World’s most tattooed man unrecognizable in unearthed photo before full body inked – World News

Lucky Diamond Rich from New Zealand started getting tattoos when he joined a traveling circus at the age of 16 and has been dubbed the most tattooed man alive, claiming he has covered more than “200 percent” of his body

The world’s most tattooed man has revealed what he looked like before he covered “200 percent” of his body in ink.

Lucky Diamond Rich from New Zealand began his long and painful journey of extreme body modification when he joined a traveling circus at just 16 years old.

Decades later, Guinness World Records named the 51-year-old the most inked person in history Daily Star reports.

He sports “the biggest tattoo in the world” covering him from head to toe, including gums and penis.

In fact, after long ago running out of body space, some of his designs have been tattooed multiple times, meaning the ink is “three out of four layers deep in places.”

It has led to claims he inked more than “200 percent” of his body.

But like all journeys, he had to start somewhere, and that moment was documented by a rare photo of him looking fresh-faced and unmarked.

The tattoo fanatic looks completely unrecognizable from what he does now, with his natural skin fully visible.

“The first (tattoo) was when I was 16 and I was in the circus – a little juggling club on my hip,” said Rich, who is of Australian Aboriginal heritage and real name is Gregory Paul McLaren.

“I have it on my hip because I didn’t want my mother to see it. And from there I just did tattoo after tattoo.”

Sharing the early picture with fans, he explained that he’s since been tattooed by artists around the world, adding that he’s only offering part of his body, telling them to “try it.”

With it being six years since his last session, Rich now finds his “fun” by tattooing others, describing it as “an honor and a privilege” to be a Guinness World Record holder he had dreamed of since becoming one young fellow was.

Earlier this month, he also admitted that people tend to react differently when they meet him.

“Everyone reacts differently. It’s like the weather, you can’t predict it, you can’t control it – you just deal with it as it comes,” he said.

“I’m no different from anyone else, I’m just heavily tattooed.”

Additionally, Rich admitted he hasn’t regretted a single tattoo, adding that inking is cheaper than therapy and has helped his self-esteem a lot.