Outgoing Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina has revealed nine tattoos she received several years ago while serving in Congress, which she kept hidden until recently. The inked designs were acquired between late 2023 and early 2024—a period marked by personal turmoil including the end of her engagement and the departure of staffers who described working under her as “toxic.”

In a recent interview, Mace stated that tattoos provided her with “the pain I need to feel” and helped her “reclaim” her body and identity. One of her nine tattoos features the opening line of Virginia Woolf’s novel, “Mrs. Dalloway,” an author who died by suicide in 1941.

Mace has also detailed personal challenges, including strained relationships with her father, overcoming obstacles as the first female graduate from The Citadel, and allegations of sexual trauma that have led to PTSD. After losing her primary election this year, Mace is exiting politics and has launched a YouTube talk show series where she recently unveiled her tattoos in full for the first time.