NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Meet Australian doctor dubbed 'world's most tattooed doctor'

By Rebekah Scanlan
news.com.au·
2 Sep, 2019 03:04 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

One of Adelaide's most promising young doctors is covered head to toe in tattoos. Photo / Instagram

One of Adelaide's most promising young doctors is covered head to toe in tattoos. Photo / Instagram

An Australian woman who is being hailed as one of this country's "best and brightest doctors" has more than one goal in her sight.

As well as being one of Adelaide's most promising young doctors, Dr Sarah Gray is also planning to be the "world's most tattooed doctor" - once she finishes her bodysuit, the term for being covered from top to toe in tattoos, minus her face.

The 31-year-old doctor has opened up about her two loves — body art and medicine - and how the two, which don't traditionally go hand-in-hand, are smashing stereotypes within the medical profession.

View this post on Instagram

Just a reminder to those out there that are struggling. It's OK to NOT be OK. I'm always just a message away if you're down & out 💜 #ruok #mentalhealthawareness #doctorsoftomorrow #littmann #supportoneanother #onelove #support

A post shared by Dr Sarah Jane (@rosesarered_23) on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:49am PDT

"I find it's a good talking point, especially a lot of the younger generation of patients that we see. I guess it's a bit of a barrier breakdown between what it is traditionally thought a doctor would look like," she told Sunrise.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Sarah, who is in her internship at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, describes herself as "the most colourful" doctor there.

"If you're confident and competent at your job, it shouldn't really matter what you look like," she said.

View this post on Instagram

Week 1 Surgical Selective in Orthopaedics done & dusted. It's been such an fun and educational experience so far. I've learnt so much already! LOVING IT and looking forward to next week!! Here are some radiographic examples of just a few of the procedures I've been able to observe or assist with. *Note* These images were taken from a public library source on Radiopedia, not actual patient images so there are no concerns for confidentiality. They are just examples of similar procedures 😊 #surgicalselective #orthopedicsurgery #scrublife #surgery #arthroplasty #elective

A post shared by Dr Sarah Jane (@rosesarered_23) on Aug 17, 2018 at 1:52am PDT

"I'm just trying to advocate for being your own person and still being able to work in the medical profession."

Sarah had her first tattoo at age 16 and now owns a tattoo parlour with her husband Matt, a full-time tattoo artist called The Grim Raptor.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She's a horror movie fan too, admitting she's always liked the "dark side" of things — but insists she would never have anything "offensive" inked on her body.

View this post on Instagram

[One girl, two suits] Happy #internationalwomensday to all the women out there that are afraid to be themselves. You can be ANYTHING you want! Just put on some shoulder pads, wear a power suit & face the day head on. You got this! #womenempoweringeachother #bethechange #powersuitforthewin #doctorscomeinmanycolours

A post shared by Dr Sarah Jane (@rosesarered_23) on Mar 8, 2019 at 2:08am PST

"I don't have anything offensive on me anywhere, I think everything is done really well, and I think there's a real difference between getting a tattoo that's of poor quality and getting a tattoo if you're an art collector like myself," she said.

Her unusual status as the "world's most tattooed doctor" has earned Sarah a cult following, with more than 60,000 people keeping up-to-date with her skin collection on Instagram.

In an interview with The Daily Mail Australia last year, Sarah explained she'd been turned away from restaurants and refused service in shops because of her tattoos, which she finds "frustrating".

Discover more

Opinion

Kiwi ink: Are we a nation of bad tattoos?

12 Mar 06:00 PM
Airlines

Air NZ confirms U-turn on visible staff tattoos

10 Jun 12:06 AM
Lifestyle

Dark secret behind woman's tattoos

13 Jul 11:42 PM
Lifestyle

Meet the deaf and blind doctor

29 Sep 10:09 PM
View this post on Instagram

🍭🍭Just a casual every day look for judging tonight at @missinkedbeauty_ by the dream team @blakebutlermakeup & @archie_and_jess @archieco_ #bebold #rainbowhair #nofilterneeded #subtle #inkedwomen #flyundertheradar

A post shared by Dr Sarah Jane (@rosesarered_23) on Aug 30, 2019 at 11:33pm PDT

"When I'm at work, I don't get treated differently for being colourful. Both my patients & senior clinicians treat me fairly nor judge me on my appearance the majority of the time," she wrote in a lengthy Instagram post in April.

She went on to encourage her followers to be "unapologetically themselves", particularly in more conservative sectors so that the "shock factor disappears" and tattoos can become the "norm".

"I only hope that each day education surrounding body art continues to feed through the generations like a ripple affect & those that judge us as 'bad people' based on our appearance fade into the background," she said.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

'Good on ya, mate': Fire at city restaurant extinguished with beer

27 Jun 11:21 PM
Premium
Lifestyle

A guide to chia, flax and hemp seeds, aka ‘super seeds’

27 Jun 11:00 PM
Premium
Lifestyle

'The best deal I've ever got:' Kiwi author's book about cats snapped up by UK publisher

27 Jun 10:00 PM

Why wallpaper works wonders

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

'Good on ya, mate': Fire at city restaurant extinguished with beer

'Good on ya, mate': Fire at city restaurant extinguished with beer

27 Jun 11:21 PM

Fire burned through Speight's beer lines and ended up dousing the flames.

Premium
A guide to chia, flax and hemp seeds, aka ‘super seeds’

A guide to chia, flax and hemp seeds, aka ‘super seeds’

27 Jun 11:00 PM
Premium
'The best deal I've ever got:' Kiwi author's book about cats snapped up by UK publisher

'The best deal I've ever got:' Kiwi author's book about cats snapped up by UK publisher

27 Jun 10:00 PM
Premium
The surprising benefits of using poles for hiking and walking

The surprising benefits of using poles for hiking and walking

27 Jun 06:00 PM
A new care model to put patients first
sponsored

A new care model to put patients first

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP