In 2018, while directing a project for GHD hair care and London agency Southpaw, I met David Allen, a Chicago tattoo artist renowned for his mastectomy work. Through him, I met Molly—a young breast cancer survivor who chose to cover her scars with his intricate floral designs.

 

As a Jewish woman, I was struck by her decision. We both grew up with Leviticus 19:28 hanging over us: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh... nor tattoo any marks on you." In addition, my own grandparents had been forcibly tattooed during the Holocaust.

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I had to know: How did Molly reconcile her faith with her choice? Were her struggles with survival bigger than religious judgment? Did these questions even matter if tattoos helped her reclaim her body?

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Initially, I thought this was a story about Jews and tattoos—about biblical interpretation and ancient taboos. But as I dug deeper, I discovered something far more universal: people finding ways to love their bodies again after trauma. Beyond mastectomy tattoos, I began seeing stories everywhere of individuals using tattoo art to heal both physical and emotional scars.

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UnScarred emerged from this revelation. As a storyteller, I'm drawn to capture these authentic journeys of transformation—moments when people choose to see beyond existing prejudices to find beauty in their bodies once again.