Getting Inked by Vogue’s Oldest Cover Star

“We believe that the concept of beauty needs to evolve, and include diverse and inclusive faces and forms. What we hope to speak about is the beauty of humanity,” Vogue Philippines editor-in-chief Bea Valdes to CNN.

My massage practitioner, who is originally from the Philippines, shared an interesting experience from her recent visit to her homeland.

I was curious to know what she did on holiday. She mentioned that she had the opportunity to receive a tattoo from a remarkable 106-year-old lady.

This fascinating woman turns out to be a famous tattoo artist who has even graced the cover of Vogue Philippines’ April Beauty Issue. Her name is Apo Whang-Od and she has become the oldest cover star to appear on Vogue.

Background of Vogue’s Oldest Ever Cover Model

Apo Whang-Od, the last and eldest “mambabatok,” is a renowned Kalinga tattooist from the remote village of Buscalan in the mountainous Kalinga province of the northern Philippines.

She practices the unique hand-tapping technique called “batok,” which has been passed down through generations.

Per Culture Trip:

“Whang-od’s tribal tattoo ink is made up of charcoal and water. Once mixed, it is tapped into the skin using a thorn from a citrus tree — either from calamansi or pomelo. The thorn is then attached to a 12-inch long bamboo stick and from there, Whang-od will start tapping it deep into your skin. She has sample designs so that you can choose which design you’d like. The locals or your tour guide will then gently relay your request to Whang-od and from there she will start tapping your desired design.”

Whang-Od became the first woman to practice batok at the age of 15, under her father’s guidance. Despite the tradition being traditionally practiced by male members of the Butbut tribe, Whang-Od broke barriers and preserved the ancient technique.

“Heralded as the last mambabatok of her generation, she has imprinted the symbols of the Kalinga tribe — signifying strength, bravery, and beauty — on the skin of thousands of people who have made the pilgrimage to Buscalan,” writes Vogue Philippines on Instagram.

With the arrival of American Catholic missionaries in Kalinga, tattooed women from the village were forced to cover up their tattoos, which were seen as shameful. However, Whang-Od persevered and continued to practice the batok technique.

Whang-Od’s tireless efforts to preserve the batok tradition have been praised by Vogue Philippines. Western beauty standards threatened to erase the tattoo technique, but Whang-Od remained steadfast in her commitment.

As the batok technique is traditionally passed down through bloodlines, Whang-Od made the significant decision to teach her grandnieces, Grace Palicas and Elyang Wigan, the art of batok. This ensured that her legacy would continue through the hands of these talented women.

Palicas and Wigan, now skilled tattooists themselves, greet and ink the hundreds of visitors who come to their village each day. After their apprentices finish the tattoos, Whang-Od marks them with her signature three dots, symbolizing herself and her apprentices.

Final Thoughts and Takeaway

Whang-Od is confident about the future of the batok tradition. She believes that by preparing the next generation of tattoo masters, the tradition will endure.

Vogue reports that her artistic creations have sparked a phenomenon known as tattoo tourism in the Philippines, attracting individuals from various corners of the globe who seek to acquire one of her renowned designs.

Before Whang-Od, Judi Dench held the distinction of being Vogue’s oldest cover star. She graced the cover of British Vogue’s June 2020 issue at the age of 85.

At the remarkable age of 106 in 2023, Whang-Od graced the cover of Vogue, serving as a powerful reminder that the perception of age is subjective when it comes to accomplishments and vibrancy.

As a passionate body art enthusiast, she stands as an inspiration for everyone, urging us to cherish and uphold our artistic and cultural traditions.

References:

https://www.vogue.com/article/apo-whang-od-and-the-indelible-marks-of-filipino-identity

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/vogue-philippines-april-cover-intl-scli/index.html

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Style/106-year-apo-whang-od-vogues-oldest-cover/story?id=98317871

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/106-year-old-indigenous-filipino-tattoo-artist-becomes-vogue-cover-mod-rcna77658

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/meet-apo-whang-od-the-last-hand-poke-tattoo-artist-in-the-philippines

Would you consider traveling to the Philippines to be tattooed by this inspirational woman?

A version of this story originally appeared on Medium.