Whether you opt for subtle ink or a full-blown sleeve, tattoos are personal expressions for everyone. Many people choose body art that holds personal meaning, while others simply go for a fun design that brings them joy. If your tattoo placements are visible to the public, you might need to give it even more thought. One ink-enthusiastic couple is so covered in tattoos that they have hardly any space left for more art.
Charles “Chuck” Helmkе, 81, and Charlotte Gᴜtte𝚗berg, 74, from Melbourne, Florida, have been crowned the most tattooed senior citizens on the planet, each holding the Guinness World Record for being the most tattooed senior citizens in their respective genders. They’ve spent a whopping 2,000 hours getting their impressive ink done, covering almost 100% of their bodies.
Chuck has 97.5% of his body tattooed, while Charlotte trumps him, having covered 98.75% of her body in ink. However, she’s admitted she’s at “full saturation,” so won’t be getting any more done.
Charlotte only started getting tattoos at age 56 after her late husband died, as he hated the look of them. She got more than she bargained for when she met Chuck, and he offered to hold her hand to ease her first-time tattoo nerves. However, only Charlotte’s face and part of her hands are untouched by tattoos.
“I consider myself a walking art gallery. Some people buy art and hang it on the walls – I have it on my body,” said Charlotte.
Chuck’s ink journey started much earlier when he was an 18-year-old in 1959 during basic training for the US Army. He got two more tattoos that same day, but it was only 41 years later that he got another, choosing to cover up third-degree burns scars on his arms. He also holds the Guinness World Record for the most skulls tattooed on a person, with 376 across his body.
People aren’t always kind about their tattoos, but they’re proud of what they’ve managed to accomplish. Charlotte said, “Young people tell me I’m cool and how they wish their grandmothers were like that.” She emphasized that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it doesn’t have any effect on her life. The important thing for them is to share their art with the world and feel comfortable in their own skin.
