Kat Von D facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kat Von D
Von D in March 2016
Born	Katherine von Drachenberg (1982-03-08) March 8, 1982 (age 43) Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico
Occupation	Tattoo artist television personality entrepreneur recording artist
Spouse(s)	Oliver Peck ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2007)​ Rafael Reyes ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	1

Katherine von Drachenberg (born March 8, 1982), known as Kat Von D, is a talented tattoo artist, TV star, business owner, and singer. She was born in Mexico and grew up in America. Many people know her from the TV show LA Ink on TLC. On this show, she shared her amazing tattoo work. She also started her own makeup brand, Kat Von D Beauty, which is now called KVD Vegan Beauty. In recent years, Kat Von D has also started a music career, releasing her first album in 2021.

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Katherine von Drachenberg was born in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico. Her parents, René and Sylvia, were missionaries. They were born in Argentina and had German, Italian, Spanish, and Indigenous family backgrounds. Kat Von D has a sister named Karoline and a brother named Michael. When she was four years old, her family moved to the Inland Empire in California. She grew up in Colton, California.

Kat Von D started learning to play the piano when she was six. She says her grandmother, Clara von Drachenberg, inspired her in music and art. The culture of San Bernardino County also greatly influenced her tattoo art. She started listening to punk rock bands like the Ramones and Misfits when she was 12. She got her first tattoo at 14. By age 16, she decided to leave school to become a tattoo artist.

Her Journey in Tattooing and TV

Starting on TV: Miami Ink

Kat Von D first appeared on the reality TV show Miami Ink. This show was filmed at 305 Ink in Miami. She joined the show when another artist, Darren Brass, hurt his elbow. While on the show, she had some disagreements with Ami James. This led her to leave the shop and the show.

Starring in LA Ink

After Miami Ink, Kat Von D got her own TV series called LA Ink. This show followed her work at her tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo, in Hollywood, California. On the show, she set a Guinness World Record. She gave 400 tattoos in 24 hours! This happened in December 2007. The tattoos were a special design for the city of Los Angeles. The money raised went to a charity called Vitamin Angels, which helps children with blindness. LA Ink ran for four seasons and ended in 2011. Kat Von D later said she chose not to continue the show.

Books and Art Projects

Kat Von D has also written books. Her first book, High Voltage Tattoo, came out in 2009. It showed her artworks and tattoos. The book was very popular and made it to #6 on The New York Times Best Seller list. She described it as a collection of her art, from drawings she made at six years old to new tattoos. Her second book, The Tattoo Chronicles, was released in 2010. It was like an illustrated diary of a year in her life. This book also became a best-seller.

Makeup and Music Ventures

In 2008, Kat Von D launched her own makeup line with Sephora. She released new collections every year. In 2016, she announced that all her makeup products would become vegan. This means they would not use any animal products. She also released a special lipstick called Project Chimps. A part of the sales from this lipstick went to Project Chimps, an organization that cares for retired chimpanzees.

Kat Von D also created the MusInk Tattoo Convention and Music Festival. This event started in 2008. It is a festival for all ages that combines tattoos, music, and art in Southern California.

In 2010, she opened an art gallery and boutique called Wonderland Gallery. She also launched her own clothing lines. Kat Von D has also explored music. She sang on songs for bands like The 69 Eyes and Prayers. In 2018, she helped narrate an animal rights documentary called Dominion. For this, she won an award for her narration. In 2021, she released her first single, "Exorcism," from her album Love Made Me Do It. Her second album, My Side of the Mountain, came out in 2024.

Changes to Her Brand and Life

In 2020, Kat Von D sold her makeup brand to its parent company, Kendo Brands. The brand was then renamed "KVD Vegan Beauty." The letters KVD now stand for "Kindness, Vegan Beauty, and Discovery." In 2021, she announced that she would close her tattoo shop, High Voltage, and move with her family to Indiana. By March 2022, Kat Von D had moved to Vevay, Indiana.

Personal Life and Beliefs

Kat Von D has tattoos of many of her favorite bands. These include HIM, Misfits, and Metallica. She has also appeared in music videos for bands like HIM and GUNSHIP.

Views and Veganism

Kat Von D is a vegan. This means she does not eat or use animal products. Her former makeup line was also vegan and cruelty-free, meaning no animals were harmed in making the products. In 2016, she received an award for her work supporting animal rights.

In 2018, she mentioned on social media that she was learning more about vaccinations. By 2020, she shared that she had become "completely uninformed" before and now supports vaccinations.

Religious Journey

Kat Von D has shared that she became a Christian before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, she was baptized at a Baptist Church in Indiana. In 2024, she became a catechumen in the Eastern Orthodox Church, which means she is preparing to join that church.

Relationships

Kat Von D married fellow tattoo artist Oliver Peck in 2003. They divorced in 2007. She later dated Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx from 2008 to 2010. She was also engaged to reality TV star Jesse James twice, but they broke up both times. She was also engaged to music producer Deadmau5 in 2012, but they ended their engagement in 2013.

On February 21, 2018, Kat Von D married artist Rafael Reyes. In November 2018, they welcomed their son.

Media Appearances

Kat Von D has made many appearances on TV shows, films, and video games.

Discography

Studio Albums

EPs

Singles

Other Music Releases

Images for kids

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  Von D at the 2007 Calgary Tattoo & Arts Festival

See also

In Spanish: Kat Von D para niños