Ink Master Angels

Today I found out about Angels, an Ink Master spin off starring the four badass female tattoo artists of the previous season (Ryan Ashley, Kelly Doty, Nikki Simpson, Gia Rose).

Many people reacted negatively to the show, saying they're not going to watch it, that none of these women are talented tattoo artists, etc.

Well, one of them is an Ink Master, the other one is one of the pioneers of New School, the other one has been highly praised by the judges for her black and grey, and the fourth one is exquisite in her own style.

Some tried to defend not watching the show anymore by saying that those women created a lot of drama on the show.
Did you forget how many male tattoo artists have created drama, have bullied others and intimidated them on the show? Christian, Sketchy Lawyer, Jason, Aaron, Chris, and Gentle Jay, to name a few, all "played the game" on their season and created drama on the show.
Yet I don't see anyone targeting them.

Why?

Because they're men.

It's no secret that there's still sexism in the tattoo community.

Ink Master has tried to be more inclusive over the past few seasons: They awarded the first black Ink Master and the first female Ink Master.

But the audience can't accept the latter. In a hypermasculine community, such as the tattoo community, anything remotely feminine is looked down on.

Last season's female Ink Master, Ryan, and her all-female alliance, were unapologetically femme, feminists, and brought sexism in the tattoo community to the audience's attention.
They were brave and badasses, and they worked their asses off to ensure one female would win. And she did.

Considering the females have always been a minority on Ink Master, and that male tattoo artists always assumed and expected the females to target each other, these ladies made a huge accomplishment. They won against all odds.

Their sisterhood was strong, and a bright example of how women can lift each other up and be allies, not enemies.

Watching them has been beyond inspiring. It has been comforting, it has given many of us hope for the future.

Seeing Ryan say "I tattoo like a girl" with pride, meaning she's got a soft hand, but produces amazing results, was so encouraging for all females out there who struggle to survive in a world filled with toxic masculinity. In a world where anything feminine is disregarded.

So, Thank You Ladies.

Thank you for being an inspiration of what female solidarity can look like, of what it can accomplish, and for giving us hope for the future.

The show will air on the 3rd of October, and I will definitely be tuning in.

ps. And to the 'haters': If you sincerely love good tattoos, the gender of the artist shouldn't matter. Don't try to mask your sexism by diminishing their talent, because we can see right through it.