Girl admits lying about face tattoo

The girl at the centre of a face tattoo furore has admitted she did want 56 stars inked on her face, but lied because her father was "furious".

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The 18-year-old said she fell asleep in the tattooist's chair and awoke with 56 black stars covering half her face.

Ms Vlaminck blamed the Flemish-speaking tattoo artist, Rouslan Toumaniantz, for not being able to understand her instructions and urged him to give her $18,000 to have the tattoos lasered off.

She said at the time she looked like "a freak" and could not walk down the street.

Her original account was met with much scepticism, with several tattoo experts telling ninemsn there was no way Ms Vlaminck could have fallen asleep during the process. (Read more: Experts dispute teen's 'tattoo sleep' tale)

But UK newspaper The Telegraph reports the 18-year-old has confessed she did not fall asleep and wanted all the stars.

Ms Vlaminck told a Dutch television crew she was "fully aware" of what was going on.

"I asked for 56 stars and initially adored them," Ms Vlaminck said.

"But when my father saw them he was furious — so I said I fell asleep and that the tattooist had made a mistake."

Mr Toumaniantz, himself covered in piercings and tattoos, continually denied he made a mistake and said she wanted all 56 stars.

"I maintain that she absolutely agreed that I tattoo those 56 stars on the left side of her face," Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure reported Mr Toumaniantz as saying.

"But be that as it may, Kimberley is unhappy and it is not my wish to have an unsatisfied client." (Read more: More teen girls getting tattoos)

It is understood Mr Toumaniantz has withdrawn his offer to pay for the removal of the tattoos and will now get written consent before tattooing clients.