Ethan “ModBoy” Bramble: From Extreme Canvas to Fatherhood
He once made headlines for every inch of his body—a living, breathing work of art that challenged the boundaries of self-expression. Tattoos, a split tongue, stretched ears, even tattooed eyeballs: Ethan “ModBoy”
Bramble’s appearance was designed to shock. But behind the bold modifications, a quieter transformation was taking place—one fueled by fatherhood, reflection, and the desire to be seen for who he truly was, not feared.
Ethan began altering his body at just eleven, stretching his ears and experimenting with extreme modifications throughout his teenage years. By seventeen, he had split his tongue, and over the years, he added dozens of other changes, ultimately accumulating more than 200 tattoos. In interviews, he revealed spending roughly $60,000 AUD (£36,000) on the transformations that made him famous.
Now, as a new father, Ethan is taking a radically different path: slowly removing the tattoos that once defined him. Through a series of painful laser treatments spanning over a year, he is erasing his facial ink, aiming to restore a blank canvas over the next two years.
“I started getting it done because of anxiety… a lot of it came from having a face full of tattoos,” he admitted. More than regret, Ethan’s motivation is a desire to live without judgment and raise his daughter in a world where extreme body modifications aren’t expected or imposed.
Ethan’s past has not been without controversy. Legal issues in Victoria and public scrutiny have followed him, yet he has remained focused on personal growth and family life. “I guess you could say I regret some tattoos. Not just regret, I think there’s a difference between regret and wanting to be seen differently,” he explained.
From his first trips to tattoo parlors at thirteen to over 40 body modifications—including splitting his tongue, altering his lips and nostrils, tattooing his eyeballs, and reshaping his ears—Ethan’s journey has been intense and unconventional. Yet, at its core, it is also a story of transformation, responsibility, and love.
A Canvas Rewritten
Ethan Bramble’s story is proof that even the boldest choices can be revisited. From extreme body modification icon to devoted father, he demonstrates that transformation is not only physical but deeply personal.
By gradually removing the tattoos that once made him infamous, Ethan is creating space for a life defined by family, self-reflection, and the courage to start anew. Sometimes, the most radical change comes not from shock or rebellion, but from love.