Tattooed women of the Chin minority

Older women of the Chin tribe still have scars of an ancient barbaric tradition. The Chin legend states that when a Burmese king traveled to the area, he was so impressed by the beauty of these women that he took one to marry him. As a result, Chin's families began to tattoo their daughters to be unattractive, preventing them from being kidnapped or forced to become a concubine during the Burmese king's time.

Other tales of Chin say that the tattoo was made for beauty, while others say, that it is to differentiate women between different tribes in case one was removed by another. Traditionally, girls aged 12 to 14 had their faces tattooed in a careful process. They also wear huge earrings that stretch their skin.