Heavily Tattooed Woman Claims TJ Maxx Rejected Her Over Appearance

Ash Putnam, a 24-year-old woman covered in tattoos and facial piercings, went viral on TikTok after claiming TJ Maxx rejected her retail job application. She said she received only an automated email and later confronted the manager, who told her it was due to lack of experience — though Ash suspects her appearance played a role.

In her video, which has over 7 million views, she questioned how young people without work experience are supposed to get jobs. She expressed frustration that her tattoos might be limiting her opportunities, saying, “Just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean I’m not a good worker.”

The online reaction was mixed. Some commenters called face tattoos “career enders” and said they make her “unemployable,” while others pointed out that the placement of tattoos matters more than having them at all. A former TJ Maxx hiring manager even confirmed that visible face tattoos and piercings often disqualify candidates from customer-facing roles.

Ash believes this mindset needs to change, saying tattoos express creativity and should not be seen as unprofessional.