Brazilian tattoo artist Diabao Praddo, once known simply as Michel, has pushed the limits of body modification even further by amputating two more fingers from his left hand. The drastic procedure, part of his lifelong mission to achieve an alien-inspired look, has left him with claw-like hands.
Often called the “Human Satan,” the 50-year-old from Praia Grande has spent decades radically altering his body. With more than 100 procedures under his belt, Praddo has split his tongue, removed his ears and nose, and even consumed one of his own nipples. He had previously amputated fingers on his right hand and shows no signs of slowing down.
A Guinness World Record holder, Praddo proudly wears 33 subdermal horn implants, the most ever recorded on a human head. Combined with tattoos covering 85% of his body, his appearance is a striking reflection of his personal vision—becoming something “beyond human.”
Though his modifications could have threatened his career as a tattoo artist, Praddo adapted quickly, learning to work with his altered hands. Phantom pain remains a challenge, but he accepts it as part of the transformation process. “It’s the price I’m willing to pay,” he says, viewing pain as inseparable from progress.
His wife, Carol Praddo—nicknamed the “Demon Woman”—has stood by his side for over a decade, supervising and supporting many of his procedures. Together, they aim for Diabao to earn recognition as the world’s most modified person, a shared pursuit of art, identity, and endurance.
For Praddo, the journey has never been about shocking others. Instead, it’s about fully embodying his vision of what it means to be “less human.”
