Julia Gnuse, also known as the Illustrated Lady or the Irvine Walker, was an American woman who had 95% of her body (including her face) covered in tattoos and held the Guinness Record for being the most tattooed woman in the world. She died on August 11, 2016, at the age of 61, in Overland Park, Kansas. But what was the cause of her death and what led her to become a walking canvas of art?
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The Rare Condition that Changed Her Life
Julia Gnuse was born on January 18, 1955, in Flint, Michigan. She had a normal childhood and a passion for baking. She moved to California in the mid-1980s and started her own business called Sweet Temptations, selling homemade cookies and pies to 7-Eleven stores and office buildings.
However, in her mid-30s, Julia developed a rare condition called porphyria cutanea tarda, which causes skin blistering and scarring when exposed to sunlight. According to Mayo Clinic, porphyria is a group of disorders that result from a buildup of natural chemicals that produce porphyrin in your body. Porphyrins are essential for the function of hemoglobin — a protein in your red blood cells that links to porphyrin, binds iron, and carries oxygen to your organs and tissues. High levels of porphyrins can cause significant problems.
Porphyria cutanea tarda is one of the most common types of porphyria and affects the skin. It occurs when an enzyme called uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase is deficient or low in activity. This leads to an accumulation of porphyrins in the liver and the skin. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, these porphyrins react with oxygen and cause blisters, itching, swelling, and increased hair growth. The blisters can get as deep as third-degree burns and leave permanent scars.
The exact cause of porphyria cutanea tarda is unknown, but some factors that can trigger or worsen it include alcohol use, smoking, hepatitis C infection, iron overload, estrogen use, and HIV infection. There is no cure for porphyria cutanea tarda, but treatment options include avoiding sun exposure, reducing alcohol intake, taking medication to lower iron levels, and undergoing phlebotomy (blood removal) or low-dose hydroxychloroquine therapy.
The Tattoos that Covered Her Scars
Julia Gnuse was devastated by her condition and tried various ways to cope with it. She wore long sleeves, hats, gloves, and sunglasses to protect her skin from the sun. She also applied sunscreen and makeup to cover her scars. However, she was not satisfied with these solutions and felt self-conscious about her appearance.
A friend of Julia’s who was a plastic surgeon suggested that she get her skin tattooed in a pale skin tone color, similar to the color of her scars. This was attempted but didn’t turn out the way they had hoped. The tattoos did not prevent the skin from blistering as they were purely aesthetic.
Instead of giving up, Julia decided to try colorful tattoos, consisting of a variety of themes, including her favorite cartoons, her favorite actors, and even a self-portrait. She found a tattoo artist named Art Godoy who agreed to work on her for free in exchange for publicity. She also met other tattoo artists who contributed to her body art over the years.
Julia spent over 700 hours getting tattooed and spent over $80,000 on her tattoos. She said that getting tattooed was painful but also therapeutic. She said that she felt more confident and happy with her tattoos than without them. She also said that she enjoyed being different and expressing herself through her tattoos.
Julia became famous for her tattoos and appeared on numerous TV shows, magazines, newspapers, and documentaries. She also had a small role in Aerosmith’s music video for their song “Pink”. She held the Guinness Record for being the most tattooed woman in the world since 1999. A statue of her is in the Guinness Museum in Japan.
The Eating Disorder that Took Her Life
Despite her fame and popularity, Julia Gnuse struggled with another health issue that was not visible to the public: an eating disorder. According to one of the tattoo artists who tattooed Julia for seven years, she suffered from bulimia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging behaviors such as vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise. Bulimia nervosa can cause serious complications such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, tooth decay, esophageal damage, gastric rupture, cardiac arrhythmia, and death.
Julia’s eating disorder was likely influenced by her low self-esteem, body image issues, and emotional trauma. She may have also used food as a way to cope with her stress and pain. She did not seek professional help for her eating disorder and kept it a secret from most people.
Julia’s eating disorder eventually took a toll on her health and led to her death. She died on August 11, 2016, in Overland Park, Kansas, while visiting her sister, Revé Gnuse Butler. Her cause of death is not listed on her official obituary, but according to the tattoo artist who knew her well, she passed away from complications of an eating disorder. She was 61 years old.
The Legacy that Lives On
Julia Gnuse was a remarkable woman who faced many challenges in her life. She was diagnosed with a rare and incurable condition that caused her skin to blister and scar. She turned her scars into art and became the most tattooed woman in the world. She inspired many people with her courage, creativity, and personality. She also battled an eating disorder that ultimately claimed her life.
Julia Gnuse left behind a legacy that lives on through her tattoos, her records, her appearances, and her fans. She also left behind a sister, a brother-in-law, a lifelong friend, an uncle, and cousins who loved her dearly. She was cremated and buried in Lewistown Cemetery in Missouri.
Julia Gnuse’s story is a tragic but also a beautiful one. She showed the world that beauty is more than skin deep and that tattoos are more than just ink. She showed the world that despite the hardships and struggles that life throws at us, we can still find joy and meaning in our existence. She showed the world that we are all unique and special in our own ways.
Julia Gnuse was the Illustrated Lady, but she was also much more than that. She was a human being who lived, loved, and left a mark on this world. May she rest in peace.
