’s bum in place during the tat session.

Jessica Alba

That Sanskrit character for lotus flower on Jessica Alba’s wrist miraculously caught my attention despite the wonderful view of Alba’s pearly whites.

Jessica Biel

A small dove tattoo above her bikini line is all that Jessica Biel needs to look great in a sexy outfit.

Joss Stone

That flower tat behind Joss Stone’s left ear is just plain sexy.

Lindsay Lohan

“La Bella Vita” are the words tattooed at the top of Lindsay Lohan’s right bum. This is perhaps a tribute to her single of the same title, which unfortunately didn’t become as popular as she hoped it to be. La Belle Vita means This Beautiful Life and the tat looks gorgeous on Lindsay.

Nicole Richie

That stylish tramp stamp tattoo looks great on Nicole’s thin frame.

Pamela Anderson

I think this is how the love for barbwire tattoos started. Thanks, Pam.

Paris Hilton

The infamous heiress has a cute butterfly back tattoo. And here I am thinking she had more trashy taste in tattoos. I say this is a classy choice.

Victoria ‘Posh’ Beckham

Posh rocks one star for each of her family members, including herself. That’s what Victoria said about the five posh star tattoos on her back. Sentimental Spice.

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos

Now I finally get it. Supermodels are really into cute tattoos. Rebecca has a tiny tattoo design on her ankle.

Rihanna

Proof of her huge success as an R&B star, Rihanna inked several little stars over her nape.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle has purple dragonflies on her lower back. This tattoo design would definitely look great in a bikini or even in a sexy outfit such as this.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett has a colorful sunset scene tattoo on her left inner forearm. Thanks to her pale complexion, the tat looks quite brilliant.

Sienna Miller

Sienna loves her dove and star tattoos so much that she gave them huge exposure by showing them off on an Elle Magazine cover.

Teri Polo

Teri’s musical note tat on her left boob is like ‘music to our eyes.’

Tila Tequila

If this picture isn’t screaming “Tattoos and Sex”, I don’t know what is.

Vida Guerra

Move over Kim Kardashian. Vida Guerra has the hottest pair of tattoos, hands down. She has a small rose tattoo on her ankle, a little red devil tattoo just below the bikini line.

Yasmine Bleeth

Yasmine sports a flower-like Trinity tattoo near her belly button. We know how good Yasmine looks in a bikini, thanks to her role in Baywatch, and this flower tattoo would surely enhance the viewing pleasure.

From Hip Hop sensation Eve to quirky pop star P!nk, more hot female celebrity tattoos are waiting for you right here: Top Five Hottest Female Tattoos in Hollywood. And, speaking of Hip Hop - we explore the Most Meaningful Tattoos in Hip Hop here.

The following 25 women, in no particular order, are some of the most sought-after tattoo artists in the world, holding it down at some of the most popular tattoo parlors across the globe. And when you see their work, you’ll want to get shaded all over again. From style to sex appeal and straight-up talent, check out the varying appeal of the 25 hottest female tattoo artists.

Jen Beirola: Jen is the owner of Grinn and Barrett Tattoo in Omaha.

Nadine Bryant: Nadine is the owner of Skinks Professional Tattoo Studio in New Zealand. www.skinks.co.nz

Julie Becker: Julie works at MacDougal Tattoo in NYC. www.juliebeckerink.com

Laura Satana: Laura is located in Paris, France, but does international tattoo work. www.laurasatana.com

Kat Von D: Kat owns High Voltage Tattoo in Los Angeles and is the star of LA Ink on TLC. www.highvoltagetattoo.com

Heather Sinn: Heather works at Avalon Tattoo in San Diego.

Michelle Myles: Michelle co-owns world famous Fun City Tattoos in NYC and Dare Devil Tattoo on the Lower East Side. http://funcitytattoo.com

Anna Paige: Anna manages No Ka Oi Tiki Tattoo in Philadelphia and Skin Deep Tattoo in Waikiki. www.bodygraphics.com

Eva Huber: Eva works at Off the Map Tattoo in Massachusetts. www.offthemaptattoo.com

Ryoki: Ryoki is a self-taught artist who owns Al-Haut tattoo studio in Osaka, Japan. www.al-haut.com

Hannah Aitchison: Hannah is mainly based in Chicago at Deluxe Tattoo, but also works for High Voltage Tattoo in LA (and LA Ink). www.hannahaitchison.com

Kim Saigh: Kim co-owns Cherry Bomb Tattoo in Chicago and also works for High Voltage Tattoo in LA (and LA Ink). www.kimsaigh.com

Miss Heidi: Heidi owns Miss Heidi’s Tattoo and Body Piercing in Orlando. http://missheidistattoo.com

Nikki Pettis: Nikki also works for Grinn and Barrett Tattoo.

