Elayne Angel

Since the 1980s Angel has been a driving force to professionalize and promote body piercing. She became Manager of Gauntlet, Inc., the first piercing specialty business in the United States, when it was still the only piercing studio in the country. A contributing writer for PAIN Magazine, she has served multiple terms on the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Piercers, including as president. She guest pierces at fine studios around the United States, performs online anatomy and piercing problem consultations, and provides customized continuing education for professional piercers. Within the professional piercing industry Elayne Angel is known as a pioneer for developing piercing techniques, formulating after care guidelines, and innovating a variety of new piercing placements. She is credited with popularizing tongue and triangle piercings, naming the lorum, and inventing the fourchette and Princess Diana piercings. Angel was founder and President of Rings of Desire, Inc., in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where she pierced for over twelve years. Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, she closed her studio and relocated to the Yucatan in Mexico.