Tattoos, criminology and fashion: these are the three souls of tattoo model Lucrezia, Italian by birth and with an eye on Los Angeles, her heartland, where she hopes to work as a stylist once she graduates.
Hi Lucrezia welcome to Tattoo Life, would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi Tattoo Life, it’s a pleasure for me to share something of myself with your readers. My name is Lucrezia but I am also known as Cheyenne, a nickname my father gave me that is very dear to me. I am ‘forever 21’ we could say! And I currently live in Rome, but when I turned 18 I moved to England where I spent an important time working, growing personally and improving my English.
What role do tattoos play in this portrait?
I’ve really had a passion for art for as long as I can remember, probably thanks to my grandfather who was a painter. During my teens I was fascinated by tattooed rock singers and by the images of tattooed women I saw in magazines because I viewed them as authentic and out of conformity.
It was during my time in England that my interest in tattoos began, observing the different styles and the way people expressed themselves through their skin.
At 16 I started working for a fashion agency but the strict standards required were too restrictive for me, especially as a young girl. So I left that path and years later, when I wanted to go back, I was already heavely tattooed and I found even more obstacles in my way.
I read that you are about to finish your criminology degree, what a vocation! How come?
My interest in criminology comes from my passion for mystery and the complexity of the human mind. I have always loved crime films and thrillers and this course of study represents a stimulating challenge for me and a new perspective on interpreting the reality that surrounds us.
You are also a travel lover, right?
I am a passionate traveller, I love to immerse myself in different cultures which often inspire me new tattoo ideas. In recent years I have travelled a lot in the United States and Los Angeles has become my favourite city. I feel that there is a more open and less judgmental environment than elsewhere. I can express myself freely and feel accepted.
Talking about tattoos, are they purely aesthetic or do they have specific meanings that you have selected specifically?
Each of my tattoos is connected to a memory or a particular time in my life; they are indelible marks on the ‘canvas’ of my body. My tattoos range across different styles and artists, each of whom has left their own unique mark on my skin. For example, I have realistic pieces by Michele Agostini, Old School tattoos by Rich Hadley and traditional works by Tasso Tattooer, Viola Ceina, Daniele Tonelli and Simone Ruco.
One of my favourites is the large grizzly on my back, flanked by two anatomical hearts that represent the faces of two important people in my life. I also have handmade works like the ones by Elena Borio. I like to mix different styles, choosing artists for how they can give shape to my emotions and memories.
I believe that this variety fully reflects the complexity of my experiences and my identity.
Do you have any plans for the near future, or perhaps dreams you’d like to see come true?
After graduating in criminology I would like to return to the United States and continue exploring both the criminology and fashion worlds, my other great passion. I started working as a fashion designer and my goal is to be able to develop both careers, finding a balance where criminology and fashion can coexist and perhaps inspire each other. I would like to pursue these two dimensions of my life, discovering how each can enrich the other.
