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Most people think success comes after good grades, a stable job, and a plan that makes sense on paper.
But for Natasha, 25, that path didn’t fit. She dropped out of school at 17, went head-to-head with her family, and entered the tattoo industry with little more than a pencil, persistence, and pain.
Today, she works full-time as a tattoo artist at Borneo Ink, one of Malaysia’s top studios, earning up to RM12,000 a month and she almost gave it all up.
I wasn’t even sure I wanted to be a tattoo artist until four years into it
The moment she nearly gave up
For Natasha, the pressure to meet her own high expectations almost broke her. Despite working long hours and pouring herself into the craft, she felt stuck — creatively and emotionally.
“I thought about quitting. I didn’t feel like I was improving fast enough, and I didn’t want to disappoint my clients.”
Then came a turning point she never saw coming.
One of her clients — a young girl who had gotten a tattoo from Natasha for her 18th birthday died by suicide months later. Her brother reached out with the news.
Then, Natasha received a message from the girl’s mother.
“She just said, ‘Thank you for making my daughter that happy.’ That message grounded me,” she said. “I realised what I do might not be perfect, but it still means something to someone.”
From judo mats to tattoo shops
Before ink and machines entered her life, Natasha had another dream: judo.
She trained competitively from the age of 13, eyeing titles like SUKMA and SEA Games. But a training injury in Taiwan in 2018, just a month before the tournament, ended her athletic journey.
I was devastated. I felt lost for a long time.
She spent the next nine months recovering — and redrawing her future.
Tattooing wasn’t entirely new to her. Natasha had always enjoyed drawing, often posting sketches online. A childhood friend — and future first client — saw her potential early on.
“He told me, ‘You should be a tattoo artist. Let me know when you’re ready.’ So I did — and I messed up all three tattoos,” she laughed. “But he still paid me RM750 because he knew I needed the support.”
The mother-daughter conflict
Telling her mother she wanted to drop out at 17 was the start of a long and painful fallout.
“She was really upset. She even said something like, ‘Being a tattoo artist is no different from being a prostitute.’ We didn’t talk for months.”
Her godmother, a longtime family friend and hairdresser, stepped in to mediate. The three came to an agreement: Natasha could try tattooing for one year, but she wasn’t allowed to tattoo herself.
She broke that rule three months in.
I just wanted to understand what pain felt like — how could I tattoo someone else without knowing what it’s like? But ironically, my mum was the one who ended up getting a tattoo first: a rose with her name.
They’ve since found peace, and even humour, in their journey.
“It was strange at first, seeing my mum around my tattoo friends. But I realised she was trying to understand my world in her own way. I respect that.”
Finding a mentor, and a future
Natasha’s path changed again when she joined Borneo Ink, under the mentorship of Eddie — a veteran artist and founder of the studio.
She’d actually met him years earlier during a failed interview at the same shop, but didn’t join until later.
“He taught me more than just tattooing. It was about discipline, communication, hygiene, and how to run a business. He even pushed me to improve my English.”
Her routine included cleaning, prepping stations, and sketching for months before she was allowed to tattoo again.
He made me understand this is not just an art job, it’s a profession.
The hustle and what it pays
Tattooing wasn’t always profitable. In the beginning, Natasha had no base salary. Payments were split 50-50 with her mentor.
“Some months were slow, especially after holidays like Hari Raya or Christmas. I’d earn around RM4,000 to RM6,000.”
Now, seven years in, she earns between RM6,000 and RM12,000 monthly — a figure that’s not just sustainable, but satisfying.
And while many tattoo artists showcase their inked bodies, Natasha remains mostly unmarked.
I don’t have visible tattoos. If I wear long sleeves, people wouldn’t know I’m a tattoo artist. I just prefer creating for others instead of myself.
From failing SPM to fluently communicating
School wasn’t easy for Natasha, especially with Mandarin being her first language. She struggled to understand English and Malay-taught subjects — and failed most of her SPM papers.
Only years later, when she began working with foreign clients, did she truly begin to pick up English again.
I started studying three years ago. I’d even use ChatGPT to help me check grammar,” she said. “I didn’t want language to be a barrier between me and my clients.
The girl from Cheras
Looking back at her younger self a rebellious girl from Cheras who quit school and chased an unconventional dream Natasha smiles.
She didn’t know what was going to happen. But she took responsibility for her choices. And I’m proud of her for that
Today, Natasha continues to learn, grow, and tattoo — not just with skill, but with intention. And while she has no immediate plans to open her own studio, she knows the path ahead is hers to shape.
You don’t need to know the whole script before taking the first step. Just take it — and see where it leads
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