Maria Jose Cristerna, Mexico 'Vampire Woman,' Calls Horns And Piercings 'Sign Of Strength'

Maria Jose Cristerna's striking appearance may generate gasps, but the 35-year-old tattoo artist reportedly says a horrific history of domestic violence triggered her decision to re-invent herself as a "vampire."

Cristerna recently showed off a new set of titanium "horn" implants -- along with dental "fangs" and multiple facial piercings -- at a Monterrey tattoo exhibition, but insists she lives a normal life. "The horns I have are a symbol of strength and were implanted without anaesthetic," the Catholic-raised mother-of-four tells the Sun proudly. "I had the fangs done because I loved vampires as a little girl and I changed the colour of my eyes so they were how I really wanted them to be.'

Yet Cristerna's transformation is still not complete: she says she wants to have more titanium horns implanted in the back of her head. "Tattooing is my way of being immortal, of really being a vampire and not dying -- leaving my work on other people's skin."

Watch video of Mexico's "Vampire Woman" (in Spanish) here:

Comments

[f d]

11:58 AM on 05/16/2011

She's gorgeous!

[PublicOption09]

01:45 PM on 05/14/2011

Mommy....i'm scared!

[mtthwsnchz]

06:06 PM on 05/04/2011

she must be the super devil

[SarahCuda2]

10:00 AM on 04/29/2011

Liberalism is what makes people do stuff like this to themselves; how sad.

[PaulMcCaffrey1981]

01:28 AM on 06/05/2011

Closed-mindedness is what makes people make comments like this; how sad. As long as you're not hurting anyone else, what's wrong with the adage, "Live, and let live"?

[Monique Lusanne]

03:08 PM on 04/16/2011

I'm sorry to hear about the history of violence this young woman must have endured. I can't imagine the physical and mental torture she must have experienced as a child. It obviously had an extreme impact on her life. I guess it is her way of coping. How heartbreaking to be a child and to suffer this way. Maria seems like a very nice person. Just wanting to be happy and find an identity and purpose in life. I sense the hurt in her though. I'm sure it still lives her. I wish her the very best.

[Rolanda Ridley]

09:57 AM on 04/15/2011

I'm sorry, but this is weird.

[farmilyman]

11:14 AM on 04/11/2011

She almost looks like Ann Coulter now.

[joe smithy]

04:30 PM on 04/14/2011

Almost, but she is still having a much more positive impact on the world than Ms. Coulter

[farmilyman]

04:44 PM on 04/14/2011

I'm sure Coulter is far worse on the inside too.

[SarahCuda2]

09:58 AM on 04/29/2011

Wow, just look at the resemblance! http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_80zxgiZdx0I/SwGknq3EaDI/AAAAAAAAATE/XrQk65utsRk/s1600/Ann+coulter1.jpg

[Horst]

02:38 PM on 04/10/2011

HP: Please remove this photo....you've made your sensationalist point.

[rdowli]

11:37 PM on 04/10/2011

What is your problem with her??

[e paw]

02:32 AM on 04/11/2011

come on. going nuts on your body won't change who you are. I pity and look down on her the same way I would a Heidi Montag type.

[Horst]

06:31 AM on 04/11/2011

OK, she's all yours.......

[TheRethuggery]

04:59 AM on 04/10/2011

Mami, q paso? En mi pais, los vampiros son los republicos!

[hidenout3]

09:03 AM on 04/10/2011

En america, los vampiros son los demacratos.

They want to suck every penny out of your pocket.

[cbrown1389]

10:41 AM on 04/10/2011

how do these CEO's walk away with $millions every year in bonuses? I thought taxes and unions and regulations were bankrupting these corporations, yet the top make out like bandits? bend over fool!

[GOPBulletsForJesusAndOil]

07:28 PM on 04/10/2011

Corrections:

America==Los Estados Unidos

Democrats==democratas

[YankeeCanuck]

05:17 PM on 04/10/2011

Es la verdad!!!

