Health · Healthcare & Policy · 10 hrs ago
Mariska de Jong wins world title for tattooing nipples
Mariska de Jong from Breda won a world title for medical tattooing at a competition in Turkey.
She works at a skin clinic and has spent 15 years making tattoos for people who have had breast surgery.
Her specialty is reconstructing nipples and areolas for people who have had a mastectomy or breast cancer treatment.
The contest was run by an international organization for permanent makeup specialists, and De Jong had one hour to tattoo a piece of latex without a reference photo.
The work can help people feel like themselves again after surgery, a result De Jong says she understands from her own experience with operations.
After she won a Benelux title in September, hospitals contacted her about possible partnerships.
Those partnerships could help some insurers cover her work, but De Jong says that will not happen immediately.
Mariska de Jong, a medical tattoo artist from Breda, won a world title for tattooing nipples.
She specializes in tattooing areolas for people who have had breast surgery, including mastectomies or cancer treatment.
The World Universal League of Permanent Makeup held the competition in Turkey.
De Jong competed on latex without a reference photo and had one hour to complete her work.
She said the award could help hospitals work with her and could eventually lead some insurers to cover her work.
- Who
- Mariska de Jong, a medical tattoo artist from Breda.
- What
- She won the world championship for tattooing nipples.
- When
- The competition took place the evening before the article was published on October 24, 2026.
- Where
- In Turkey.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
De Jong won the Benelux championship, qualifying her for the world championship.
De Jong travelled to Turkey for the world championship.
The World Universal League of Permanent Makeup held its world championship, and De Jong won her category.
- Winner
- Mariska de Jong
- Hometown
- Breda
- Competition
- World Universal League of Permanent Makeup world championship
- Competition location
- Turkey
- Time limit
- One hour
- Prior title
- Benelux champion in September
What people are saying
It is such a valuable profession.
I really enjoyed it. It went so well: it was truly my best work ever.
I can give someone that piece of feeling like themselves again.
That would be the icing on the cake.