World's most tattooed living person with up to 40 layers of ink has 90% of body covered

A Canadian man has been crowned the world's most tattooed living person in the 2027 Guinness World Records, with 90% of his body covered in tattoos and some areas being covered with 40 layers of ink.

Remy Schofield, 38, had given up on ever getting his name in the iconic book of records, as the record holder for percentage of body covered in tattoos has belonged to hall of famer Lucky Diamond Rich, who is completely covered from head to toe, for two decades.

However, a newly-introduced record for the 2027 edition has recognised the extent of Remy's tattooing, as he has gone over his body multiple times, constantly adding new tattoos on top of old ones.

The new Guinness World Records for 2027 has 3,000 achievements from around the world, with UK record-breakers including a Suffolk My Little Pony fan, and a London-based foot juggler who spins a 10kg table on her feet.

It's a record that Remy cherishes and considers an acknowledgement for all the effort that goes into such a 'passion project,' especially as he'd lost hope of ever seeing his name in the big book.

'This is more of my career than anything I've done for work'

He told LADbible it feels 'surreal, almost like a dream... I'd made my peace, this isn't going to be mine'.

"I didn't go to college or university, I was a cook for 20 years, I managed a restaurant," he explained. "So I would say it was similar to the feeling of getting your degree. It's a lifetime achievement.

"This is more of my career than anything I've done for work. That probably sounds insane to some people but when you understand how much time and patience is put into this, and still continues to be.

"If you understand the amount of commitment and discipline that goes into living this way, it's an acknowledgement that could only come of living this way."

Remy, a content creator who has documented his hundreds of sessions in recent years, didn't just stop at one body suit, but has continued to change his appearance with new ink.

At one point, his body was completely blacked-out and the pre-existing notion was that it could not be tattooed over. Some what of an innovator, he smashed those preconceptions to pieces.

While most of us may deliberate on a tattoo for some time before finally getting it etched on our skin, or are just completely put off altogether, as it 'lasts forever', Remy has more qualms about cutting his hair.

"My whole gimmick is I can change my outfit whenever I want," he said. "I feel more consequential about cutting my hair than I do getting a tattoo, changing a tattoo. I can change the colour of a tattoo faster than I can grow my hair out."

He continued: "I like the ability that I have to constantly change it like I change my clothes. It's a crazy thing, most people consider tattoos permanent but on me they're really not."

Even after getting the record he's longed for, there will be no slowing down on the tattoo front. He's still having two sessions a week and plans to get his whole back redone next.

"I've got even more gas in the tank. It's renewed my motivation to go even further. I don't know if I'll ever be finished or not," he said.

Why Remy Schofield doesn't have his face covered

The first thing you'll notice after seeing the striking purple designs that completely cover his arms, legs and midriff, is that Remy's face is relatively untouched.

Not completely, like, as he has bats on his eyelids, writing above his eyebrows and tattoos up his chin and surrounding his face. All of them have been different things, too, with 130 hours of work done to his face alone.

Yet, you can clearly still see a lot of the skin, especially when you compare to the completely covered Lucky Diamond Rich.

He feared not having his face completely covered would prevent his name from ever going in the Guinness Book of Records.

"I figured I'd never have the record just on that," he said. "I've had so much pressure on people to do that, just tattoo the rest of your face. Very obviously if I wanted to do that, I would have done it.

"For me, I wasn't willing to cross that bridge. So I was resigned on not getting this record. I was bitter about it and I really didn't want to approach it."

However, an intervention from New Zealand performance artist Lucky Diamond Rich spurred him on, as he set up a meeting with Guinness and the record was secured two days later.

But why doesn't Remy want to tattoo all of his face after going so far already? Including four forehead extensions and many chin extensions.

He explained to LADbible that it's all about being able to recognise himself in the mirror.

He said: "I feel like when you do your full face it changes the way you interface with the world forever. The minute you fully tattoo your face, your committed to that forever. It changes the way you view yourself. Any time I do any amount on my face, I see myself differently.

"I could do it if I wanted, it wouldn't cost me at my job, it's just about how I see myself, I don't want to be consumed by my project."

The tattoos Remy will never cover

You may be surprised to learn at one point in his life, Remy didn't think he'd ever get tattooed. He was much more of piercing guy and had more than 100 before his first tat.

His first tattoo did come, though, when he was 17, with his son's name on his forearm.

Two decades later and now he has 90 percent of his body tattooed and has spent an untold number of hours in the chair, changing his appearance time and again, covering up old favourites and constantly evolving.

However, there are some tattoos that, though they may be altered, will never be removed as they are tributes to people who have sadly passed away.

'Everything I get as a memorial will never be covered'

"I've got some memorial tattoos on my head, they'll never go away," he said. "One for my mother, one for my father and one for my son's mother. She passed away of cancer in 2016.

"Everything I get as a memorial will never be covered. You have to rework things to keep them in the composition, but that's my way of honouring them."

There's also a striking portrait of a cute dog in a tuxedo on his leg, Mozart the Shih Tzu Poodle, who died last April.

"I've had lots of favourites, right now my favourite one, a big dog portrait, my dog I had for 16 years, on my right thigh," he said. "I saved that place on my blackout for him.

"I cared more about that dog than most people."