Andrea Ottlewski: Born in Germany, Andrea works at Slave to the Needle in Seattle. www.slavetotheneedle.com

Liz Gruesome: Liz works for Smokin’ Guns Tattoo in North Carolina. www.sgtattoo.com

Stephanie Tamez: Stephanie owns New York Adorned tattoo parlor in Manhattan and New York Adorned 2 in Brooklyn. www.stephanietamez.com

Morag Sangster: Morag is the sole female artist at Tribe Tattoo studios in Glasgow, UK. www.tribetattoo.co.uk

Christy Brooker: Christy works at ArtCore Studios in Seattle. www.christybrooker.com

Megan Hoogland: Megan works for Cactus Tattoo in Minnesota. http://meganhoogland.com

Stacy Sharp: Stacy works at Ink Alternative in New York. www.sharptattoos.com

Briana Sargent: Briana works at Flat’s Tattooing in Connecticut. www.brianatattoos.com

Margaret Moose: Marg works for Ace Custom Tattoo in North Carolina. www.moosetattoo.net

Saira Hunjan: Saira works at The Family Business Tattoo in London, and is the personal tattoo artist for Kate Moss. www.thefamilybusinesstattoo.com

Caroline Evans: Caroline is a guest artist for Anna Paige and No Ka Oi Tiki Tattoo. www.tattoosbycaroline.com

For more modern females in the tattoo industry, check out the Top Ten Hottest Female Tattoos in Hollywood here.

From her expanding personal ink style to her graphic canvas paintings, coveted slip-on shoe fashions, extreme sports gear designs, and new steel artistry, Taylor overlaps the tattoo industry with fashion, art, and lifestyle - all while keeping her cool, looking good, and never, under any circumstances, stopping the parTAY.

I say, she could take Kat Von D in a fist fight – after a few TAYquila shots – but no liquor is needed for this feisty SoCal artist to out-smart Hollywood starlets in the talent arena. Get to know artist, fashion designer, tattoo collector and tattoo artist: Taylor Reeve, and make sure to listen to all this Taylor Says.

Q: What are the current trends that now tie together the tattoo and art industries?

A: Tattoos are just another form of art, so of course they’re tied together. The difference I see lately is that tattoo images on clothing are now being worn by soccer moms and your average Joes … with diamonds and shit. Usually it’s those moms that give me dirty looks too, and hold their daughters close, probably saying: “Please don’t ever do that to your body.”

Q: How are tattoos represented in your artwork?

A: I like to paint girls or figures with tattoos - it’s just an extra thing for someone to look at. Usually people don’t notice them right away, either. So when they do it’s just an extra treat for someone to enjoy.

Q: How is your artwork represented in body ink?

A: I like to work with lines, so a lot of my tattoos are just line-work. I’m saving the rest of my back to incorporate a lot of my paintings into one piece that should be pretty sick. I love all of my tattoos but my favorites are the portraits of my family members I have been getting on my left arm.

People usually assume they’re my kids or they’ve passed on or something. My responses to those questions are: Hell no how old do you think I am? And, no they’re still alive … I’m just a family gal I guess. People trip on the portraits because they’re really well done and realistic looking … thanks to Mike Suarez.

Q: What other body art do you have planned?

A: I plan on finishing off my left arm and adding more to my ribcage and back. I came to the conclusion that I’m going to be heavily tatted … sorry Mom and Dad. Piercings are finished for the moment.

Q: Do you feel your tattoos have enhanced your reputation in the art and fashion communities?

A: I think my tattoos have given me an extra edge. It’s funny when people first hear about me because they assume I’m a dude (having the name Taylor apparently makes you male). Then when a tatted up blondie shows up, I think it’s a nice surprise for everyone.

