Kat Von D
A tattoo artist turned beauty mogul and musician who channeled a gothic aesthetic into a vast, influential commercial brand.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Mexican-American tattoo artist and television personality·Birthday: March 8·Millennials
Biography
Kat Von D rose from the subculture tattoo parlors of Los Angeles to become a recognizable face of alternative style. Her intricate, darkly romantic tattoo work on shows like 'LA Ink' made her a star, but her ambition stretched far beyond the skin. She leveraged that fame to launch Kat Von D Beauty, a vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics line that brought her signature high-drama aesthetic—bold lipsticks, heavy eyeliners—to mainstream beauty aisles, achieving massive commercial success. In a surprising pivot, she later sold her stake in the company to fully embrace music, releasing gothic rock albums. Her journey reflects a constant reinvention, moving from a niche art form to building an empire and then pursuing a deeply personal artistic passion.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kat was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kat Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Kat's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Built a globally recognized cosmetics brand, Kat Von D Beauty, known for its vegan and cruelty-free products.
- Starred as the lead tattoo artist and central figure on the TLC reality series 'LA Ink' for four seasons.
- Published a bestselling autobiography, 'The Tattoo Chronicles', detailing her life and art.
Did You Know?
She is a classically trained pianist, having begun lessons at age six.
Kat Von D is a dedicated vegan and animal rights advocate.
She holds the Guinness World Record for most tattoos given in a 24-hour period (a record set in 2007 for charity).
Her full surname, von Drachenberg, is of German origin.
“I think the most important thing in life is self-love, because if you don't have that, you have nothing.”
