Kat Von D: The Tattoo Artist Who Inked Her Way to Stardom

Few names are as legendary in the world of tattoo artistry than *Kat Von D*. Kat Von D–one of the most famous and infamous tattoo artists in history, stars on LA Ink (TLC) Born Katherine von Drachenberg March 8th, 1982 Montemorelos Mexico. Both in the tattoo industry, and throughout pop culture, Kat has made a significant impression with her signature style – gothic elegance meets raw artistry. But what about the woman behind the ink? How did she become a household name? _ Let’s take a closer look.

 The Early Days: Punk Rock & Tattoo Guns

Kat Von D didn’t grow up wanting to be a tattoo artist. Her journey, in fact, started out in the punk rock world. Of course, why not a little rebellious adventure first before you become one of the most famous artists in THE WORLD…) Just 14 years old when she and one of her boyfriends decided to make a permanent declaration of love (his name was Jesse, so apatient henna artist dip-penny dipped an Old English “J” into the backside of Kat’s little ankle), Now, for a fact, we all know teenage romances aren’t meant to last but tattoos on the other hand that little “J”seed was what would spur him into loving Tat life forever.

When Kat turned 16, she was a high school dropout who had already secured her first job at the local tattoo shop. We were all busy trying not to fail algebra at that age, and Kat was out there getting good at drawing on skin. Talk about pressure! It was a risky move, but it worked out. _**

Inked in LA: The Road to Stardom

Kat’s success really happened once she moved to the city of Angels, LA where dreams come true — and in Kat’s case tattooing. This is where she fine tuned her craft, created the black-and-grey style that she uses for work now. It was not long after that her talent caught the eye. After moving to Miami in 2005, she joined the cast of **“Miami Ink,”** marking her breakout role.

We always remember her winged eyeliner, sarcasm and the fact that she was boss tattoo artist. Though it seemed like Kat was a fan favorite on Miami Ink, after several seasons she knew that her time had come to an end. _Or maybe she was over the Miami weather in general. Who knows? _

Kat remained pretty close to the camera, too. She wound up getting her own show in 2007 — to be specific, *LA Ink,* which was a reality series about Kat’s life and work at her new tattoo shop High Voltage Tattoo. She also starred in the reality show — an instant hit as viewers tuned in to marvel at Kat’s artistry and her larger-than-life personality.

“LA Ink” became the launching pad for sharing Kat story of hard work and inspiration to endearing fans everywhere. It was also the chance to ink some of tinseltowns top talent, making her portfolio even more covetable than it already is. And rightfully so; because how often do you get to tattoo for the likes of Lady Gaga and Dave Navarro!

 **A Style All Her Own**

As unique as Kat Von D, so is her tattoo style. Her black-and-grey portraits are extremely intricate, a level of detail that becomes apparent when looking at the amount of emotion and personality each portrait features. Have you ever seen a tattoo so realistic, that it wakes up and blinks at you? _ That’s Kat’s specialty. From a portrait of a family member, to religious imagery or the crazy dreamlike surreal art work she does that is so unique Kat’s voice in tattooing has been long known and instantly recognizable.

Yet it is not only her tattoos that have established Kat as a fashionista. Despite her obvious vocal talents and a number of catchy songs, the fact that Melissa has become such an inspirational figure over the years is because she cultivated what would be known as “HER” look — dark makeup (like REALLY heavy), iconic black-as-night hair color and more tattoos than you could count. **_Kat’s style a mix between goth glamour and punk rock sensibilities, which is super fun to watch. _**

Beyond the Ink: From Tattoo Queen to Entrepreneur- A Look into Kat Von D

Kat Von D has already mastered the art of being a world-famous tattoo artist, reality TV star and author– so what’s left? **Kat Von D Beauty**, 2008: A full face collection of bold, high-performance pigments with Sephora started as a breakthrough in the world of beauty retail. Why just ink skin when you can design make-up that makes people seem like living artwork? _

While the makeup line found a cult following thanks, in part to its cruelty-free and vegan formulas (quite rare in beauty at that time). Consumers responded to Kat’s embrace of ethical products, and her brand grew quickly — offering foundations, eye shadows and pretty much anything you could put on your face. It also happened to be one of her most iconic products, the** “Tattoo Liner” — a go-to for anyone looking for that perfect cat-eye look because no one does eyeliner better than Kat Von D.

It is here however that the entrepreneurial spirit of Kat does not end. Alongside her beauty line, she is also a very successful writer with two books under he belt: High Votage Tattoo and The Tattoo Chronicles. The books are a rare treat for fans who get to peak behind an emotional curtain of her life and work, with breathtaking photography showcasing the art and personal narrative. _Think of them as quarter memoir, half tattoo bible and add the 100% Kat Von D.

Kat Von D: The Controversies and Criticisms

Naturally, there are good with the bad on any journey to the top, and The career of Kat Von D has seen it’s fair amount of scandles. Kat has weathered controversies over the years, from public spats with ex-pals to claims she is difficult on set. You may however remember the scandal surrounding their lipstick in a shade called “Celebutard,” which caused such an uproar that it was eventually pulled from shelves.

But her most contentious post may have been in 2018, when Kat took to Instagram and proclaimed she would be raising a vegan home birthed child that will never see the inside of a hospital. The response was immediate and vociferous with many supporters b’loody asking: how dare you put that out there? Kat subsequently explained her post, but it demonstrated that in the public eye every move is watched.

_**Except Kat Von D has always been entirely herself:** The giveaway is in the name of her brand. Even if hers are views with which you do not line up, she’s a woman who stands by what she believes and unapologetically makes people feel uncomfortable. But then again, trailblazers aren’t supposed to be liked by everyone; they’re expected to leave a mark and Kat has done just that. _

**A New Chapter: Retiring from the Spotlight. **

More recently, Kat Von D has stepped out of the limelight for this reason. Since January 2020, she has said that she is selling Kat Von D Beauty in order to focus on other projects such as her vegan shoe line and music career with emphasis leaning towards spending more time at home with her family. And the same year, she shut down High Voltage Tattoo which meant bidding farewell to her famous tattoo shop.

However, even if Kat is going out to light of the tattoos and beauty blog instantly pop culture phenomena. **_Kat Von D may be a tattoo artist but she is an overall true artist across the board. _** She has encouraged so many people to be themselves, made tattoos a valid type of creative expression and reminded us into not apologizing for being different.

CONCLUSION: THE LEGACY OF KAT VON D

Sixteen year old punk rock scandal to world renowned tattoo artist and entrepreneur, Kat Von D is a force not be reckoned with. Her gift, taste and aura of iteration have catapulted her as a cultural football from the mainstream tattoo trend —including making vegan beauty paramount again.

**_Being one of those impossible individuals to have a mediocre opinion on, there’s no doubt that Kat Von D has made quite the impact. **_] (And let’s be real, that is how she likes it.)**_