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), who is known by her professional name Kat Von D, is a Mexican-born American tattoo artist, television star, business owner, and musician. She is famous for her work as a tattoo artist on the TLC reality television show LA Ink. The show started on August 7, 2007, and was on for four seasons.

She also created the makeup brand Kat Von D Beauty, which is now called KVD Beauty. In May 2021, she released her first song, "Exorcism," from her album Love Made Me Do It. Her second album, My Side of the Mountain, came out in 2024.

Early Life

Katherine von Drachenberg was born in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico. Her parents, René and Sylvia, were missionaries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They were born in Argentina and have German, Italian, Spanish, and Native American roots. Kat has a sister named Karoline and a brother named Michael.

When she was four, her family moved from Mexico to Colton, California. She started learning to play piano when she was six years old. Kat can speak both Spanish and English.

Kat has said that her grandmother, Clara von Drachenberg, inspired her love for music and art. She was also influenced by the culture of San Bernardino County. At age 12, she started listening to punk rock bands like the Ramones and Misfits. She got her first tattoo when she was 14 and left school at 16 to become a tattoo artist.

When she was 15, Kat was sent to a special boarding school called Provo Canyon School for six months. She has said that this was a very difficult experience for her.

Career

Von D at the 2007 Calgary Tattoo & Arts Festival

Television Star

Kat Von D first appeared on the reality TV show Miami Ink. She was on the show for two seasons. She was asked to join after another artist, Darren Brass, broke his elbow and couldn't tattoo. After disagreements with another artist on the show, she decided to leave.

Soon after, she got her own show on TLC called LA Ink. This show followed her work at her own tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo, in Hollywood, California. On the show, she set a Guinness World Record for giving the most tattoos in 24 hours. She tattooed 400 people with a special logo she designed for Los Angeles. The money she raised went to a charity that helps children with vision problems.

LA Ink was on for four seasons and ended in 2011. Kat has said that the show ended because she chose not to continue with it.

Author and Entrepreneur

In 2009, Kat released her first book, High Voltage Tattoo. It was a collection of her art and tattoos and became a New York Times Best Seller. Her second book, The Tattoo Chronicles, came out in 2010 and was also a bestseller.

In 2008, she launched a makeup line with Sephora. She released new collections every year. In 2016, she announced that all products in her makeup line would be vegan. She also released a special lipstick to raise money for Project Chimps, a group that cares for retired research chimpanzees.

In January 2020, Kat sold her makeup brand. The company renamed it KVD Beauty. The letters KVD now stand for Kara, Veritas, and Decora, which mean Value, Truth, and Beauty in Latin.

Kat also started the MusInk Tattoo Convention and Music Festival in 2008. In 2010, she opened an art gallery and boutique called Wonderland Gallery next to her tattoo shop. In October 2021, she announced she was closing High Voltage Tattoo to move with her family to Indiana.

Music Career

Kat Von D has also worked on many music projects. She sang on a song for the Finnish rock band The 69 Eyes in 2012. She has also worked with the electronic music duo Prayers and the band IAMX.

In 2018, she helped narrate an animal rights documentary called Dominion. She worked with other famous people like Joaquin Phoenix and Sia.

Kat released her first album, Love Made Me Do It, in 2021. Her second album, My Side of the Mountain, was released in 2024.

Personal Life

Kat Von D has many tattoos, including logos of her favorite bands like HIM, Misfits, ZZ Top, and AC/DC. She has appeared in music videos for bands like HIM and Alkaline Trio.

She is a vegan, which means she does not eat or use any animal products. Her former makeup line is also vegan and cruelty-free. In 2016, she received an award from Farm Sanctuary for her work to protect animals.

In 2023, Kat was baptized at a Baptist Church in Vevay, Indiana. In 2024, she began the process of joining the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Kat married fellow tattoo artist Oliver Peck in 2003, but they divorced in 2007. On February 21, 2018, she married artist Rafael Reyes. They have one son, who was born in November 2018.

In 2022, the family moved to Vevay, Indiana.

Selected Filmography

Kat Von D has appeared in several movies and TV shows.

Movies

TV shows

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Kat Von D para niños