“I have had my eyeballs tattooed, ears cropped, ear holes punched, ears stretched, my lips scalped, belly button removed…”

At 22, Ethan Bramble (aka “Modboy”) has so many tattoos and body modifications he literally can’t count them. Holding the unofficial title of “world’s most modified youth,” we sat down with Bramble to talk about his eyeball tattoos, wanting to get inked with Ellen DeGeneres, and why getting his belly button removed is his own damn choice. #Noragrets. 

Which of your tattoos makes people go WTF?!

My face tattoos that resemble scratches are normally the topic of conversation, but underneath my clothing I have blacked out arms, abstract patterns, and even penis and vagina tattoos.

How many tattoos do you have?

I’ve been tattooed over a hundred times in different sittings but I’ve had whole sleeves tattooed over with black and they all just make one big tattoo now.

 

Do tattoos feel pleasurable now? Like drinking or f******?

Hell no, it’s been a long time since I was excited to get a tattoo. I wake up and it’s more of a chore than an excited feeling.

What made you get your first tattoo?

I was 14 and like most minors it was done in the my friends bedroom with a eBay machine, I’m not too sure what it was because I don’t really remember and it has definitely been covered up.

Most painful?

The ribs. I’ve had a lot of hours just on my ribs and I really dread having to do even another hour on them.

Favorite artists to get inked from? 

I have so many favorites who are all good friends but my main man RuinerRan (Ran Maclurkin) is by far at the top of the list. His taboo style of tattoo, along with his rad personality, has earned him my respect without a doubt.

 

I hear you removed your belly button. What other mods do you have?

I have had my eyeballs tattooed, ears cropped, ears hole punched, ears stretched, my lips scalped, belly button removed, implants placed under my skin in several locations, skin cut off to create a scar, I’ve been branded, hooks placed under my skin, and many more. I’ve done it all.

Do people always try to tell you mods/tattoos were a mistake? 

People tell me quite often that I will grow to regret my life choices. I know I won’t but it’s hard to get across to people that it’s not their problem if I do. Everybody is entitled to live their own life and make their own choices. 

If you could get a mod with any celeb, who would it be?

It would have to be Ellen DeGeneres. Just because she’s super fucking cool and I think it would be a funny ass time, not to mention I’m pretty sure she dosen’t actaully have a tattoo yet.

 

Dream job? I take it not an office clerk. 

Man, everyone always asks me about work. As of now I work in tattoo studios and also a warehouse, I have no problem having my place in studios for the rest of my life as the people you work with and the customers you meet make every day new and exciting.

What are you most afraid of? 

That the world will never change and the majority of people will always be stuck in their toxic judgmental ways of thinking. But with people standing up for themselves and spreading the word that it’s okay to be who you want to be and look how you choose to look, we’re slowly getting there. That’s my whole mission at the end of the day. 

What's your next tattoo?

Probably just more black work covering up old tattoos haha, I’m sure if you keep an eye on my Instagram you’ll see! 

[All photos courtesy of Ethan Gamble. Cover photo courtesy of Barcroft TV]