Models pose at the Sachin + Babi Spring 2012 presentation during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Pier 59 on September 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
A model walks the runway at the Luca Luca Spring 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Stage at Lincoln Center on September 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)
A model walks down the runway during the Odd Molly Autumn/Winter 2012 Fashion Show at Berns on February 1, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
A model walks the runway during the Sister by Sibling show at London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012 at Somerset House on February 18, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)
Models at the Sophia Webster presentation during London Fashion Week Spring Summer 2015 on September 14, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)
Australian model and designer Madeline Stuart, who has Down syndrome, acknowledges attendees after presenting creations from her label 21 Reasons Why By Madeline Stuart during New York Fashion Week in Manhattan, New York, U.S., February 12, 2017. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)
Model Juliana Paesthe (C) of Viradouro samba school participates in the annual carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, February 15, 2015. (Photo by Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)
Tattoos are commonly used among criminals to show gang membership and record the wearer's personal history—such as his or her skills, specialties, accomplishments and convictions. They are also used as a means of personal expression. Certain designs have developed recognized coded meanings. The code systems can be quite complex and because of the nature of what they encode, the tattoo designs are not widely recognized.