[With ARMY ③] Why a BTS Fan Covered Her Body With 23 Tattoos

This story is part of the With ARMY series, in which K-POPIT meets BTS fans across Spain.

MADRID — For Spanish fans who waited years to see BTS in person, the group's Madrid stop was more than a concert. Many in the crowd had leaned on the band's music through hard stretches of their lives, and on the message to love themselves. Thirteen years after BTS debuted, those fans finally stood in the same room as the group.

BTS (RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook) held "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN MADRID" on Friday and Saturday at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain.

Three fans, Kris, 23, Sky, 23, and Egrell, 28, arrived at the venue in outfits and makeup that showed off their personal style. Each worked in the deep red of BTS's latest album, "ARIRANG," as a signature color.

All three said they first found BTS during a hard time, and the music helped them through it. "When I listened to BTS's songs, it felt like being in a safe place," Kris said.

The lyrics hit them deeply. "Because of BTS, I started thinking more about myself and learned to love myself," Kris said. "The message to love yourself is what helped us hold on this far." Egrell agreed. "It made me realize how important it is to love yourself instead of being shaken by what other people say."

The three have written those lyrics onto their bodies. "I have 32 tattoos," Sky said. She placed the lyrics of her favorite song just below her left chest, closest to her heart. Kris also showed off several tattoos. "I only have one tattoo, but this is the first tattoo of my life," Egrell said, hinting at how much it meant.

The members finished their mandatory military service last year, and this tour is their first chance in a long time to meet ARMY around the world. "I waited for all the members to finish their service and come back, and I'm so excited to see them again," Kris said. "Hearing new music from them again is something I've been looking forward to. The wait was worth it."

The Madrid show was the first time the three had ever seen BTS in concert. "We've loved BTS for 10 years," they said. "But they had never come to Madrid before, so we couldn't see them. We can't believe we're seeing them tonight. It feels like a dream."

The wait had been long, but it made the reunion all the more meaningful. After years of living with BTS through their music alone, fans finally stood in the same space as the group, confirming that every moment of the wait had been worth it.