Smallscreen News
Kat Von D pits LA Ink against Miami Ink
By Stone Martindale
Aug 13, 2007, 22:48 GMT

Argentinian-American Kat Von D was born in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. At age four, she and her family immigrated to the United States, settling in Colton, California.

Von D gave her first tattoo, a Misfits skull, at the age of fourteen. The inking bug caught her as she began working at her first tattoo shop at age sixteen.

She has reportedly tattooed celebrities including Bam Margera, Eric Balfour, Mike Vallely, Ville Valo and Frank Iero.

Now, Von D lives in Hollywood, California and works at True Tattoo, owned by Clay Decker. her previous gig was at rival show and shop, Miami Ink.

Von D joined Miami Ink during its first season in 2005 but left the show in 2007 after alleged personal differences cropped up with shop owner Ami James.

Kat Von D now will premier her own series on the west coast called "LA Ink" starting August 7th.

Katherine Von Drachenberg, is quoted by the NY Daily News as saying about her success, "The tattooing industry, they love me or hate me."

“I feel like I have a lot more responsibility as far as showing tattooing in a good light,” Von D told the New York Daily News. “The tattooing industry, they love me or hate me. It’s different when you’re on TV, everything you’re doing is overanalyzed by your peers.”

"It's different when you're on TV, everything you're doing is overanalyzed by your peers."

"I've built this shop from the ground up...I've put my heart and soul into it."

“LA Ink” follows Von D as she moves from Miami to Los Angeles, where she opens her new shop.

Her new LA shop will boast a majority of women artists that include Hannah Aitchison and Kim Saigh with the single male slot going to Corey Miller.

The TLC website says about the show, "In a city known for its tattoo culture, LA Ink is sure to stand out -- drawing clients from all over the world and from all walks of life. But with popularity comes headaches, drama and a lot of hard work. LA Ink will offer a rare glimpse into an LA that is seldom seen, through the eyes of a true insider."

"LA Ink" will air on TLC at 10 pm/9 central.