Do you think the show is responsible for the acceptance or
advancement of female artists?
I’m not sure it’s Ink Master. I think
television shows in general, because there have been a lot of
shows that spotlight female artists. Television has made female
artists a novelty and I feel like
that’s fine because if anything we
could use that extra exposure and
respect because back in the day
we weren’t given that respect and
now if it means we need to be a
novelty, that’s fine. It let’s people
see we are just as competent and
there’s something special about being a female in a male dominated industry and being able to hold your own takes a special person. I’m very grateful
to artists like Kat Von D and Megan Massacre. You don’t have to like their
artwork or their personality but as a female tattooer I feel we owe people like
that a little respect for putting female artists out there in such a big way. We
wouldn’t be as blown up as we are had it not been for those figures doing it
first and making tattooing a household thing. Tattooing isn’t even edgy anymore. It’s not for the weird people anymore. Television has taken the stigma
out of it. I think if anything, the girls on my season have shown we’re not
necessarily catty. We identify with each other and respect each other and
want to see another female succeed. We’re not trying to bring each other
down and make it look like it’s Mean Girls. This is a bond, this is a family, it’s
a friendship. We support each other. We don’t care who gets to the finale as
long as it’s one of us because we stand for that.
In the beginning they would pit the girls against each other.
Oh yea, people like seeing bitches fight. That’s just Hollywood. There was
no way you could try and tear us apart. As much as the producers would try
and bring things up or we would be in situations where we had to go against
each other we respect each other too much as artists. If it’s one of us, good
job girl!
173