Gabriela Peralta, from Argentina, and Víctor Hugo Peralta, from Uruguay, have spent more than a decade turning their bodies into a unique form of artistic expression. The couple, known as the “cherubs of hell”, hold the Guinness World Record for the most body modifications by a married couple: 91 in total.
The record was verified on February 13, 2023, in Milan, Italy, during the show Lo Show dei Record. At the time, Víctor had 41 modifications and Gabriela had another 50. Between them, they have piercings, subdermal implants, dental implants, ear expanders, and a split tongue, among other modifications.
But some of their transformations are especially striking. They both had their sclerae, the white parts of their eyes, tattooed, giving their eyeballs a completely black appearance. Víctor also had his ears cut, and they both had the Italian flag tattooed on their chests to commemorate their second appearance on the Italian show.
Their story began long before the record. Víctor got his first tattoo when he was just 11 years old, but he began getting other body modifications in 2009. His first implants were three stars placed on his forehead. Gabriela liked the result so much that she decided to start her own journey with body modifications, too.
For them, it isn’t simply about attracting attention. “Our love for tattoos and body art started with us because we are artists”, Gabriela told Guinness. “We paint not only our bodies, but everything related to art”.
The process hasn’t been without pain, either. Gabriela considers scarification her most painful modification, while Víctor recalls having his tongue pigmented and split as the most difficult experience. He said he had difficulty breathing for several hours.
Despite that, Gabriela says her modifications don’t cause her any lasting discomfort and don’t interfere with her daily life. For the couple, their appearance represents freedom and a way to express who they are.
And although their Guinness World Record is an important part of their story, Víctor says there is something he considers even more important than any title: “Art can be something that brings you together, but there’s nothing like love. If there’s no love, you always lose”.