Bernie Sanders may be a long shot for the Democratic presidential nominee, but his most ardent fans will tell you that the democratic socialist has already inspired millions of people who'd long given up on politicians and grown wary of Wall Street. In fact, several tattoo shops around the country have tapped into the excitement, offering free Sanders tattoos. (Aartistic Inc. in Vermont began offering these tributes to counter a New Hampshire tattoo shop giving free Donald Trump tattoos.) No matter the outcome of the 2016 election, those who have commemorated the political movement with tattoos may be feelin' the Bern forever. Cosmopolitan.com spoke to eight women with Sanders tattoos about why they got them and why they'll never regret them.

Photo: Lisabeth Detwiler | Art: Jerrett Querubin at Tinta Cantina

Lisabeth Detwiler, 33, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Why you got it: I've been listening to Bernie for about 10 years on the radio on the Thom Hartmann radio program, and so I've been very familiar with Bernie and his politics, and I was always struck by his unwavering support for the middle class. I got the tattoo as an homage to somebody that I admire tremendously.

Any chance of regret?: Oh, of course not. I mean whether or not he loses, he's somebody that I admire — or whether or not he wins, that is. And, I mean, I have far too many tattoos to regret any of them.

Tattoo location: Upper left thigh

Photo: Vanessa Simo | Art: South County Tattoo

Vanessa Simo, 34, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Why you got it: He really speaks for a lot of the things I feel passionate about. I can only relate it to a religious experience, which sounds crazy. I'm a homeschooling mom, and I've talked to a lot of Christian homeschoolers, and they'll talk about their faith like, "Oh, you feel it in your heart; you know it transforms your life," and I was listening to Bernie Sanders talk, and I was like, "Oh my gosh." He spoke to me! All the things he was talking about that were important, were important to me — health care, education. This was someone who was actually saying something that mattered. Then I heard that they were giving all these tattoos away in Vermont, and I thought, Oh my gosh, I want that. Because to me, it signified everything I believe in and I could've easily just gotten "liberty" or "believe" or something patriotic, but that would've been so generic. This, I look at it and I'm like, Yeah, that man stands for something I believe in.

Any chance of regret?: No. Art's awesome; you can never go back. It's a cool tattoo, but that's not even it. It's like I look at it, and I'm like, "Whoa." I've never heard a politician talk and felt like I almost could cry. I look at it and I go, "Yeah, I stand for that," and I can tell my kids, "Listen, you have to stand up for what you need or what you believe," and this is what we need and this is what I believe in, so, no, I won't regret it.

Tattoo location: Inner left arm

Photo: Emily Kueppers | Art: Aartistic

Emily Kueppers, 19, Burlington, Vermont

Why you got it: I got the Bernie Sanders tattoo, one, because it was gaining a lot of attention. People were sharing articles about it on Facebook because this studio in Winooski, Vermont, was giving free Bernie tattoos in protest against a studio in New Hampshire that was giving free Donald Trump tattoos. And I also got it because this is the first election that I'll be able to vote in and I really like the issues that Bernie is fighting for; they really resonate with me as someone who's a member of the LGBTQ community, the things that he stands for, and the honesty he speaks with kind of makes you have faith that our country can be cool and a supportive place, and even if he doesn't win the presidency, knock on wood, these are morals that I want instilled within me for the rest of my life. It also is a reminder that my voice matters, and that politics is something I'm passionate about and I'm going to be passionate about for the rest of my life.

Any chance of regret?: I think the only reason that would make me regret getting this tattoo [is] if Bernie were to change his moral goals, like if he were to start supporting and representing something that I don't believe in.

