WITH nearly a third of women in their 20s now sporting a tattoo, a James Cook University researcher says the growth of the 'ink' industry shows no sign of slowing down.

And it seems that Gladstone women are also on board with the tattoo trend.

A post on The Observer's Facebook page received more than 20 responses with most women commenting that they had several tattoos.

Here are some of the comments:

Lauren Stockwell: I am 24. Have a large back tattoo and a lower back one and getting more. I am also a qualified business worker and mother to 2 beautiful, smart and kind children. It's a person choice to mark your body and isnt for everyone but I love it.
Hayleigh Walter: with 2 -3 pics I am turning 30 and i have 8 tattoos and all have meaning..and I'm getting a big one on June.
Lee Balkin: I'm in my 40's....started getting tattoos in my mid 20's...they all have meaning to me and I'm not finished getting inked yet
Renae Ashleigh Platen: I've got a lot of tattoos but I think the rare beauty in the coming future will be a lady clean skin!
Sam Moore: with vert picI have 5 tattoos with this one being the most recent. The 3 butterflies represent my 3 daughter's. I think it's a personal choice. My last tattoo was done by Mick at Artistic Ink here in Gladstone.
Kylie Seller: I want to get into the tattoo removal business. In 20 years time, I'll be set !!
Chris McTighe: Yes I do have tats ... and I think it's no one else's business, people get them for different reasons and good luck to them. If people don't like tats on women then don't look at them
Floss Atko: I am 35 and have one tattoo in the memory of my baby sister Got 3 teenage kids I make indigenous beading with nrl I sell them to help and rasie MONEY for women in domestic violence And I proud of my tattoo and what I do my sister would be happy with that
Pixie Keech: with pic i am 50 i would love keep going lovely ART tattoo 1st tattoo my age 35 year old .... it was fail it was male indian by lady (that was LONG time ago) so when i turn 50 Tyson re crover up make look good i LOVE yellow tailed black cockatoo.... Thank best art tattoo lover Tyson OXOX
Karly Rachelle: Bestmate and my matching tattoos. I'm the butterfly and she's the dragonfly. It was her 4th tatt and my first
Nikki Spokes: Im 23 and have none (yet) but I love tattoo's & my partner is covered
Rhiannon Cherry: Got my first tattoo for my nan passing at age 26 second tattoo for my husband and kids 3rd tattoo from my FAM I grew up with and my last was for friends that have fallen rip...
Cheree N Cruz: Just turned 31. Got 3 tats all to so with my son. 1st-name2nd-star sign3rd-portrait
Sandra Hill: I got a silver fern tattoo last year at age 49. I had always wanted one, but my husband was never keen. He ended up being the one to give me a voucher to go get one.