Nancy Mace Unveils Tattoos as She Prepares to Leave Congress

This story originally appeared on The Advocate.

Announcement

As anti-trans Rep. Nancy Mace heads for the exits in Washington, she has announced a new podcast—and revealed a collection of previously hidden tattoos.

The real gossip emerging from the South Carolina Republican’s latest episode of “Get MACED” was the appearance of two sleeves’ worth of ink. Although Mace revealed in a Politico profile earlier this year that she had gotten nine tattoos, the ink had largely remained hidden beneath the congresswoman’s blazers and business attire during public appearances.

Related: ‘Proud transphobe’ Nancy Mace targets RuPaul & Congressional Black Caucus on her way out of Congress

The tattoos include a Virginia Woolf quote, the word “Justice,” an image of Jesus Christ, and several other designs. When she spoke to Politico about the body art, she said the nine tattoos were applied in rapid succession during a tumultuous period when every member of her congressional staff left, either by resigning or being fired. Around the same time, she gave an explosive House speech accusing her ex-fiancé and three other men of committing “heinous crimes against women,” including crimes against her. Her allegations included rape.

She told Politico that getting tattooed was partly about the physical experience, describing the sensation as “the pain that I need to feel.”

While Mace’s tattoos have rarely appeared at official functions, they are not new and were accumulated over several years. Her podcast, launched several weeks ago, features a highlight reel showing the ink through archival photographs and footage of Mace behind the microphone. The Politico profile dates her first nine tattoos to 2023 and 2024, during her time in Congress.

Related: The internet has turned Rep. Nancy Mace’s humiliating election loss into comedy gold

Mace has also endured her share of political pain this year. She ran for governor but lost in the June Republican primary. She declined to run in a special election and endorsed fellow Rep. Ralph Norman, but he finished second to appointed Sen. Darline Graham, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. A runoff is scheduled for August 25.

It remains unclear whether those losses will lead to more ink. But Mace has hinted that her podcast and political commentary could continue after she leaves Congress.

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