Q: What opportunities have come your way via recognition of/responses to your tattoos?

A: I’ve had some pretty amazing opportunities come my way so far. I’ve hooked up with several companies that are into the tats. One in particular being Tattoed Steel. They have been using my images to laser onto their steel products, such as cuffs, dog tags, rings, etc.

I’ve gotten to work with some big names in the industry as well. I’m totally name dropping, but it’s the likings of Jesse Rooke, Brad Pitt, Ryan Sheckler, Carey Hart, Sunny Garcia, Ellen Degeneres, Troy Lee, and some more. Ok I’ll stop. Keep an eye out literally in 2009 - I have a collection coming out with Dragon Optical!

Q: Have you been denied any industry opportunities due to your tattoos?

A: Hell no. And if I was to be denied because of them, it’s their loss.

Q: As a tattoo collector, do you see yourself being more receptive to other industry figures also with tattoos, as contrasted with people without tattoos?

A: I definitely notice and appreciate ink - especially good ink. It doesn’t steer me clear from people who don’t have them. It seems everybody these days has something - it’s more of a surprise when they don’t. People who do judge should go someplace else, because this ain’t the industry for that bullshit.

Q: How do you feel about extreme piercings?

A: I don’t know how I feel about piercings to tell you the truth. Sometimes when people get a lot of piercings on their face it’s kind of distracting. I’m talking like heavy piercings, like 12 eyebrow rings or something. Me painting people a lot, I notice features and what not, and there’s some real beauty in them, so when there’s a bunch of metal hanging everywhere, it’s kind of hard to see around them. I also don’t really understand the whole ribbon/piercing deal that I’ve been seeing lately. It’s weird to me to be honest. But if that’s something someone wants to do then go right ahead, it’s just not for me.

I have my nose, Marilyn Monroe, belly button, and ears pierced. I don’t plan on getting anymore, I feel like what I have is enough for my likings.

Q: Rumor has it you’re learning to be a tattoo artist?

A: Tis true. I finally got sick of designing a tattoo for someone, to just have some tattoo artist butcher the design and make it their own. That’s when I realized: shit, instead of drawing things up for people, I should just do it all myself. I never realized what an art in itself tattooing really is. There’s so much to know it’s crazy and somewhat overwhelming.

Q: Can you give us a taste of your entertainment and fashion/art industry involvement?

A: I’m blessed to be working with some amazing people and companies such as Dragon, Redbull, Tatttoed Steel, Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas, Wahoos, and Jesse Rooke.

Dragon will debut in 2009- I can’t wait it’s going to be awesome. Tattooed Steel is also amazing. Seeing my designs on products like theirs is a trip for me, I love it. Getting to rock my own gear is something else too. Jesse Rooke has opened up a whole other world for me by letting me paint on his custom motorcycles. I’ve always appreciated motorcycles and never thought I would be able to do something like that.

Last year at the X Games I painted on motocross boots belonging to Jeremy McGrath (pictured), Twitch, and Taka. They rocked them while competing and were all over ESPN. Sheckler loves the paint added to his Redbull hats as well. I’m also currently working on my own clothing line which will include tees, hoodies, and hats - should be pretty sic!

Q: So, what’s next?

A: My next step is building up TaylorSays as a brand and clothing line. Tattoos will also be a fun extra spice in my life.

Check out Taylor Reeve’s amazing art, apparel and jewelry designs, extreme sport stylings, and much more at TaylorSays.com and MySpace.com/canvasbytaylor.

Professional photos by Rich Van Every and Collin Erie

By embellishing the beauty of her skin, a woman with a tattoo has a unique forum not only for inciting discussion about her femininity but also to express her beliefs and specific memories that helped form the inked designs. In terms of tattooing, it seems many women are challenging gender prejudices one image at a time.

But it isn’t having a tattoo in the first place that makes females face so many stereotypes, it’s the message and idea expressed in the tattoo design.

“The nature of a woman’s tattoo reflects how much she is or isn’t rebelling against a stereotype of women,” says Brooke Wille, who has two tattoos - one on her neck, and another on her arm.

