Brazil’s Most Tattooed Man Erases His Past for a Life of Faith

Leandro de Souza, 36, from Bagé in southern Brazil, was once famous as the country’s most tattooed man, with nearly 95% of his body covered in ink. Last year, he made headlines at the Santa Rosa International Tattoo Expo for his striking appearance.

But today, Souza is nearly unrecognizable. After a deep spiritual awakening, he has begun removing almost all his tattoos, saying they no longer reflect who he is. “I didn’t feel good anymore,” he told O Globo. “It was a life of extremes, and I realized I didn’t want that anymore.”

Souza began tattooing himself at 13 and eventually became obsessed with body modification. His appearance made finding steady work difficult, and at one point, he lived in a shelter. His turning point came two years ago, when he found Christianity and decided to start over.

Earlier this year, he began the long, painful process of laser tattoo removal, sharing his journey on Instagram. Hello Tattoo Studio in São Paulo has been performing the procedures free of charge. “It hurts a lot,” Souza admitted. “But that pain is part of the price for my past choices.”

The studio praised his transformation, writing, “Tattoos don’t define character. Real transformation comes from choices, effort, and determination.” Each session uses multiple lasers to remove pigment, rejuvenate skin, and prevent scarring.

Souza said the process will take at least eight sessions. His decision was fueled by a desire to rebuild his life, pay child support for his son, and regain guardianship of his elderly mother.

He also hopes others will think carefully before tattooing their faces. “I regret it,” he said. “I was proud to be the most tattooed man in Brazil, but I’ve learned there are things far more important.”

“Now,” Souza added, “I just want to live with purpose—and in peace.”