Topeka woman breaks tattoo world record

A Kansas woman has broken a tattoo world record this month.

TOPEKA (KSNT) - It all started with a fascination for Madonna.

Topeka native Tara Berry is celebrating a big accomplishment this May as she is receiving official recognition from Guinness World Records (GWR) for her large assortment of tattoos. They are all connected by the same running theme: paying tribute to Madonna.

Berry said she started covering herself in tattoos depicting Madonna back in 2014 when she heard the pop star was looking for fans to join in one of her music videos. While Berry missed the opportunity to join in on this, she began acquiring one tattoo after another with the hopes of achieving a new goal: breaking the world record for the most Madonna tattoos.

The record to beat was previously set by Nikki Paterson from Aberdeen in Scotland. Paterson set the record with the GWR in 2020 with her 16 tattoos of the rapper Eminem.

Berry sent her application to the GWR in 2021 claiming she had a new record-breaking amount of tattoos, 23 in total, on her body of a musical artist. Her first attempt wasn't accepted so she applied again in early 2023. 27 News caught up with her in 2022 to learn about the painstakingly long undertaking.

"It’s difficult," Berry said. "I got the process down the second time. It’s a demanding, lengthy process."

Aside from the paperwork involved, Berry also had to have the tattoos authenticated by a licensed tattoo artist and submit video and photographic evidence of her claim. However, after years of waiting for an answer, the GWR finally responded to her in 2024 with the news she's been hoping to hear.

An official certificate from the GWR arrived at Berry's home on May 22 authenticating her as the new world record holder for "Most tattoos of the same musician on the body." She set the new record as of May 31, 2023 with 18 of her 23 Madonna tattoos, according to the GWR.

"I am so shocked, it really hasn't sunk in," Berry said. "The whole reason I started this was to meet Madonna. Then it morphed into this."

Though the whole process of entering her claim as the new world record holder for this category took years to complete, Berry encourages anyone else who wants to apply to the GWR to do so.

"Go for it," Berry said. "It’s a process and nothing that’s done overnight. If I had to do it all over again, I said I wouldn’t but I would."

With the new record set, Berry is hopeful Madonna will take notice of her accomplishment. Meeting the pop star remains her ultimate goal.

"I have no doubt that I'll meet Madonna, its just a matter of time," Berry said.

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