Tattoos are a personal choice, and designs often have special and sentimental meaning - but one mum has left people divided with her dedicated to her daughter.

Getting the permanent inking in honour of her daughter, Katie Taylor has been told she's a "bad parent" for the design, but she loves it and proudly shows it off on the side of her face.

The 27-year-old decided to get a large rose tattooed by her ear for her daughter, as her middle name is Rose. She chose the placement so she could "constantly see it" and be reminded of it - but it's not gone down well with some people.

She got the tattoo on the side of her face to honour her daughter but has been called a 'thug' (
Image:
Katie Taylor / SWNS)
Despite being called a bad parent, she loves her new tattoo (
Image:
Katie Taylor / SWNS)

Katie, a stay-at-home mum from Ryleigh, Essex has been getting tattoos since she was 18 and currently has around 15 on her body, but decided on the special design for her daughter despite trolls telling her she looks like a "thug" and is a bad parent for getting it. "I wanted it on my face, I wanted to constantly see it," Katie explained.

She claimed her daughter also "loves" the design and added: "My daughter's middle name is Rose – so I chose to get that. She said to me – 'that's my tattoo' and she loves it, but I've had the odd comment on my tattoos like 'you're a bad parent'."

She spent £80 on the face tattoo that took an hour to do, and added to the others she already has, including a sleeve on her right arm and thigh. Despite getting her first "bird design" tattoo covered up with some green roses, she has "never regretted" any of her designs.

Katie explained: "I've always loved tattoos and piercings. My face one is so gentle on the face but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea." She claimed it wasn't painful, but doesn't have plans for any more on her face.

As much as she loves her new inking, it's not been the same for others who have made cruel remarks online. She said she would never judge others for how they look but has been subject to people sharing their negative thoughts and said: "Some people online have said 'you're a thug', 'you look like you've just got out of prison' but I don't judge someone by the way they look."

Despite the online trolls, Katie doesn't care what anyone thinks, as long as her partner Jake and her daughter like it. She said that Jake had been the one to encourage the tattoo in the first place and added: "He was the one that said 'if you want it, you go and get it'."

"My daughter says 'Mum's got lots of drawings on her arms' and this tattoo has got to be my favourite so far. I want my daughter to grow up knowing if she wants a tattoo or to do something for herself, she could go and do it. I want to show her that can do what wants in the world."

Do you have a story to share? Email Niamh.Kirk@reachplc.com