"I have a massive back tattoo - people think I'm cute from the front and can't believe it when I turn around."
- 9 months ago
A young woman has proudly spoken of her amazing tattoo which covers her entire back and bum - but is completely invisible from the front.
Alexandra Cornish, 24, opted to get a unique back tattoo - which spans her entire back, bum and the back of her thighs.
A tattoo artist herself, Alexandra, from Hillarys, Perth, Australia, took inspiration from Japanese 'bodysuit' tattoos.
She got the £3,000 ink done over NINE sessions in a year, taking more than 50 hours to complete in total.
The tattoo centres around Princess Wakana and also features flowers, skulls and spiders on a spider web background.
She loves seeing people's reactions when they see her from the front, with no visible ink - then she turns around.
Alexandra, who is currently living with her partner in Singapore, said: "I never looked at myself originally with a big back piece.
"But traditionally with Japanese back pieces, they're supposed to tell the story of the rest of your body and all images link to the back and I liked that.
"When people say the back is quite painful, I didn’t find it too bad. My waist and tailbone hurt though.
"Tattoos like this are designed to be hidden under clothes - and it's good I can have it hidden.
"I love having it on display though. I love the contrast of not looking tattooed from the front, but having a heavy back piece.
"I do notice people staring when I'm out - but I take no offence.
"I put 50 hours into it - I don't care who looks!"
Alexandra had two tattoos but nothing on her back when she first reached out to tattoo artist Dan Molloy, based in Perth, Western Australia in January 2021.
She already knew him from a previous tattoo he did for her and she feels he is "one of the best artists" in Australia.
Initially unsure what she wanted, they came up with an idea around Princess Wakana, the beautiful daughter of Lord Otomo no Sorin, a Japanese feudal lord of the 1500s.
She studied magic and had a special connection with spiders which taught her magic spells, according to Japanese art from the 1800s.
Alexandra said: "I told Dan I wanted a woman that wasn’t too feminine, but nothing too intense, and he suggested Wakana.
"Originally I didn't like spiders and I wasn't inclined, but I have always liked magic and fantasy, so I went with it."
She explained these back pieces normally only cover the back when done on men because they have broader shoulders.
But due to her feminine proportions, it made more sense for the design to stretch lower, and cover her entire bum and the tops of her thighs.
Alexandra's first session took place in September 2021.
She had to fly to and from Dan's studio Kurikara Fudo Tattoo in Perth from where she was living in Surry Hills, Sydney at the time.
The entire tattoo took nine sessions - with some as long as eight hours in one go - and the entire piece took 50 hours to complete.
She said: "When people say the back is quite painful, I didn’t find it too bad.
"Certain parts were better than others. The shoul
Alexandra Cornish, 24, opted to get a unique back tattoo - which spans her entire back, bum and the back of her thighs.
A tattoo artist herself, Alexandra, from Hillarys, Perth, Australia, took inspiration from Japanese 'bodysuit' tattoos.
She got the £3,000 ink done over NINE sessions in a year, taking more than 50 hours to complete in total.
The tattoo centres around Princess Wakana and also features flowers, skulls and spiders on a spider web background.
She loves seeing people's reactions when they see her from the front, with no visible ink - then she turns around.
Alexandra, who is currently living with her partner in Singapore, said: "I never looked at myself originally with a big back piece.
"But traditionally with Japanese back pieces, they're supposed to tell the story of the rest of your body and all images link to the back and I liked that.
"When people say the back is quite painful, I didn’t find it too bad. My waist and tailbone hurt though.
"Tattoos like this are designed to be hidden under clothes - and it's good I can have it hidden.
"I love having it on display though. I love the contrast of not looking tattooed from the front, but having a heavy back piece.
"I do notice people staring when I'm out - but I take no offence.
"I put 50 hours into it - I don't care who looks!"
Alexandra had two tattoos but nothing on her back when she first reached out to tattoo artist Dan Molloy, based in Perth, Western Australia in January 2021.
She already knew him from a previous tattoo he did for her and she feels he is "one of the best artists" in Australia.
Initially unsure what she wanted, they came up with an idea around Princess Wakana, the beautiful daughter of Lord Otomo no Sorin, a Japanese feudal lord of the 1500s.
She studied magic and had a special connection with spiders which taught her magic spells, according to Japanese art from the 1800s.
Alexandra said: "I told Dan I wanted a woman that wasn’t too feminine, but nothing too intense, and he suggested Wakana.
"Originally I didn't like spiders and I wasn't inclined, but I have always liked magic and fantasy, so I went with it."
She explained these back pieces normally only cover the back when done on men because they have broader shoulders.
But due to her feminine proportions, it made more sense for the design to stretch lower, and cover her entire bum and the tops of her thighs.
Alexandra's first session took place in September 2021.
She had to fly to and from Dan's studio Kurikara Fudo Tattoo in Perth from where she was living in Surry Hills, Sydney at the time.
The entire tattoo took nine sessions - with some as long as eight hours in one go - and the entire piece took 50 hours to complete.
She said: "When people say the back is quite painful, I didn’t find it too bad.
"Certain parts were better than others. The shoul