In the world of body modification, few names resonate as deeply as Shannon Larratt. To many, he was a writer, a thinker, an innovator—but to an entire generation of piercers, artists, and enthusiasts, he was a beacon. Shannon’s work changed the way we talk about body modification, how we experience it, and how we build community around it. His impact continues to shape our industry today—and it’s part of what shaped me into the piercer I am.
Shannon Larratt was the founder and publisher of BMEzine (Body Modification Ezine), a revolutionary online resource that brought the global modification community together. Long before social media gave us endless content at our fingertips, BME was a place where artists and clients alike could share experiences, document their journeys, and learn about the art, ethics, and evolution of body modification. It wasn’t just a website—it was a lifeline. A place of visibility, of inclusion, and of education.
He pushed boundaries not just through content but through conversation. He wrote about the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual sides of body modification with clarity and compassion. He believed that body autonomy, self-expression, and transformation were sacred things—and he created a space where those beliefs were treated with the respect they deserve.
For those of us in the industry today, Shannon’s contributions are impossible to overstate. His work laid a foundation that allowed so many of us to find our voices, our passions, and our people. And for me personally, his legacy had a direct impact that changed the course of my professional life.
I was a recipient of the Shannon Larratt Memorial Scholarship through Industrial Strength, a program designed to support aspiring piercers in their educational journey. That scholarship is how I was able to attend my very first Association of Professional Piercers (APP) Conference—a milestone that would go on to shape my career in piercing in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time.
Attending the APP Conference introduced me to a level of professionalism, ethics, and community that I had long admired but hadn’t yet experienced firsthand. It gave me access to advanced education, mentorship, and connections that continue to fuel my passion and keep me striving for excellence. Without Shannon’s influence, without that scholarship—none of that may have happened.
So when I talk about the importance of legacy in this industry, I’m not speaking in abstract terms. I’m speaking from lived experience.
Shannon Larratt’s name might not be familiar to every client who walks through the door, but his fingerprints are on nearly everything we do. He helped bring body modification out of the shadows and into the light. He believed in education, in consent, in bodily autonomy, and in celebrating all the strange and beautiful ways we choose to live in our bodies. And because of his work—and the work of those who carry his torch—our industry continues to evolve into something more ethical, more informed, and more compassionate.
To say I’m grateful would be an understatement. I’m honored to be a part of the legacy he helped build—and to carry that forward with every safe, intentional, anatomy-respecting piercing I perform.
Thank you, Shannon. Your voice still echoes, and your impact is still felt.