Outgoing Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace has addressed the public reaction to her newly revealed tattoos, criticizing the attention given to her body art.

Mace, 48, showcased her arms, which feature at least nine new tattoos, in a promotional video for her YouTube channel, "Get Maced." The video includes footage of her surfing and firing an automatic weapon while wearing a bikini. The display prompted online discussion, with Fox News commentator Raymond Arroyo describing the tattoos as "a cry for help."

Mace responded on social media, expressing bewilderment at the focus on her appearance. "My biceps should NOT be a news story. We have more important things to worry about. Goodness. And God Bless America," she wrote. She also stated, "Thoughts and prayers to all those affected by my sleeves. Made the mistake of opening my social media this afternoon. Some of y'all are OUT OF CONTROL."

Arroyo, during a discussion on Laura Ingraham's show, suggested Mace's tattoos could send a negative message to other women. He also commented on a tattoo of the Virgin Mary on Mace's arm, saying he wished she would pray to the religious figure rather than get her image tattooed. IMAGE6

Mace had previously revealed in a February interview with Politico that she received nine tattoos in quick succession during a difficult period, which included the end of her engagement and the departure of her congressional staff. She described the tattoos as a way to experience "the pain that I need to feel" and to "reclaim" her body and identity after experiencing trauma, including sexual abuse as a teenager. Among her tattoos are a quote from Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway," the word "Justice," a depiction of a saintly figure, a lion, a bird, a flower, and the sun. IMAGE1 Outgoing Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace hit back at the media firestorm caused by her newly posted bikini photos that revealed no fewer than nine new tattoos

Until recently, Mace had largely concealed the tattoos in public appearances. Her term in the House of Representatives is set to conclude in January 2027, leaving her without elected office for the first time in nearly a decade. IMAGE3 Mace's term ends in January 2027, leaving her without elected office for the first time in almost a decade

The promotional video for her YouTube channel, where she plans to offer commentary on daily news, was released as she concludes her congressional tenure. The channel's introduction states, "What happens when a Bulldog leaves Washington? She takes the fight to the people."