The more tattooed the women tribe, the more beautiful they are

Women of two tribes living on Mount Victoria

western Myanmar, have the custom of tattooing their faces as a symbol of maturity and beauty.

Living in the mountains of Chin State, western Myanmar, the mens skull sweater women of these tribes consider tattooing as a way of beauty.

Mount Victora

the highest peak in Chin State, is home to the Munn and Dai tribes. Both tribes have a unique tradition of face tattooing.

Dai tribe women have full face tattoos with black dots. Currently, this type of tattoo appears only on older women.

When a girl reaches puberty (about 12-14 years old), she is considered old enough to get a tattoo - a symbol of maturity.

The tattoos are created with thorns and an ink made of soot, cow bile, herbs and lard. Some people have full face tattoos, while some only have a few motifs tattooed.

Munn women have a series of connected small circles, forming a semicircle, tattooed from the cheek to the neck.

This strange custom

dates back to the 11th century, when young girls tattooed their faces to avoid being enslaved by kings.

Today the girls of the tribe no longer perform this tradition.

Italian photographer Marco Giovanelli visited these women in March and said his concept of beauty had changed.

Giovanelli recounts: “According to legend, an ancient king tried to enslave women, tattooing was originally intended to combat this. Tattoos make women ugly."

Over time

tattoos became the norm of beauty, and women took great pride in getting their faces tattooed in front of men.

Giovanelli said he had "never met people who viking hoodie were kinder, more generous and more friendly than the women of Chin".

Many women wear colorful traditional costumes, almost always holding pipes in their hands.

The new generation no longer performs this tradition due to prohibition and heavy fines.

A Dai woman whose face is covered with small tattoos. They believe that the more tattoos, the more beautiful they are.