[TheRethuggery]

04:59 AM on 04/10/2011

It will be a riot when she is an old lady with those horns.

[e paw]

02:34 AM on 04/11/2011

I would not want her reading me a bedtime story--poor kids.

[JesuisFrederique]

11:21 PM on 04/09/2011

kitty...kitty...kitty.....

[MANGO K]

08:18 PM on 04/09/2011

Cat Man - the human 'tiger' who enjoys climbing trees and eats raw meat every day

San Diego computer programmer, Dennis Smith had a dream in which an Indian Chief told him to "follow the ways of the tiger." the first thing Dennis did was to get his eyes tattooed, since then he's spent thousands of dollars over 25 years on tattoos and plastic surgery to attain his dream of becoming a tiger.

His upper lip has been reshaped and implants inserted to give him a permanent snarl, his teeth have been filed and capped to make permanent points. He wears green contact lenses with slit irises. His ears have been sculpted at the top to form points. He has a dozen six-inch long latex whiskers permanently implanted in his face, and his whole body is tattooed in tiger-like stripes, and his hair is dyed orange.

His hands have tattooed markings like a tiger's paws with fingernails crafted into sharp talons. He says he feels like a tiger. Dennis has legally changed his name to "Catman" but says "he won't be happy until he reaches his ultimate goal - To have his whole body grafted with real tiger pelts!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1052934/Cat-Man--human-tiger-enjoys-climbing-trees-eats-raw-meat-day.html#ixzz1J4h6MucD

Tiger Mans web site: http://stalkingcat.net/

[Bonez1]

10:35 AM on 04/10/2011

did he really had to take it literal? perhaps the Indian Chief meant to follow their ways figuratively not literally to look like them...and who in the world would do those procedures knowing he appears grotesque completely nonhuman?

[e paw]

02:36 AM on 04/11/2011

I would think someone who is desperate to escape their world.

[MANGO K]

07:14 PM on 04/09/2011

And she is not looking a job? Professional tattoos artist make good cash. and business just better 200%. Hey lets go and get our new tats from the "vampire lady" ! YA... F@K all you Haters ! I'm gettin paid in full !

Next wright a book and someone will make a movie. "CACHING $$$$$$$$" lol

You Go Girl !

[forkuu]

12:29 AM on 04/21/2011

she is also lawyer.. clearly she is working.. i believe she comes from a wealthy mexican family...

[izzykat19]

07:57 AM on 05/01/2011

Wow, I don't think I could get work as a lawyer if I had body modifications.

[MANGO K]

06:50 PM on 04/09/2011

Each to her or his own, "Live and let Live" How would you all like to be told how to look, just because some don't like your look? What happened to the freedom of personal choice, or does Democracy only apply to a few?

Many tyrants in the past told people how to dress, what to eat and who you could and could not love. So to all that condemn this woman's actions, who are you to deny her the same freedoms we all enjoy ?

Before you judge, think about your own freedom. What makes her right any less valid ? We create who we are, who has the right to say otherwise?

Body tattoos in Japan, were the result of an Emperor who outlawed bright colored Kimono's !

To deny a truth, is to give it force beyond endurance !

Worry about the dirt in your own pants, before you worry about someone else?

[VanTroi]

09:57 PM on 04/09/2011

You'd like to have that as a mother?

[MANGO K]

11:43 PM on 04/09/2011

Not all of us come into this world wanted, mine abandoned me, left me in the hospital at birth, never seen her face. Did this woman abandon her kids? Orphans don't care much for looks, just who shows them love and care, and anyone they can rely on just like a Mom. ! And if she was your Mother? Would you disown her, are looks that important to you?

It's not as if she is a mass murder, for F@k sakes! And maybe she was not blessed with your beauty... And from what I can see, "dam you rock" !

"Live and let Live" beautiful !

[YankeeCanuck]

02:19 PM on 04/10/2011

What a child needs from a mother,especially in the early years, is to know they are loved. That's all.

[Maezeppa]

06:24 PM on 04/09/2011

Hijole!