A New Yorker entered the Guinness Book of Records: he filled almost 900 tattoos with insects
'20.02.2022'
The New Yorker, who holds the world record for most bug tattoos, has surprised fans by saying he's actually afraid of bugs and that tattoos are a way to combat the phobia. New York Post.
“My tattoos take me back to my childhood. I had a lot of fears, and insects and bugs were among them,” said 47-year-old Michael Amoya. The Queens native was listed in the Guinness Book of Records in October for decorating his body with 864 insects. This is more than twice as much as the previous record holder, Briton Baxter Milsom. He only had 402 insect tattoos.
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It all started with an ant
Amoya's trips to the tattoo parlor began when he was 21 years old. Then an ant was tattooed on his forearm.
“The first tattoo I got was a red queen ant,” he said.
Amoya later covered his body with many images of arthropods. He adorned himself with a 43cm beetle sprawled across his chest and a 130cm insect crossing his back.
@guinnessworldrecords Most insect tattoos?? 864 by Mike Amoia ?? #tattoo #tattoos #insects ♬ original sound – Guinness World Records
Despite the tattoos, Amoya, paradoxically, is not a fan of insects.
"A lot of people think that I love bugs - in fact, it's exactly the opposite," he explained, adding that his tattoos are a way to cope with his fears.
“I decided to go through my fear, and it’s better than running away,” the man said.
Tattoos as an investment
Ultimately, Amoya hopes to use his record breaking body art to create a unique token. Proceeds from the NFT will go to charity.
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“If I can create an NFT from these tattoos and get it registered in the Guinness Book of World Records, then we can donate some of the proceeds to children,” he said. “My tattoos have a personal meaning to me as they take me back to my childhood and I believe that this is a good story for the NFT.”
