
Living deep in the mountains of Chin State in western Myanmar are groups of tribal women for whom facial tattoos are a sign of beauty.

Mount Victoria, the highest peak in Chin State, is home to the Munn and Dai tribes, both with their own recognisable facial inkings.

Munn women have a series of small, interlinked rings, arranged in a half-moon, tattooed from the cheeks down to the neck, and the Dai women have their entire faces covered in dots.

Living deep in the mountains of Chin State in western Myanmar are groups of tribal women for whom facial tattoos are a sign of beauty

Mount Victoria, the highest peak in Chin State, is home to the Munn and Dai tribes, both with their own recognisable facial inkings

The Dai women, like the one pictured above, have their entire faces covered in dots. It's now only seen on older women in the region

Italian photographer, Marco Giovanelli, went in search of these legendary women in March 2016.

He said: 'These women really challenged my own prejudice, judgment and definition of beauty.

'The culture of tattooing their faces is now dying but I met a couple of young women who, despite the mainstream pressures, tattooed their face to keep their culture alive.'

When a Chin girl reaches puberty, aged between 12 and 14, she is considered old enough to be tattooed - symbolism of entering adult life.

The tattoos are made using thorn needles and the ink is made from soot, cow bile, plants and pig fat.

When a Chin girl reaches puberty, aged between 12 and 14, she is considered old enough to be tattooed - a symbol of entering adult life

The tattoos are made using thorn needles and the ink is made from soot, cow bile, plants and pig fat. Some have more of their faces covered while others, like the woman above, has just the main design

Munn women have a series of small, interlinked rings, arranged in a half-moon, tattooed from the cheeks down to the neck, as above

This extraordinary custom began in the eleventh century when young maiden girls tattooed themselves, disfiguring their faces to protect them from slavery or being captured by the ruling king

Young girls are no longer participating in the tradition because there is now a heavy fine by the military junta, making it a dying tradition

This extraordinary custom began in the eleventh century when young maiden girls tattooed themselves, disfiguring their faces to protect them from slavery or being captured by the ruling king.

However, as more young women are refusing to join the practice due to the heavy fines imposed by the military dictatorship, the tradition is disappearing.

The travelling photographer said: 'A legend said that an ancient king tried to make slaves of the women, the inkings were first intended to repel incomers. It was supposed to make the girls and women ugly.

'Now, it's their definition of beauty and they are very proud of themselves for having tattoos before the men.'

Giovanelli added: 'I kept remembering the quote "If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how different our ideals of beauty would be" as I have never came across more kind, generous and friendlier people then the women from the South Chin State.'

Italian photographer, Marco Giovanelli, went in search of these legendary women in March 2016 and found that they changed his perception of beauty

The travelling photographer said: 'A legend said that an ancient king tried to make slaves of the women, the inkings were first intended to repel incomers. It was supposed to make the girls and women ugly'

Now the tradition is their definition of beauty and the women are very proud of themselves for having tattoos before the men according to the photographer

Giovanelli added that he has 'never came across more kind, generous and friendlier people then the women from the South Chin State'

Many of the women wore bright and traditional outfits, almost always pictured with a pipe in their hands like the woman above

The military junta has done its best to eradicate the tattoo tradition and levies a hefty fine of half a cow on anyone who gets one