We had three great stories submitted this week.

I hadn't imagined that judging this competition would be so difficult.

I wanted to continue this competition because it is such a unique idea.
Sharing a personal aspect of yourself is an opportunity to connect with others, and a tattoo is so often a talking point for the person who wears it.

Many times during a casual encounter someone has said to me, "Cool tattoo. What does it mean?"

It's not always a simple answer. Something so significant is not easily summed up. The answer often becomes a simple, automatic, understated response. The truth would perhaps be a long winded over share in many situations.

So thank you to the three amazing women who shared their stories.

As I said the judging isn't easy. These are non-fiction personal accounts about an image that is part of your body.

Thanks again to @papa-pepper for creating this contest and supporting me through my first week hosting.

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Here are this weeks winners

3rd Place @penpen

https://steemit.com/tattoostorycontest/@penpen/tattoo-story-contest-vietnamese-lotus

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2nd Place @beanz

https://steemit.com/tattoo/@beanz/my-tattoo-stands-for-the-evil-that-in-our-nature

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1st Place @lscottphotos

https://steemit.com/tattoostorycontest/@lscottphotos/lscottphotos-tattoo-story-contest-entry-the-crows-photos-of-me

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Check out the winning posts, support them, and let me know what you think.

Entries for Week Eight are now open.

If this challenge interests you please consider entering. All SBD & Steem generated from this post, and updates during the week featuring the image below will be distributed as prizes to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd places.

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Here are the guidelines

• Take a current photo of your tattoo

• To verify your entry, display a sheet of paper with “Tattoo Story Contest Entry” written on it next to the tattoo photo included in your story.

• One entry per week. Save the others for another week.

• Detail the story behind your tattoo. The stories are as diverse as the art themselves.

• Include Tattoo Story Contest Entry in the title, along with whatever else you want to call it.

• Post the verified photo within the story.

• All entries must be a post tagged #tattoostorycontest #contest #tattoo

• Deadline for entry is Midnight Saturday CST (GMT -5)

All SBD & Steem generated from this post will be distributed as prizes to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd places

If you would like to RESTEEM the competition post to help generate future interest and prize money for the contestants, I would be most grateful. It is not however a condition of entry, and will not influence decisions regarding winners.
I truly believe in resteeming posts that resinate, represent and reflect the stories you yourself wish to be communicating.

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I have found the past months on steemit incredibly rewarding. Thank you to everyone for maintaining a welcoming inclusive environment, that supports creativity, ideas, respectful debate and a nurturing space to share and grow as human beings. PEACE.