Emily Morrison, known as “Shark Lady Emily,” has set a new Guinness World Record for the most shark tattoos on a body, according to a special aired during Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2026. The Florida-based shark biologist and tour operator debuted with 106 shark tattoos and added two more during the program, bringing her total to 108.
Morrison, 45, who runs Shark Lady Enterprises among other ventures, began her tattoo collection in 1999 with a great white shark on her lower back. Following the end of her 12-year marriage in 2022, she embraced her “shark life” more fully, engaging in frequent underwater encounters and expanding her tattoo tribute. One pivotal experience with a whale shark inspired the decision to commemorate her interactions permanently through tattoo art.
“I thought that was a great idea and maybe I should have more shark interactions and get them tatted,” Morrison said during the show, noting that each tattoo session usually involves two or three sharks along with occasional teeth designs. She estimates her commitments have amounted to approximately 300 hours of tattooing and around $20,000 in costs.
Morrison reports receiving significant interest and questions about her shark tattoos, which prompted her to apply for the Guinness World Record—a category that previously did not exist. Her ink includes a variety of species such as great white sharks, zebra sharks, tiger sharks, sand tiger sharks, and a school of 13 hammerhead sharks placed across different parts of her body.
Despite the extensive coverage, Morrison says the pain experienced during tattooing varies. She found the area behind her knee to be especially sensitive and described the tattoo over the shin bone of a broadnose sevengill shark as the most painful, almost prompting her to halt the session. Meanwhile, tattoos on the side of her head were less uncomfortable, aided by numbing cream.
During the program, Morrison also contemplates the possibility of a small shark tattoo on her face, indicating she is serious about the idea but favors a modest design, possibly a shark tooth. Upcoming tattoos include two more great white sharks encountered on a recent trip to Australia, destined for her right thigh.
Morrison acknowledges she still has space for many more tattoos across her legs and back and plans to continue filling smaller areas between her existing designs. She emphasized that her tattoos are more than body art—they serve as a conversation starter to boost shark education and conservation awareness.
The latest edition of Shark Week has faced ongoing scrutiny over whether its increasing entertainment focus detracts from its original mission of promoting shark conservation. Morrison contends her tattoo journey and the show help maintain public interest and foster dialogue about sharks in an accessible way. “Shark education is one of my main things,” she said. “I hope this show is a conversation starter.”