A 106-year-old tattoo artist recently rocked magazine stands as Vogue’s oldest cover star, and it’s ignited an important conversation about how ageing should be celebrated instead of hidden.
Global (3 April, 2023) — Move over twenty-somethings, there’s a new Vogue cover star on everyone’s radars. At 106-years old, Apo Whang-Od (also known as Maria Oggay) is the oldest (and potentially coolest) cover star the magazine has ever had.
THE WOMAN. THE MYTH. THE LEGEND https://t.co/RWIhH8Ff1l
— SomeCornPotatoThing (@karenacobs) March 30, 2023
Whang-Od graced Vogue Phillippine’s recent issue in what many are calling a ‘barrier breaking’ showcase.
Beyond her rich age (put in perspective, Whang-Od was born before sliced bread existed), her story is captivating. She’s easily one of the oldest tattoo artists alive, as the last mambatok member of a tribe in the remote Buscalan village, inaccessible for most throughout history. She was the first female mambatok of her time, and the only one at that.
According to Vogue, Buscalan is ‘behind’ in some ways and freeing in others, void of signal and wide-spread WiFi. Here, tattoos are a sacred statement of skin. A place where—years prior— not having tattoos was seen as something incomplete.
“Why not keep tattooing while I can see?… I’ll only stop when I can no longer see, so I can continue to give people the mark of Buscalan, the mark of Kalinga.” — Apo Whang-Od.
Beyond the incredible culture behind her career spanning lifetimes, her place on the cover has ignited important conversations. Some were about the true appreciation of legends from different cultures that aren’t gimmicky or appropriation-based. Others were more universal, touching on ageing as a privilege and celebration.
In a world where women have long had to hide any evidence of ageing and ‘attempt to stop it’ in its tracks, representation like this is a beautiful reminder. Moving past Westernised standards of beauty? We’re here for it!
Here’s What People Shared:
The most beautiful cover of all.
This is the most beautiful cover I have seen. Whang Od is 106 years old and a tattoo artist. The sheer spirit and beauty 😍❤️💜.
I wish I could sit at her feet and talk with her about Life. @vogueph https://t.co/57AbtlJtWN pic.twitter.com/Txr00iu8SB— Sarah Thontwa (@sthontwa) April 3, 2023
*THE centenarian
A centenarian featured on the cover of a beauty issue is so refreshing. 💛 https://t.co/Lx3XG0hxZf
— Lex (@plannertarian) April 3, 2023
‘You Won’t Look Good With Tattoos When You’re Older’
Apo Whang-Od:
to all those who say they never seen al old person with tattoos here your chance https://t.co/gMrOa5jQh4
— ♤k (@Nedz___) April 3, 2023
Louder for the people in the back!
I’ve never followed the absolutism of youth solely equating to beauty.
— Kirsty Mackenzie (@kirsty_iso) April 3, 2023
“Embrace it.”
What a beauty! Every beautiful line in our faces represents the ups and downs, wisdom, and the lessons we learned along the way. Embrace it.
“Vogue Philippines has revealed 106-year-old tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od as the cover star of its April issue.”https://t.co/QO2284T7Eo pic.twitter.com/kDZEafgwO8— Razan Ibraheem (رزان) (@RazanIRL) April 1, 2023
Don’t we all?
no cause I wanna know her skincare routine
— ☁️ (@_badbishdeukiii) April 3, 2023
Of the decision to put Whang-Od on the cover, Vogue Philippines editor-in-chief said (per CNN):
“We believe that the concept of beauty needs to evolve, and include diverse and inclusive faces and forms. What we hope to speak about is the beauty of humanity,” — Bea Valdes.
More of this!
by 