Ramona Marquez: Outnumbered Star’s New Life as Tattoo Artist

If you grew up watching the Brockman family bicker and laugh on BBC’s Outnumbered, you probably remember Karen — the sharp, unfiltered youngest daughter. The actress who played her, Ramona Marquez, has since traded the sitcom set for a tattoo studio.

Born: 24 February 2001 ·
Known for: Role as Karen Brockman in BBC sitcom Outnumbered ·
Occupation: Former child actress, tattoo artist ·
Current role: Tattoo artist; active on Instagram (@__princess__mo__) ·
Relationship status: In a relationship (lesbian, as per Instagram bio)

Six key facts about Ramona Marquez, drawn from verified sources.

What does Ramona Marquez do now?

Current career as a tattoo artist

• Ramona Marquez is now a professional tattoo artist. She completed initial training at El Muse Studio in south London, as reported by The Sun (UK tabloid) in January 2025. She shared footage of her early work on TikTok, admitting she was nervous about the career change.
• In an interview with The Independent (UK media) in December 2024, Marquez said she was learning to tattoo on the side because acting can have long gaps between jobs. She stressed that acting remains her “complete passion and ambition.”

The implication: Her move into tattooing is a pragmatic hedge, not a retreat from performance.

Social media presence and Instagram activity

• Marquez is active on Instagram under the handle @__princess__mo__, where she has over 129,000 followers (The Independent). Her bio describes her as “Lesbian, vegan and a sober girly” (PinkNews).
• She also uses TikTok to share updates about her tattooing journey and has spoken about having severe ADHD, which affects her timing and appointments (The Sun).

Is Ramona Marquez in a relationship?

Relationship status and partner

• According to PinkNews, Marquez has been in a relationship with photographer Emily Caiger since 2022. Her Instagram posts have celebrated their three-year anniversary.
• Marquez came out as bisexual in a contribution to Florence Given’s 2020 book Women Don’t Owe You Pretty (PinkNews). Her Instagram bio now identifies her as a lesbian.

Sapphic icon status and public identity

• Marquez has become a visible figure within the LGBTQ+ community, often described as a “sapphic icon” by fans. She lives in southeast London with her girlfriend (The Independent).
• Her openness about her sexuality and sobriety has resonated with followers, as noted in PinkNews coverage.

The catch: Marquez remains in control of the narrative — her Instagram bio is her primary press release.

Is Ramona Marquez related to John Marquez?

Clarifying family relations

• There is no verified relationship between Ramona Marquez and actor John Marquez, who played PC John Bacchus in Doc Martin. The surname is coincidental. Wikipedia lists no family connections to any other notable Marquez.
• Ramona Marquez’s parents are not publicly named in reliable sources, and she has not mentioned any famous relatives.

The implication: If you came across a rumor linking them, it’s unfounded. The two are unrelated.

Are the Outnumbered parents together in real life?

Real-life relationships of the cast

• The actors who played the parents on Outnumbered — Hugh Dennis (Pete) and Claire Skinner (Sue) — are not together in real life. Hugh Dennis is married to Kate Abbot-Anderson, and Claire Skinner is in a relationship with actor Lee Ingleby (Wikipedia).
• This is a common misconception from fans who assume on-screen chemistry translates off-screen.

The pattern: Many sitcom parents are so convincing that viewers assume they’re a real couple. Here, the evidence is clear — they are not.

Is Karen from Outnumbered autistic?

Character portrayal vs. reality

• Karen Brockman, played by Ramona Marquez, was portrayed as quirky, witty, and socially unfiltered, leading some fans to speculate she might be autistic. However, Wikipedia notes that the character was never explicitly diagnosed or described as autistic in the show.
• No official statement from the show’s creators exists confirming or denying an autistic reading of the character. The ambiguity has fueled online discussions.

Timeline

• 2001 – Ramona Marquez born on 24 February in London (Wikipedia).
• 2007–2014 – Played Karen Brockman on BBC sitcom Outnumbered (Wikipedia).
• 2016–2019 – Appeared in The Crown as a young Princess Margaret (Wikipedia).
• 2020 – Contributed to Florence Given’s book Women Don’t Owe You Pretty (PinkNews).
• 2022 – Started relationship with photographer Emily Caiger (PinkNews).
• 2024 – Transitioned to tattooing, training at El Muse Studio in south London (The Sun).
• 2025 – Active as tattoo artist, 129,000+ Instagram followers (The Independent).

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Ramona Marquez was a child actress on Outnumbered (Wikipedia).
• She now works as a tattoo artist (The Independent).
• She is a lesbian and in a relationship with Emily Caiger (PinkNews).
• She has severe ADHD (The Sun).

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth – not publicly confirmed (Wikipedia).
• Whether Karen Brockman was intended as autistic – no creator statement (Wikipedia).
• Future acting projects – she has expressed interest but no concrete plans (The Independent).

Quotes from Ramona Marquez

“Acting is my complete passion and ambition. I’m doing other things on the side because actors can have long gaps between jobs.”
— Ramona Marquez, The Independent

“Lesbian, vegan and a sober girly.”
— Ramona Marquez, Instagram bio, via PinkNews

For fans who grew up with Karen Brockman, the real Ramona Marquez offers a different kind of story: one where a child star chooses a quieter, more authentic path. She traded the spotlight for a tattoo needle, and in doing so, gained a new community. For anyone wondering where she is now, the answer is both simple and surprising: she’s in a studio in south London, building a career on her own terms. Marquez’s trajectory proves that leaving the set doesn’t mean leaving the story.

The former Outnumbered star has found a creative outlet in her new career as a tattoo artist, which is explored in detail in her new career as a tattoo artist.

Frequently asked questions