Brittany Allsop of Kearsley and Zoe Bagnall of Abernethy were the top two competitors at the Newcastle level on July 25 and will now go through to the national competition at the Melbourne Tattoo Expo in December.

Neither had contested any sort of tattoo competitions before, with each having different motivations for entering.

Brittany had always thought about it and looked at the event every year, but this year she took the plunge and did it, whereas Zoe said it was a dare, but both ladies were very glad they entered.

It wasn’t until the two women got chatting towards the end that they realised they both attended Cessnock High, and were even in the same roll call class at one stage.

They both said it was great to see two local girls do so well and represent Cessnock at the competition.

“I think it’s awesome,” Zoe said.

“I felt quite proud being in that room.

“We would have been the underdogs.”

The competition involved three rounds – swimwear, casual and evening wear – and the national competition will also incorporate a talent round.

Zoe’s body of work includes over 50 tattoos in nine years, and Brittany said she has “too many too count”.

What started out for Brittany as a way to annoy her mum, tattoos have turned into an addiction which she never dreamed of when she was younger.

Brittany said her mum now loves her tattoos, and has even contemplated getting one herself.

Zoe said her dad’s tattoos spurred her to get some of her own, and sees it as a form of expression.

“It’s the artwork for me,” she said.

“It’s just another way to express yourself and you get to keep it.

“No-one can steal it from me or take it.”

The various tattoos have been a long-thought-out process for Brittany and Zoe, travelling interstate for the right artist to match the right tattoo and both girls have incorporated family and friends into their ink.

“I knew that as I got older I would change and I’d want space for more,” Zoe said.

“Everyone’s different; everyone has different experiences for why they get them.”

Both girls said they sometimes feel judged by other people for their tattoos, but have learnt how to deal with it and just smile at those who stare.

“I think now and as I get older too [I’ve developed] thick skin,” Zoe said.

“There’s always someone staring at you.

“I’m just like everyone else.”

“They judge you before they meet you,” Brittany added.

But they feel that tattoos are becoming more socially acceptable, and the tattoo community itself has been very welcoming.

“They [the ladies in the competition] were beautiful women,” Brittany said.

“They’re really lovely people, all very supportive of each other.”

“It’s a good community,” Zoe said.

“Everyone’s kind of on the same page.”

Brittany and Zoe are both looking forward to representing Cessnock at the national competition as well as attending the Melbourne Tattoo Expo.

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