Maria José Cristerna, now known as the ‘Real-Life Vampire’ or ‘Vampire Woman,’ is no stranger to standing out. Fangs? Check. Split tongue? Check. Titanium horns? Yep, you guessed it — check. And let’s not forget the tattoos — lots and lots of ‘em.
But while her look is definitely unforgettable, Maria has a message for anyone thinking of following her lead — and we’d tell you all about it.
At 47, Maria’s had 49 body mods, but here’s the twist — she’s not telling everyone to rush out and get horns and tattoos. In fact, she’s kind of like that friend who says, “Do it, but think about it first!”
Her advice? “These changes are permanent, so think long and hard about it.” Yeah, she’s basically the voice of reason for people who might get a little too carried away with trends… or something they say about peer pressure.
Maria didn’t start out as the “Vampire Woman.” At 14, she got her first tattoo. By 30, she was putting implants in her forehead. You know, for fun. But for her, these mods represent freedom — freedom from a past filled with domestic abuse.
Sad but here’s the thing: Maria says each change is about reclaiming her power and saying, “I’m in charge of my body.”
Of course, she didn’t win over everyone with her new look. Back in the day, people were straight-up scared of her. We’re talking crossing the street to avoid her kind of scared. But now? She’s a sensation. Fans call her a “beautiful goddess” and a “work of art.” Guess people warmed up to her.
Maria is all about owning your choices. She recently posted a bikini pic, showing off her tattoos, and even said, “White isn’t so bad.” The comments flooded in — fans were loving it. But she hasn’t forgotten where she came from.
Again, her message is clear: before you go and make any permanent decisions about your body, make sure it’s for you — not because it’s what everyone else is doing.
Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in August 2024.