“For example, getting a pair of twin hearts tattooed to your lower back isn’t exactly rebelling against the stereotype of women. But rather, it enhances it, projecting the sexual image they think men want to have of them,” explains Brooke. In this way, typical tattoos can often perpetuate the ideals bout femininity that so many women are taking a strong stand against.

By enhancing and detailing their own individuality, tattooed women baffle certain taboos placed on them by society, and deviant and striking tattoos symbolize a premeditated beauty that has very little to do with their physical appearance.

With tattoos on her feet and forearms, Ashley Dunton is a prime example of a decorated feminine figure. When deciding to get her tattoos, Ashley took many observations into consideration. Her first issue being the way that people would perceive her. “At first, I worried that by covering up my skin, I’d be covering up my womanly beauty,” says Ashley. “Now it’s easy for me to see that tattoos are a very beautiful and artistic thing.”

Ashley’s first tattoos are two reflecting images of sailing ships on each of her feet, one ragged and torn, the other restored. “They’re symbolic of my religious upbringing and a personal reminder to myself,” says Ashley.“I can choose to have peace no matter what my situation is – no matter what sort of waters I’m sailing on.”

Her other tattoos are similarly symbolic, her left arm is painted with tree branches and a heart and her parents’ names inscribed. It’s her visual representation of her roots and identification.

Also, on the inside of her right arm is a vibrantly colored rainbow trout in memory of her late grandfather, a split bamboo rod maker and an enthusiastic fisherman. “Tattoos can be something you want to constantly be reminded of,” says Ashley. “These are the things I never want to leave me.”

Beauty is and was never skin-deep. Vulnerability and strong expression go hand in hand when it comes to tattoos. “It’s is a symbol of your self on the outside, visible to others,” says Ashley. “Put in the right place and significant to you, a tattoo can only add to your beauty.”

“That’s gonna look hot,” my girlfriend smiled as she sat with me in a San Diego tattoo parlor.

Devon, my tattoo artist, lifted the spirit paper that transferred a black tribal tattoo outlining my belly button. “Just lay back.”

I felt some mild stinging as the vibrating needle shaded ink around my inner navel, but it was over pretty quickly, and when I walked out of there, it looked hot.

Today, girls with tattoos are as common as fading starlets spitting out babies, but this was 1995 - right before the tattoo craze hit suburbia and college kids began running out in droves to be a part of the ink-fest. This is when all-American girls regarded tattoos as exciting, but a little tasteless - and have since gone on to sport lower back tramp-stamps of butterflies and barb-wired hearts.

Back then, my ink display was definitely an object of intrigue. Walking in to a club with a prominent tummy-tat garnered more attention than fake breasts at NASCAR. I often got free admission, free drinks, hit on by both men and women, and partied in style. It was sweet.

Fast-forward three years

I was graduating from college and entering a world of interviews, skirts that fastened, and mom-heels - trying to figure out what the hell I was gonna do with my life. I stopped going to clubs because I learned it’s cheaper to stay home with friends and whiskey when I’m solely responsible for rent. And although I had great memories of being a skin-art flashing girl, I realized something: That was no longer my life and I no longer wanted my tattoo. It was difficult to hide under white blouses and if I ever became pregnant, my navel would resemble a black, crawling starfish. So I decided to off my tattoo through laser removal.

Now I had been told by those who came before me that getting tattoo laser treatments feels similar to a rubber band snapping on your skin. I’m OK with that, I thought. How bad could it be?

As I’m swinging my feet off the clinic table, the doctor pulled up his chair. “Just lay back.”

A metal apparatus cascaded down from the ceiling, attaching to a wand placed on my tattoo. A series of clicks rang out and I shut my eyes.

Sweet bride of Hell.

A guttural cry spewed forth from the pit of my stomach that can still be heard in the clinic halls today. And this masochism continued for many months to come and thousands, yes thousands, of dollars later.

Although I do have other body art, I am now tribal-star free and oddly, I don’t regret getting it. However I find it necessary, much as an ex-pedophile talking to an unsuspecting Catholic chap, to shed some words of warning. Tattoos fucking rule, but - it is common that some will lose their place in your life. So, if they do not hold undying significance from the beginning, take a moment and reflect on your tattoo decision. Your virgin skin, and your future finances, may thank you.

