Maria José Cristerna, known as the “real-life vampire” for her extreme body modifications, holds the 2022 Guinness World Record for most bodily alterations, with 50 changes. Her transformation began at age 14 with her first tattoo. Today, she has implants, a split tongue, multiple piercings, and tattoos covering almost her entire body, including her eyeballs.

Cristerna’s modifications symbolize her resilience and escape from an abusive ten-year marriage. “The only way to escape from violence and abuse is by loving yourself,” she said. Her changes reflect her commitment to self-expression and advocacy for abused women.

While Cristerna embraces her appearance, she advises young people to think carefully about drastic body changes. “It’s irreversible… You have to love it and be able to defend it your whole life,” she cautioned.

Despite her warning, Cristerna continues to add to her tattoo collection, recently sharing her latest ink on Instagram with the message, “One more stripe for my brother’s tiger.