Woman's 90s-Inspired Tattoo Divides Opinion: 'Don't Bring This Back'

It looks like lower-back tattoos are back in style as one Gen Z-er showcases her new "tramp stamp" and thousands of TikTokers rate it.

Over three million people have watched a viral TikTok video posted by Callie Wilson, 25, who uses the handle @okcallie. She can be seen getting a 'blast from the past' tattoo of a butterfly.

More than 440,000 people have liked the video and thousands have commented. Callie, from Brooklyn, New York, told Newsweek she has always wanted one. Yet, one user who had one years ago said it's her "most regretted tattoo placement of all time."

The popular post has got millennials scratching their heads as they have questioned "why" this tattoo is making a comeback. It seems they're not the only ones, in 2015, Khloe Kardashian had her tramp stamp removed. It was a cross and a pair of angel wings with the word "Daddy" written above it, in honor of her late father Robert Kardashian.

However, Callie praises the tattoo for boosting her confidence and hopes the "tramp stamp" returns to fashion.

The positioning of body art has been seen many times before as celebrities like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera weren't afraid to show off their ink on the red carpet almost two decades ago.

According to Freshly Inked magazine, the term "tramp stamp" "is still a bit of a mystery."

The publication points out that "the expression boomed in popularity after a 2004 Saturday Night Live skit. Oh, and who can forget in 2005 when Vince Vaughn said it 'might as well be a bulls-eye,' in the popular film Wedding Crashers. From there, audiences saw, in reality TV shows such as Rock of Love, tramp stamps linked to a particular kind of woman; linked to being promiscuous."

Over time, the tattoo quickly gained an erotic tone due to its positioning.

Aspiring lawyer Callie told Newsweek: "I feel like during law school I kind of lost myself and with that lost a lot of confidence."

"I have always wanted a "tramp stamp" but definitely strayed away in the past for fear of judgment, but as I have gotten older, I've begun to care less and less what others think is "cool" and instead focus on what makes me feel good."

"I love the subtle sex appeal; it's crazy how much a small tattoo can make a difference in your confidence, but I genuinely feel so much more confident in myself."

"It has helped me embody my inner confidence. I feel more appealing and attractive again."

One woman couldn't agree more. Tattooist and director Zoe Van Zijl, 23, said the return of the tattoo is a "symbol of how far [society] has come."

Van Zijl, who owns Zodiac Tats, told Newsweek she "predicted the resurgence of the 'tramp stamp'" back in June.

"Many of my clients have requested custom line designs with a tribal feel, which is almost a modernized nod to the 90s," said Van Zijl, who is based in Cape Town, South Africa.

"As fashion changes, tattoo trends change. Jeans waistlines are getting lower which means back tattoo placements are too. I think with the rapid rise of ignorant tattoos, people's minds have opened to the concept of artistic irony and there is a newfound appreciation for tattoos, like tramp stamps, that were deemed taboo in the 2010s. They are—simply put—powerful. If we look closely at why this 90's trend was such a turning point in society, we are led down a path of feminism and the shattering of stereotypes associated with tattooed people."

"I feel the resurgence has come because we live in a much more empowered and free-thinking time, and although there are still many challenges to face as a society, wearing a tramp stamp may just be a symbol of how far we have come. We love to see it," she said.

Callie forked out $200 for the tattoo and couldn't be happier, she jokes about starting a "petition to bring the 'tramp stamp' back."

But she may not have to as thousands have flocked to the comments with positive feedback.

One comment said: "Ma'am you have no idea what you've just done. This is the resurrection."

Another wrote: "Help, I'm being influenced". Along with "Hooray!!! They're back."

Callie's video is just one of many with the hashtag "tramp stamps", in fact, the 90s trend has been viewed 75 million times on TikTok.

Other TikTok users have complimented the tattoo by calling it "amazing", "cute" and "iconic".

But not everybody agrees, one user begged: "Please don't bring this back, please ya'll don't do this you will regret it in 10-20 years."

Another wrote: "I'm officially old. This cannot be back."