The Daily Gamecock

Calista Pushman


Fourth-year English student Syd Sandford is one of many in her generation that uses tattoos as a form of self expression. She carries on her skin a permanent collection of ink that ties her to family, friends and herself, that not only connect Sandford to her key life values, but help her love the woman she sees in the mirror each day. "I have beautiful pieces of art on me and I'm a carrier of those things, which just makes me inherently beautiful," Sandford said. "I may not really love how I look or my face or my hair, but like, I have these really cool pieces of art on me, and like, that’s just objectively cool." For Sandford, beauty is pain at the hands of an artist and tattoo gun, and a pain that is worth the stigma that comes with it.

PHOTOS: Tattoos connect new generation to key values, body positivity

Fourth-year English student Syd Sandford is one of many in her generation that uses tattoos as a form of self expression. She carries on her skin a permanent collection of ink that ties her to family, friends and herself, that not only connect Sandford to her key life values, but help her love the woman she sees in the mirror each day. 

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FILE - People arrived on the South Carolina Statehouse lawn as early as 2 p.m. for Donald Trump's late afternoon appearance on Jan. 28, 2023. Recently, South Carolina legislators ratified the state budget, allocating money to the University of South Carolina.

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FILE - People arrived on the South Carolina Statehouse lawn as early as 2 p.m. for Donald Trump's late afternoon appearance on Jan. 28, 2023. Recently, South Carolina legislators ratified the state budget, allocating money to the University of South Carolina.

FILE — Third-year accounting student Hannah Augsbach Lamma answers a question at the Student Government debate on Feb. 15, 2023. Lamma is the current treasurer for USC's Student Government.

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FILE — Third-year accounting student Hannah Augsbach Lamma answers a question at the Student Government debate on Feb. 15, 2023. Lamma is the current treasurer for USC's Student Government.

FILE - Then presidential candidate and third-year political science student Emily “Emmie” Thompson answers a question at the Student Government debate on Feb. 15, 2023. Thompson is now the student body president.

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FILE - Then presidential candidate and third-year political science student Emily “Emmie” Thompson answers a question at the Student Government debate on Feb. 15, 2023. Thompson is now the student body president.

FILE — Gamecock football players celebrate with their teammates at Williams-Brice Stadium against the University of Georgia on Sep. 17, 2022. The Gamecocks lost to the Bulldogs 48 - 7.

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FILE — Gamecock football players celebrate with their teammates at Williams-Brice Stadium against the University of Georgia on Sep. 17, 2022. The Gamecocks lost to the Bulldogs 48 - 7.

Protestors hold up pro-choice signs during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina Statehouse on June 25, 2022. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June. 

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Protestors hold up pro-choice signs during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina Statehouse on June 25, 2022. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June. 

A protester stands in front of City of Columbia police officers amongst other protestors holding up pro-abortion signs during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina Statehouse on June 25, 2023. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June.

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A protester stands in front of City of Columbia police officers amongst other protestors holding up pro-abortion signs during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina Statehouse on June 25, 2023. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June.

A protester covered in blood-colored paint holds up a pro-abortion sign labeled “I’ll Just Do It Myself” during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina state capitol on June 25, 2022. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June.

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A protester covered in blood-colored paint holds up a pro-abortion sign labeled “I’ll Just Do It Myself” during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina state capitol on June 25, 2022. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June.

A protester covered in blood-colored paint holds up a pro-abortion sign labeled “I’ll Just Do It Myself” during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina state capitol on June 25, 2022. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June.

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A protester covered in blood-colored paint holds up a pro-abortion sign labeled “I’ll Just Do It Myself” during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina state capitol on June 25, 2022. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June.

A protester stands in front of City of Columbia police officers amongst other protestors holding up pro-abortion signs during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina Statehouse on June 25, 2023. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June.

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A protester stands in front of City of Columbia police officers amongst other protestors holding up pro-abortion signs during the Dobbs v. Jackson protest at the South Carolina Statehouse on June 25, 2023. The protest came as a response to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case earlier that June.

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