It Wasn’t Love at First Sight
Growing up, she was never particularly drawn to body art. But her perception of tattoos changed after she came across a music video featuring the late Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park.
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Over time, Peterson’s collection of tattoos and body modifications has expanded, adding to her unique appearance. These modifications include a procedure called a tongue split, where the tongue is permanently divided to create a “forked” look, as well as an ear stretch.
Her Tattooed Eyeballs
In July 2020, she decided to get her right eyeball tattooed in a purple color. Later, in December, she chose to tattoo her left eyeball in a blue color. When asked about her motivation, she explained: “I saw tattoo model Amber Luke with eyeball tattoos and loved them,” Peterson said. “She is so beautiful.”
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The procedure of tattooing the eyeball, also called “scleral tattooing,” was created by Luna Cobra, a body-modification professional, and Shannon Larratt, the late founder of the body-modification magazine BME, in 2011.
A Scleral Tattoo
Eyeball tattoos are different from regular tattoos because they involve injecting a small amount of ink under the transparent membrane that covers the eye, called the conjunctiva. Instead of using a tattoo gun, a thin needle is used for this procedure.
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However, since the area being tattooed is very small, it’s possible for the needle to accidentally go into the eye, leading to infection or blindness. Unfortunately, eyeball tattoos are permanent, meaning they cannot be reversed or removed.
The Consequence of Her Actions
Because of the numerous risks and complications associated with this procedure, some states have banned it. Since getting her eyeballs tattooed, Peterson has experienced a decline in her vision.
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She uses steroid drops daily to battle the inflammation. Plus, she’s at risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve. Despite the significant online backlash, Peterson doesn’t regret her actions.
“I honestly can’t understand why people think they can have opinions on what others should do with their body,” she said. “It has zero effect on them.” Ultimately, she remains happy.