--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but…" description: "\"I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but if you would have asked the younger me to get a tattoo that symbolized my sexuality, I would have told you no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/sonya-deville-10099_okay_i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but_339378.jpg" --- # I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but if you would… ![“I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but if you would have asked the younger me to get a tattoo that symbolized my sexuality, I would have told you no, because that's how not okay I used to be with it.” quote by Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/sonya-deville-10099_okay_i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but_339378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/sonya-deville-10099_okay_i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but_339378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/sonya-deville-10099_okay_i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but_339378.jpg) > “I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but if you would have asked the younger me to get a tattoo that symbolized my sexuality, I would have told you no, because that's how not okay I used to be with it.” [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youth often reject symbols of identity due to fear of stigma, but later acceptance shows growth. **In simple terms:** Young self rejected identity symbols because of fear. Key Takeaway Embrace authentic symbols early. Themes identity self‑acceptance growth Mood reflective hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - coming out - body art - self‑expression - peer pressure Key Concepts social stigma personal evolution Questions to Reflect On - How might early acceptance of identity symbols change a life? - What fears hold you back from expressing yourself? A Different Perspective Fear of judgment can delay self‑acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Tattoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tattoo/) [Tattoos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tattoos/) ## Related quotes > [Tattoos are like stories - they're symbolic of the important moments in your life. Sitting down, talking about where you got each tattoo and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/tattoos-are-like-stories-they-re-symbolic-of-the-important-moments-in/) [Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/) > [Tattoos, for me, are like a timeline of my life. I could look at a certain tattoo, and it reminds of me of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/tattoos-for-me-are-like-a-timeline-of-my-life-i-could-look-at-a/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [My tattoos are like a scrapbook of my life. Sometimes you don't feel comfortable in your own skin, so covering it up with pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/my-tattoos-are-like-a-scrapbook-of-my-life-sometimes-you-don-t-feel/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [“My tattoos, like most people's, were reminders, badges of personal experiences. Yes, I might wear them on my skin for the world to see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-walker/my-tattoos-like-most-people-s-were-reminders-badges-of-personal/) [N.R. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-walker/) > [People are proud of their tattoos. It's like a modern coat of arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/people-are-proud-of-their-tattoos-it-s-like-a-modern-coat-of-arms/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [Put tattoos all up and down our thighs, do anything our parents would despise. Take uppers, downers, blues, and reds and yellows, our brains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/put-tattoos-all-up-and-down-our-thighs-do-anything-our-parents-would/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [I have a lot of tattoos that are day-of tattoos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/i-have-a-lot-of-tattoos-that-are-day-of-tattoos/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [“Perhaps we say things with tattoos that we can't say other ways”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hudock/perhaps-we-say-things-with-tattoos-that-we-can-t-say-other-ways/) Amy Hudock > [Tattoos are my way of expressing myself without the need for words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-park/tattoos-are-my-way-of-expressing-myself-without-the-need-for-words/) [Jay Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-park/) > [I'm a big guy and I can't have any tiny tattoos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-m-a-big-guy-and-i-can-t-have-any-tiny-tattoos/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [I have a lot of tattoos. I probably have over 100 tattoos. I don't know. It's just a mural... a collage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-have-a-lot-of-tattoos-i-probably-have-over-100-tattoos-i-don-t-know/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [My tattoos are reminders to hang in there when things get rough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/my-tattoos-are-reminders-to-hang-in-there-when-things-get-rough/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [If you like tattoos, perfect. But I'm scared. I think: 'At 60, I'm going to have this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodri/if-you-like-tattoos-perfect-but-i-m-scared-i-think-at-60-i-m-going-to/) [Rodri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodri/) > [The biggest misconception about me is the bad-boy image that everyone stuck me into due to my tattoos, drug days and the constant changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/the-biggest-misconception-about-me-is-the-bad-boy-image-that-everyone/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by Sonya Deville > [I look up to and have learned a lot from the women before me. With that said, there has never been a woman in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-look-up-to-and-have-learned-a-lot-from-the-women-before-me-with/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [It's important to not have my sexuality define me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/it-s-important-to-not-have-my-sexuality-define-me/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [From a very early age, I realized why I was put on this planet: to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/from-a-very-early-age-i-realized-why-i-was-put-on-this-planet-to-fight/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I have a theory that confidence comes from self-worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-have-a-theory-that-confidence-comes-from-self-worth/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I do feel pressure, but I put it on myself because I want to represent the LGBTQ community in a place where they've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-do-feel-pressure-but-i-put-it-on-myself-because-i-want-to-represent/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I just think I'm very honest and I say how I feel. Some people like that about me. Some people hate that about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-just-think-i-m-very-honest-and-i-say-how-i-feel-some-people-like/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [When I was 14 years old, I said, 'Mom, I want to fight MMA.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/when-i-was-14-years-old-i-said-mom-i-want-to-fight-mma/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [Sonya is the way she is for a reason and I love enlightening the fans on what those things are because so many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/sonya-is-the-way-she-is-for-a-reason-and-i-love-enlightening-the-fans/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [It's not a good feeling to hide a huge part of your life. If you were meant to be somebody else, you'd be somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/it-s-not-a-good-feeling-to-hide-a-huge-part-of-your-life-if-you-were/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [To force something that was not organic to who I am was tough on me, and so I can relate to all those girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/to-force-something-that-was-not-organic-to-who-i-am-was-tough-on-me/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [Acting is my love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/acting-is-my-love/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I've never dealt with really anything negative in the WWE as a whole, in the locker room, anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-never-dealt-with-really-anything-negative-in-the-wwe-as-a-whole/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I think back to when I was in high school, to 17-year old Daria, who was dating guys and thought that that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-think-back-to-when-i-was-in-high-school-to-17-year-old-daria-who/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I'm the first-ever openly gay female in the WWE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-m-the-first-ever-openly-gay-female-in-the-wwe/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [I realized - and I think I learned this at a young age - that anything that's worth anything, you're going to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-realized-and-i-think-i-learned-this-at-a-young-age-that-anything/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) [Explore all 68 Sonya Deville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) ## More Okay quotes > [Grandma, please. 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We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I'd much rather have a book that a few people love intensely than a book that a lot of people like okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-people-love-intensely-than-a/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. 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All right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/a-zombie-okay-whew-all-right/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) Browse all 3,855 Okay quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but if you would have asked the younger me to get a tattoo that symbolized my sexuality, I would have told you no, because that's how not okay I used to be with it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sonya Deville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but-if-you-would-have-asked-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Okay" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but-if-you-would-have-asked-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/sonya-deville-10099_okay_i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but_339378.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/sonya-deville-10099_okay_i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but_339378.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/sonya-deville-10099_okay_i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but_339378.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've had tattoos since I was like 16, but if you would have asked the younger me to get a tattoo that…” — Sonya Deville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sonya Deville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've had tattoos since I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but-if-you-would-have-asked-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-had-tattoos-since-i-was-like-16-but-if-you-would-have-asked-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```