Outgoing Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace has revealed nine new tattoos, unveiled in a high-octane introduction for her YouTube show, 'Get Maced.' The 48-year-old congresswoman showcased her new ink in a bikini, alongside footage of her surfing and firing an automatic weapon.
Mace had previously disclosed in a February profile that she received the tattoos during a difficult period marked by 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 following trauma, including past sexual abuse. One tattoo features the opening line from Virginia Woolf's novel 'Mrs. Dalloway,' while others include the word 'Justice,' a saintly figure, a lion, a bird, a flower, and a sun.
Donald Trump, whom Mace has referred to as a 'father figure,' has reportedly taken notice of her tattoos. According to Fits News, Trump told a group of South Carolina politicians last December that he had heard she had a number of 'freaky tattoos.'
Until recently, Mace had largely concealed the tattoos in public appearances. She recently finished fifth in the Republican primary for South Carolina governor, having not secured Trump's endorsement. Following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, she declined a potential Senate bid. Her current term in the House of Representatives concludes in January 2027, marking her first time out of elected office in nearly a decade.
The YouTube channel, 'Get Maced,' is intended for Mace to comment on daily news. Segments already available cover topics from the WNBA to 'radical Islam.' The promotional video emphasizes her transition out of Washington with the declaration, 'What happens when a Bulldog leaves Washington? She takes the fight to the people.'
Social media reactions to the unveiling included surprise and skepticism, with some users questioning if the images were AI-generated. Mace has often linked her personal experiences, including her PTSD from past trauma and a difficult relationship with her father, to her political identity. She has spoken openly about suffering sexual abuse as a teenager and a subsequent period of therapy and legal battles related to accusations she made on the House floor in February 2025. All four men accused denied the claims, and litigation is ongoing.
Mace's political career has seen shifts in her relationship with Trump. After working on his 2016 campaign, her support for releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein reportedly created distance. She suggested to NewsNation last month that this rift might have impacted her future political prospects. Her YouTube venture appears to be a strategic effort to maintain a public presence on her own terms as her congressional term concludes.