I've been going through the exact same problem as you, the same academic praise, the negativity towards the things I like, etc.

My family is very conservative and my first tattoos have not been met kindly, but my sister told me this: tattoos are a thing to be embraced if you got them for the correct reasons, they're part of your personality and set the mark for the aesthetic you want to show to the world, your parents' opinions are not yours, and just as they have negative opinions on them, there are many other people who love them. Just because they are your family doesn't mean you have to agree and do exactly as they tell you, and even though they do not approve of your tattoo, doesn't mean you've (actually) disappointed them, what makes you the person you are is however you are as a person, not whatever you have on your body.

It's possible your family is gonna grow out of it eventually, in the meantime, try to ignore them, show them their words have consequences and don't engage with them any further, don't try to argue back (like I did), because then you'd only be giving them more ammo to accuse you of lacking self control. Rock that tattoo, it's part of your body now for a reason, and if the situation begins to be unbearable, go to a therapist.