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A model has opened up about what her inkings mean after recovering from a vicious meth addiction.
For some, tattoos are merely a name to honour a loved one or a detailed portrait of a favourite film character.
But for Toni Becker, a select few of her many pieces of body art have a bit more meaning than behind them than others.
READ MORE:Tattoo model transforms after coming close to death with meth and booze addiction
The model and mental health advocate, 36, has racked up thousands of TikTok followers where she shares the reality of addiction, and recovery.
Having had her first alcoholic drink at 12, this was the start of a slippery slope for the South African beauty.
After being admitted into rehab for alcoholic abuse and anorexia at the age of 22, Toni then turned to crystal meth and a drug known as CAT (methcathinone, a stimulant drug similar to methamphetamine and easily accessible in South Africa).
She is now celebrating 10 years of sobriety and along with having previously shared her battle to achieve this, the model has revealed what some of her inkings mean to her.
Toni exclusively told Daily Star: “Most of my tattoos are artworks and strong female characters that mean something to me – but I do have two tattoos that are in memory of my cousin Teri.
“They are incredibly special to me.
“I had one constant in my life and this was my cousin, Teri. Teri and I were the same age and best friends – I considered her my sister.
“After I went to my first rehab for alcohol abuse, Teri contracted meningitis and passed away.
“And that is when the drugs began.”
The inkings to remember her special cousin Teri are not the only prominent pieces that mean a lot to the model.
Although at first she did not want to have a permanent reminder inked onto her body of her recovery, Toni eventually changed her mind.
“I always promised myself I wouldn't get an addiction recovery tattoo because I felt like it would be bad luck”, she admitted.
“However, a few months back I got the words 'we do recover' tattooed on the back of my knee as it is something I truly believe in.
“I also have a mirror tattoo on my back with the words ‘it has been a beautiful fight, still is’ inside of the mirror.
“It's literally a 'just for today' concept and I love that – it takes the pressure off.
“Because that is what recovery is – it's an everyday thing.”
“There is no single path to recovery but I do believe that by speaking to others who have been through it – you can get the extra nudge you need to just try recovery.
“I would also say that recovery is not easy and anyone who says it is is lying.”
Toni shared: “Recovery is difficult, frustrating and painstaking in the beginning – but with a community behind you it becomes easier and as each day goes by, and you keep doing the next right thing.
“Take it one day at a time and trust the process, it gets better and it is so worth it."
You can follow Toni on TikTok here.
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