Maria José Cristerna, known as the “real-life vampire,” holds the Guinness World Record for the most body modifications, with 50 in total. Her striking appearance includes forehead and arm implants, a split tongue, numerous piercings, and tattoos covering nearly her entire body, including her eyeballs.
Her journey began at 14 with her first tattoo. “In the beginning, my dad didn’t agree… But after that, he took me to the tattoo studio,” she recalled. Passionate about art, she stated, “Art runs through my veins… now I can express it through my body.”

Cristerna’s transformation is deeply personal, shaped by a decade-long abusive marriage. She sees her modifications as symbols of strength and freedom. “The only way to escape from violence and abuse is by loving yourself. We came to this world to be happy,” she said.
Some procedures were especially painful, particularly eye pigmentations and arm implants. Despite this, she remains dedicated to self-expression. Determined to push boundaries, Cristerna aims to cover her entire body in tattoos. “I don’t care what people think about me… I know who I am, and that is what is important,” she affirmed.