Check out more tattoo photos, and vote whether or not these RMT users have, too, outgrown their designs and should opt for removal.

A new age is upon us and it’s a permanent one. While cultures around the world have endorsed the use of the female body as a canvas for centuries, only in the last decade has Hollywood begun to see a very literal unveiling of both new and old ink.

Celebrity female tattoos continue to make their premier on the ankles and inner-arms of the red carpet today. But, if mainstream media culture is ready to see skin, why are so few of these tattoos actually good?

Historically an accessory for rockers and musicians, tattoos have come a long way from burly barbed-wire armbands and butterfly tramp stamps, to mile markers of life events and literal works of art. The Dixie Chicks chart gold and platinum albums with chicken footprints on their feet while Angelina Jolie commemorates the birth of her children by tattooing the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of their birthplaces on her shoulder.

Despite an increase in tolerance for permanent body art and modification, however, it would seem that pop culture isn’t quite ready for full sleeves and back pieces to be gracing the pages of People and Us Weekly. Instead, appearing frequently on actresses and socialites, are the tiny “vacation trinket” style female tattoo designs of hearts, stars, and things with wings (butterflies, dragonflies, faeries, ladybugs) in predictable locations: the ankle, the foot, the small of the back, and the inner wrist or forearm.

Such tiny allotments of space don’t allow for much artistic license, and, while they may be easy to cover up for film shoots, the final product suffers. The media, however, doesn’t seem to mind that beautiful women have poorly placed or unseemly, albeit tiny, tattoos. In fact, fluent socialites and fashion critics seem to refer to female tattoos with a reverence akin to accomplishment or self-sufficiency. The female celebrity with a tastefully discreet or meaningful tattoo is admired for asserting her individuality and therefore personalizing and owning her own body in the midst of constant social scrutiny and media consumption.

In exposing their ink, female celebrities seem to make themselves more human, advertising themselves as more than just the movies or music they make. Still, with all the commercial tattoos taking up body space on screen, are there any truly hot tattoos? Definitely. Check out the top five hottest female tattoos in Hollywood.

One might start with the Queen of Ink herself, Kat von D, originally of Miami Ink and more recently of High Voltage Tattoo on LA Ink. Self-designed and placed, Kat’s unusual eighteen-star cluster of stars around her left eye are a permanent part of the makeup masterpiece she applies daily, and only a fraction of the very personal and professionally designed ink that covers most of her body.

Philadephia’s home-bred rapper, Eve, sports symmetrical paw prints on the tops of her cleavage, a flirtatious warning for anyone who might try to cause her trouble. Like Eve, the tattoos can be softened up or become truly intimidating depending on what she’s wearing and how she holds her body. A really great tattoo seems to meld with an individual’s personality and remain flexible to them as a person.

Alicia “P!nk” Moore is a rabid fan of the tattoo gun, memorializing benchmark moments in her life, including ink for her first single and the passing of her favorite pooch. Sexiest of all, however is the solid black serpentine dragon on her upper left thigh. Very in tune with her body and how it draws strength from her mind, P!nk’s solid block of ink is assertive and sensual all at once.

Similarly, Christina Ricci’s sexy sparrow tattoo dives across the majority of her right breast, peaking out at the neckline of only the deepest plunges. In full color and rockabilly style, the ink is not only a classically foxy surprise, but a sweet contrast to her other linework.

Ani diFranco, on the other hand, sports a delicate tribal sprawl across her breastplate. The tattoo is both elegant and fierce, accentuating diFranco’s feminine bone structure but emphasizing her toned muscles and sculpted figure.

Some tattoos are inked with intense personal meaning behind them, others not at all. What each of these truly hot female tattoos have in common, however, is a disregard for discreet, and a true connection between the tattoo and the individual, so as to create a seamless projection that reflects its owner at all times. Each tattoo is personal in ways that assert the celebrity’s strength and scrappiness while simultaneously exuding mesmerizing femininity.

Celebrities aren’t the only females that rock tattoos. Read up on: Femininity in the Tattoo Industry, and check out the best female tattoo design photos.

You’ve seen Kat Von D as the celebrity, now check out Kat Von D as the celebrity tattoo artist.