Tattoo location: Left leg

PHOTO: REBECCA MOSELEY | ART: AARTISTIC

Rebecca Moseley, 44, Burlington, Vermont

Why you got it: I thought that was a super-great way to do something local and express myself and where I'm from. When I was in high school, Bernie was the mayor of Burlington, and he's just a really down-to-earth guy. For me, it was more about supporting the person that he is. He has helped so many people — my cousin's husband was a veteran and he was at a basic training thing and he had an injury and he couldn't get it taken care of and it was causing him to lose consciousness. And my dad thought of calling Bernie to see if there was something that he could do, 'cause he was really supportive of veterans' rights. Bernie immediately made some phone calls so he could [get] surgery. Every time I share that story, there's so many other people who randomly have the same kind of story. So I think it's less about the idea that Bernie's a politician and more about the idea that he understands that other people need other people sometimes. And that really goes against the politics as usual. I just wanted to support him and be able to talk to other people about it. There's a bunch of other people who have the same tattoo, and I just think it will be great to run into those people and say, "Hey," and talk about it.

Any chance of regret?: No, no. I mean I thought about that. I wouldn't consider getting a tattoo for just anybody. The bottom line is that over my [time] growing up, he's been my mayor, my congressman, and I think that that really kind of defines people who are from Vermont as well. You know, that they're pretty honest and they're pretty open and they try to help others, and we have a really sort of community attitude toward taking care of each other, and I just think that [the tattoo is] symbolic of the bigger picture of who I am and who Vermont is.

Tattoo location: Above ankle

Photo: Beth Joy | Art: Monica Mangano, Melissa Ebeling

Beth Joy*, 40, New York, New York

Why you got it: I have never felt it so important to be on the right side of history as I do with this campaign. I am a constitutional enlightened democratic socialist à la FDR. Democracy died with him. Bernie will bring it back — waking up Americans to voter manipulation and untruths to become leader of the free world. My Birdie Sanders tattoo represents truth, justice, and prosperity. It represents being an oddball in NYC, but now the world gets me and why I have been saying these things since high school debate in Illinois.

Any chance of regret?: No regrets about making right choices. Everything happens for a reason, and a revolution is just the beginning. No rain, no rainbow.

Tattoo location: Left arm

PHOTO: SUE BEGIN | ART: STYLZ PIERCINGS

Sue Begin, 51, San Diego, California

Why you got it: I've been not actively involved in politics my whole life, but kind of standing in the background and watching. And Bernie has been the first candidate in my adult life that has really stood for all the things that I believe in. I'm really behind the Bernie movement and ready to give it all I got.

Any chance of regret?: Oh no, never. I was part of something bigger than, I don't know how to express it. But no, I've thought about that, but — my tattoos that I have, I have no regrets. I love them all. I put a lot of thought into it before I got it, and no, I won't regret it. It's part of history at this point.

Tattoo location: Inner left ankle

PHOTO: KRYSTAL WALSH-KIMBALL | ART: AARTISTIC

Krystal Walsh-Kimball, 28, Burlington, Vermont

Why you got it: Because I support Bernie Sanders 100 percent. He's been the only person that's actually been real with people.

Any chance of regret?: Nope. Because whether or not he wins, he's still a big part of the community and he's a big part of the 2016 election. He's going to make a big dent in the world if he does win, hopefully. If he doesn't, then whatever, I still support him 100 percent.

Tattoo location: Left shoulder blade

Photo: Meaghan Mort | Art: Underworld Tattoo

Meaghan Mort, 31, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Why you got it: Well, I didn't actually think I would get a Bernie Sanders tattoo or any politicians tattoo. I thought it really goofy. And I was up canvassing in New Hampshire, and on an impulse, I just decided I was OK with it and I would do it. Even if he doesn't win, it's still a symbol of growth and of change, and it's not just a political revolution but a revolution of my own mind and where I stand on issues that are very important to me. That I really don't see myself changing. I think that's probably the only reason I did it, is because it's something I can support my whole life.

Any chance of regret?: No. I have 13 tattoos and I started when I was 18 and I don't live with regret. Even if it's something I did change my mind on, then it's a visible reminder that everybody makes mistakes and I learn from it.

Tattoo location: Left inner elbow

*Upon request, Cosmopolitan.com has not printed this individual's full name.

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Prachi Gupta Prachi Gupta is an award-winning journalist based in New York.

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