| "I decided to get tattooed. I wanted to be | | | | and Barnum and Bailey Circus as the youngest |
| independent and to take care of myself." | | | | tattooed woman in the world at just 18 years old. |
| Betty Broadbent, born 1909, was the most | | | | For her performance, she would first appear on |
| famous tattooed attraction of all time. Nicknamed | | | | stage covered with a robe. Then the Master of |
| the Tattooed Venus, in 1923 she moved from | | | | Ceremony would announce," And now, Ladies and |
| Orlando, Florida to Atlantic City to take on a | | | | Gentlemen, the lady's who's different!" I know, it |
| baby-sitting job. | | | | sounds tacky. |
| Her interest in tattoos piqued when she met a | | | | She would then unzip her robe and underneath, |
| tattooed man being exhibited on the Broadwalk. | | | | she had a long bathing suit on that ended four |
| During her era, tattoos were not popular at all | | | | inches above her knees. Unknown to many, |
| among women but were more associated with | | | | Broadbent actually detested the "unethical" tactics |
| sailors and gangsters. | | | | her employers used to attract patrons as much |
| Originally, she wanted to become a tattoo artist | | | | as her nickname, the Tattoo Venus. |
| but decided to become a work of art instead | | | | For those who are curious, Broadbent wore |
| because she needed money fast. With that in | | | | Pancho Villa on her left leg, Charles Lindbergh on |
| mind, she convinced herself to get tattooed. | | | | her right leg, and had a Madonna and child portrait |
| Riding on horses in the rodeo, she saved up | | | | on her back. Despite her tattoos, she took pains |
| enough money and ventured to New York for | | | | to project a feminine and refined image of herself. |
| her tattoos. | | | | Broadbent was one of the last working tattooed |
| Over a two-year period, Charlie Wagner and Joe | | | | ladies in the United States, retiring only in 1967 |
| Van Hart labored to pattern her body with an | | | | from the Clyde Beatty Circus after spending 40 |
| estimated 365 tattoos. At that time, they were | | | | years in show business. In 1981, she became the |
| among the first tattooists in the world to use | | | | first person to be honored in the Tattoo Hall of |
| electric tattooing machines. | | | | Fame. Sadly, she died peacefully in her sleep in |
| Finally, in 1927, she joined the Ringling Brothers | | | | 1983. |