Remembering Cindy Ray

On July 13, 2025, the tattoo world said goodbye to one of its most remarkable figures — Cindy Ray, born Bev Nichols. Her journey began in 1961, when at just 19 years old she answered a small newspaper ad seeking a model willing to have her eyebrows shaved. She had no idea that single choice would lead her into history as Australia’s first tattooed woman. Within a year, she had embraced the name “Cindy Ray” and found herself traveling and performing as The Tattooed Lady, challenging how society viewed women’s bodies and self-expression.

At a time when tattooing was almost entirely male-dominated, Cindy stood out not just for her appearance, but for her courage. Her image spread around the world, transforming what it meant to be tattooed as a woman — not a sideshow, but a statement of independence and identity. She went on to tattoo professionally for more than 50 years, proving she wasn’t just a muse for the art, but a maker of it as well.

Cindy once reflected on the challenges she faced throughout her journey — her name and image had been used across the tattoo industry without fair recognition or compensation. Decades later, she finally reclaimed her narrative, collaborating on her own terms through Lucky’s exclusive “Cindy Ray” liner. More than anything, her story embodies resilience, creativity, and the quiet defiance of living life her own way.

From everyone at Lucky’s Tattoo Museum, we celebrate the legacy of a woman who helped open doors for generations of female tattooers and proved that tattooing, like art itself, belongs to anyone bold enough to live it.

🖤 A selection of Cindy Ray–related artifacts and images can be viewed in person at Lucky’s Tattoo Museum in Largo, Florida, where her story continues to inspire future generations of artists.
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