Shawn Booth is known for declaring his love for Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe in ink. First by sweet-slash-creepy Snapchat (“Don’t worry Kaitlyn … I’m coming for you”) when she was rejected on “The Bachelor”; now by getting a tattoo that matches hers.
(OK, Twitter-land indicates it is a fake tattoo, etched straight from a Sharpie pen.) Still. Kudos to Booth for leaving Bristowe’s name, initials and likeness out of his “fresh ink.” (After all, Bachelor Nation couples aren’t known for their longevity.) The tattoo could be fake, but it’s gotten fans’ attention. A Bustle writer noted her dueling reactions: “That’s so adorable, how are two humans possibly this cute?” Mixed with: “Everybody knows matching tattoos almost always doom a relationship.”
Who knows whether Booth and Bristowe will last? I sure don’t. But let’s examine both scenarios for a moment.
Scenario 1: They are just another failed “Bachelorette” couple.
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If they break up, Booth can reframe the story of the tattoo as a reminder of that time he fell in love on national television rather than a permanent token of affection for any one person in particular.
Those doves could even help Booth find love all over again. According to a study by researchers at the University of Western Australia, markers such as beards and tattoos could help singles stand out in a crowded dating market.
“In large groups where individuals are surrounded by strangers, we need a quick, reliable tool to evaluate someone’s strength and quality, and that’s where these elaborate ornaments come in,” the study notes. “In the case of humans, this may also include phenotypic extensions such as body decoration, jewelry and prestige items.”
Scenario 2: They actually found love on TV.
Maybe Booth and Bristowe will last longer than a (possible) henna tattoo. As long as the body art was consensual, Nick Barkley, the manager of Tattoo Paradise in Washington, sees no danger of a tattoo jinxing a relationship. And he doesn’t play relationship counselor with those about to go under the needle.
“The only time we ever really advise or suggest that more thought be put into it,” Barkley says, “is when one party seems to be pushing another party into it,” adding that this is more typical with unmarried couples than hitched ones.
When someone regrets inking a lover’s name on his or her body, he says, it’s most often because they regret getting a poor-quality tattoo.
Barkley notes that he’s seen an increase in relationship tattoos, but the rise is in line with the overall growing popularity of body art. He sees a lot of names or initials on lovers’ bodies, tattoos on the fingers in place of wedding bands (a la Beyonce and Jay Z).
With either outcome, Booth and his doves should be just fine.