20 Facts About Kat Von D You Probably Didn’t Know
When the world first fell in love with Kat Von D she was a successful and respected tattoo artist on “Miami Ink.” In the years since Von D has built herself an empire and become a household name. Check out 20 facts about your favorite Latina behind Kat Von D Beauty.
1. She’s been tatting since she was 14.
katvond__ / InstagramIn a feature interview with Prick Magazine back in 2006, the Latina tattoo artist explained how she came to be on Miami Ink. “At 17, she moved to Los Angeles and she has been living in Hollywood ever since. This is where she eventually found a home at True Tattoo, with the talented Chris Garver… Garver was so sure of Von D’s aptitude that when Darren Brass was out for an elbow injury, he recommended her for ‘Miami Ink’. TLC had been looking for a female artist, and Garver knew they would find none better.”
2. She turned heads on “Miami Ink” where she got fired.
katvond__ / InstagramNo one really knows what happened to Von D on the show, but rumors have long alleged that she had a huge falling out with the show’s star Ami James. Ultimately James told Von D to leave and she got her own spin-off.
3. LA Ink’ turned her into an icon.
katvond__ / Instagram“I never wanted to be on TV, but felt an obligation, not as a someone who was driven by money or status, but as a tattooer who honestly and sincerely loves tattooing. If I didn’t take this opportunity, someone else would. For me, the thought of a mediocre female tattooer representing everything I love and worked for since I was 14 years old, was blasphemy and did not sit well with me. This was my opportunity to show tattooing in a positive light, and give it all I have.”
4. She’s Mexicana.
thekatvond / InstagramVon D was born in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico to missionary parents. Her father René was born in Argentina and her mother Sylvia was of German, Italian and Spanish descent.
5. She’s a classically trained pianist.
thekatvond / InstagramVon D started training at the age of six and has said that she particularly admires the work of Ludwig van Beethoven. She even has a tribute tattoo to Beethoven on her finger.
6. She got her first tattoo when she was 14.
thekatvond / InstagramAt 14, Kat got her very first tattoo a letter”J” in Old English on her ankle. The Latina has said that the “J” stands for “James,” her first love, but now she jokes that it stands for “just kidding.”
7. She’s been sober for years.
thekatvond / InstagramKat has admitted that she has been living how she wants to live from a young age. According to interviews, the makeup maven realized that indulging was getting in the way of her career. “Looking back at my wild [days], I really never imagined that I would be excited about being [healthy]. When you are on the other side of things, you have such a profoundly different perspective on life. On this side, you realize it’s something to be celebrated. That doesn’t mean that I think I should get a pat on the back when I post on Instagram or Twitter about my [healthy living] anniversary… I am proud, but I don’t want to get extra credit for doing my homework,” Von Do told The Fix.
8. The cluster of stars on her face is a feminist tattoo job.
thekatvond / InstagramKat has said that the tattoo of stars on her face “is a symbol of being able to be heavily tattooed and still carry yourself in a feminine way.”
9. Sephora pursued her when it came to her makeup line.
thekatvond / InstagramOn Kat’s KVDBeauty website, she talks about how the makeup line was never a dream come true for her, after all, it was something she never imagined pursuing. According to an interview she did with The Gloss the makeup company set up a creative meeting to feel her out on her knowledge of beauty. “Much to their surprise, I was like a beauty insider for years, so I was already on board. And so they were like, ‘let’s do the four most perfect shades of red lipstick.’ And I was like, ‘OMG, four, that’s crazy! I thought I was going to make one!’ Fast forward to now… Every day is a gift.”
10. Kat is super vegan, and most of her makeup is too.
thekatvond / InstagramFans of Von D know that the tattoo artist is an ethical vegan. The practice means that in addition to avoiding all foods with animal byproducts, she also practices the philosophy in all aspects of her life.
11. Veganism is actually so important to Kat that she was featured on the cover of LAIKA magazine.
thekatvond / InstagramFor the magazine’s six-issue, Kat spoke about her efforts to change the makeup landscape and bring awareness to consumers of how they can use beauty products in a cruelty-free way.
12. She started tattooing at age 14.
thekatvond / InstagramIn her interview with The Fix Kat said, “I am still surprised that I managed to achieve what I did. I first started tattooing when I was 14 years old, and I got into my first shop when I was 16. I really felt like it was a luxury to be able to do something that you love. I promised myself back then that I wouldn’t allow anything to get in the way of my progress, including destructive relationships and drama. I have always put work before my social life.”
13. She’s a huge Mötley Crüe fan.
thekatvond / InstagramSo much so that she even dates the bands bassist, Nikki Sixx from February 2008 to January 2010.
14. She was proposed to on Twitter.
thekatvond / InstagramOn December 15, 2012, Zimmerman proposed to Von D over Twitter, and she accepted. The two broke off the engagement in 2013.
15. If she loves your music she might put you on your body.
thekatvond / InstagramVon D has tattooed herself the logos from bands like HIM, Misfits, Turbonegro, ZZ Top, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Kent, Slayer, Mike Got Spiked and “Slutallica.”
16. She officially married a band member this year.
thekatvond / InstagramOn February 21, 2018, Von D married Prayers frontman Rafael Reyes and had their elaborate wedding ceremony in May 2018.
17. She sticks to her beliefs.
thekatvond / InstagramIn 2017, Kat Von D’s disqualified a contestant of her Saint and Sinner Perfume contest for being a Trump supporter. In a post to her followers, Kat wrote, “I personally messaged her sharing MY personal feelings on the subject as to avoid her getting even more criticism than she already was receiving. She decided on her own to not come to my launch. And furthermore, just like everyone has the right to support whomever they choose, I have the right to set my own personal boundaries.”
18. She grew up in a very religious household.
thekatvond / InstagramAs the daughter Seventh-day Adventist missionaries, Kat has that she “kept the Sabbath, went to church on Saturdays, followed the ten commandments, and didn’t eat any pork or fish without scales.”
19. She has a tattoo of her father.
thekatvond / InstagramKat’s father was a missionary and a doctor, and she admired him so much that she had his face tattooed on her arm. “We didn’t have electricity or running water for a long time,” Kat said. “And, in fact, one of my favorite photos from our family album is one of me taking a bath in a plastic bucket! Let’s put it this way, in this town, you were more likely to see a horse than you would a car.”
20. She’s going to be a mother!
thekatvond / InstagramVon D Beauty announced the news to fans with a photo taken alongside her new husband Rafael Reyes, better known as Leafar Seyer. The photo showed Von D in floral gilded dress as she showed off her growing bump. In true Kat style, the tattoo artist posted the goth-inspired photo with a simple caption that read “It’s a boy ?.” She used her caption to tag Seyer as well.
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