106-year-old tattooed indigenous woman makes Vogue cover 'She shows off her tattoos with pride'

A century-old tattoo artist in the spotlight

Apo Whang-Od, whose real name is Maria Oggay, is a 106-year-old traditional Filipino tattoo artist. She has just made the cover of Vogue Philippines magazine, becoming the oldest woman to appear on the cover of this prestigious fashion magazine.

90 years of experience in traditional tattooing

Maria began tattooing at the age of 16, learning the trade from her father. With 90 years of experience, she has become a true reference in the art of traditional Kalinga tattooing.

A meticulous ancestral technique

The tattoo technique used by Apo Whang-Od is ancestral and requires great attention to detail. She uses a bamboo stick, a pomelo tree thorn, water and charcoal to create her works. Each drawing can take several days of work.

Sacred symbols for a varied clientele

The tattoos made by Maria represent sacred symbols inherited from her ancestors. Among its clients, we find indigenous warriors, women wishing to promote their fertility and beauty, as well as tourists who come to discover this traditional art.The rest of the article on the next page