Rep. Nancy Mace has revealed a striking new look after months of keeping it hidden. The outgoing South Carolina Republican debuted nine tattoos on her arms during her new YouTube show, Get Maced. Mace went sleeveless on camera for the first time since getting the ink. The 48-year-old used the episode to promote her new program, which she says will cover current events and news of the day.
Nancy Mace debuts her new nine tattoos
Nancy Mace first disclosed the tattoos in a February interview with Politico. She told the outlet she got all nine in rapid succession between late 2023 and early 2024. The decision came during a period of intense personal and professional turmoil, including a breakup with her fiancé and the departure of her entire congressional staff. “So my story is I am totally broken,” Mace told Politico. “I have PTSD over what I’ve been through.”
She explained that the tattoos helped her “reclaim” her body and identity. Mace also said the physical pain of getting tattooed gave her “the pain that I need to feel.” One tattoo features a quote from Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway: “Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
The congresswoman has spoken openly about surviving alleged rape and sexual molestation throughout her life. She has also discussed her strained relationship with her father. These experiences, she says, drove her decision to mark her body on her own terms. Mace kept the tattoos covered in public appearances until last week. Her social media tease and subsequent podcast episode were a surprising visual shift for the lawmaker.
Mace’s political career has faced significant setbacks. Earlier this year, she finished fifth in the GOP primary for South Carolina governor, losing to Attorney General Alan Wilson. She vacated her congressional seat to run, leaving the first district open after her term ends in January.
The Get Maced podcast appears to be her latest effort to maintain a public platform. Mace was once a vocal ally of President Donald Trump, but her support for the Epstein Files Transparency Act created a rift between them.
