'I'm the world's most tattooed woman – one modification hurt more than all the rest'

With ink across her body from her head to toes - and even in her eyeballs - Esperance Fuerzina is the most tattooed woman in the world.

She has travelled the world to get her tattoos and is now 99.98% covered in ink, as verified by the Guinness World Records. Esperance, from Connecticut, US, got her first tattoo aged 21 and has not stopped since.

And it's not just tattoos Esperance loves - she has also modified her body with silicone implants in her face, arms, stomach and legs - to give a raised look to certain features. She has had her tongue split, removed part of her ears, and is covered in piercings. "I really like seeing what the human body is capable of and that's drawn me both to be heavily-tattooed and heavily-modified," she said.

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Explaining her passion for body modification, Esperance appeared on Guinness World Records YouTube channel. She explained: "I like my body art being this collection and memories that I could take with me anywhere I've been." She explained that much of her body art has deeper meanings about evolving through life and "converting darkness to light".

"It's not so much to tell people about those experiences but as a reminder to myself," the 39-year-old added. On achieving her Guinness World Records title, she said: "To be the most tattooed woman and to have the most body modifications feels a little crazy, I am grateful and excited for the future - and of course I am not done!"

She admits that, despite her love for her ink, it can be a painful experience. "I think pretty much everything with tattoos or body modification can be painful. I would say body modification in some ways is more intense in terms of some of the risk," she said.

"One of the riskiest mods I have is the Scara tattooing - that was a pretty intense modification. I've also done ink staining on my tongue and my gums as well as splitting my tongue."

To combat pain, Esperance says she uses a meditative practice when a tattoo artists puts a needle to her skin. "The healing can be intense as well but it's a small moment in time that I can keep for the rest of my life," she added.

Planning what ink she will have next, Esperance said her feet "definitely still need some work". Not only is she planning on filling in the gaps on the top of her feet, but the soles too. Her most recent ink was on her face - as she decided to add a pop of colour.

Esperance, who was previously in the army, commented: "I'm really in love with how it pops and how everything has come together and it's inspired another layer to my bodysuit."

She admits getting mixed reactions from her friends and family in the past about her unique look, and in recent times has decided to surround herself with people who support her. "People in my life now tend to be accepting of what I'm doing," she said. "I think there is still a long way to go in terms of accepting people and just allowing people to look how they want."