What began as a veritable playground for a handful of girls and women who would otherwise be shunned by the more conventional-minded, has essentially blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon. Live shows and DVDs represent merely a fraction of the offshoots the site has given birth to, not to mention popularizing the modern tattoo trend as we know it.

Log on to the site these days, and the shock and awe of yesteryear is no longer prominent. Piercings, jet black hair, Betty Page bangs and, of course, the site’s trademark tattoos no longer elicit the same mystique and intrigue as when the world was first introduced to SG. Why? The answer is simple. Society has normalized and wholeheartedly embraced the look that once alienated a SG from the “normal” female.

One need look no further than, well, anywhere for that matter to find what many would deem that signature SG look.

Take a gander on the site itself, or browse the SG MySpace page and the realization becomes abundantly clear. There are even girls on the site these days that haven’t a lick of body ink anywhere to be found.

That’s not to say the girls aren’t still attractive or unique in a number of ways… rather the opposite. The women on the site remain as beautiful as ever… maybe even more so today than in years past. What once made them aesthetically exceptional, however, no longer distinguishes them from the crowd. Thus, it begs the question, “Where do they go from here?”

It’s hard to say when every 18-year-old and their mother are getting chest pieces and septum piercings, but perhaps the more “normal” women, which are rapidly becoming a staple of the site, are a sign of things to come. Maybe normalcy (whatever that term denotes), in the physical sense, is going to inadvertently become the new taboo.

It makes sense from a fundamentalist perspective, as life has long been considered to be cyclical. As the adage goes, “Trends come and go;” but even the expression itself blatantly hints at the notion of pop culture making a resurgence at some point in time. Maybe now is the time for normalcy to become the new abnormal. Wrap your head around that for a few… I’m off to go get more ink.

Do you think these RankMyTattoos.com users deserve to be Suicide Girls? Check out more hot female tattoos here and vote for the hottest SG look-a-like girls now.

Check out more extreme piercing photos here and sexy tattoo photos here.

Everyone has them. Hell, even my own mother’s gotten inked twice in the past two years, and she doesn’t even own a cell phone. Point being, tattoos have rapidly ascended the social ladder from taboo to typical, and nary a scantily clad male or female crosses one’s path these days without some form of body art adorning their frame.

Of course, whether said décor is appealing to the opposite, or even the same sex in some cases, is entirely a subjective matter. The “hot-or-not” factor has morphed from an attraction once relegated to the rebellious outlaw to the common man, or woman as it were.

Thus, the attraction to and appeal of tattoos have shifted from a desire to date and/or fornicate with the bad boy/bad girl to an urge to find either A) a partner whose proverbial tattoo cherry has yet to be popped, or B) one whose ink is so unique it invariably begets compliments or an endless parade of questions pertaining to the meaning or motivation behind the ink itself.

So perhaps the attraction of tattoos in this day and age isn’t so much in their existence, but rather in the stories they tell. I mean really, let’s call a spade a spade here. Meeting a potential partner/bed buddy becomes that much more poignant if they can not only formulate coherent sentences on their own accord, but also if such sentences can be strewn together to create a sense of intrigue about what would hopefully be a significant piece of body art.

And I use the term “significant” very loosely in this particular context. What may seem meaningless to a passive observer may indeed hold profound connotations to whomever the tattoo happens to be adorning. But that’s where the leniency comes to a screeching halt…

I’ve seen more “bad” tattoos in the past six months than I’ve seen in the last six years. And I’ve really been unable to arrive at any other conclusion as to why, other than people, in general, are unoriginal sheep. And as much as I’d like to reject that observation, I am continually reassured of it on an almost-weekly basis.

Sure you love your hometown - everyone does. But must you inform the world of your adoration as you traipse about the beach shirtless, visibly proclaiming your “So-Cal” love or “SD” pride? I mean really, come on.

You don’t see others with “Poughkeepsie,” or “Tallahassee” across their backs in old English.

So, in an effort to keep tattoos from becoming entirely cliché, I say be original. Use that orb situated three feet above your ass for something other than a (flat-billed) hat rack or pretty conversation piece. Instead, make your ink work for you, rather than against, and you may just find yourself engaged in a conversation with an engaging individual. Because, like distinctive tattoos, such things are becoming harder and harder to find.