Two of TLC's popular reality series has made tattoo artist Kat Von D popular among viewers today, but the 25-year-old claims she does not want to be remembered for her work on television, but rather for acts of “kindness and love.”

“I don't [want to] be remembered for being 'that tattoo girl' or [the show] Miami Ink or [its spin-off] LA Ink,” Von D posted on her MySpace blog.  “The mark I [want to] leave is the memory of practicing acts of kindness and love, helping people, changing sh*t, teaching sh*t… That is larger than life…”

Kat Von D's desire to leave a legacy of such nature was fueled by a young fan suffering from a terminal illness.  Before Von D headed to San Diego to meet the girl (whose family had contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the hopes of setting up the meeting), she had the chance to speak to her and the girl's mother over the phone, and the brief conservation proved meaningful and insightful.

“Emily's helping me better myself and open my eyes to the real issue at hand,” the LA Ink star wrote.  “All the bullsh*t whining, and complaining, and feelings of unhappiness, all the criticizing, self indulging crying sessions I've put people through, worries, all the things… people around me I've taken for granted, were all counter-productive [and] wasted energies that I could never get back..  Things like THIS are happening, NOW.”

Kat Von D added, “I will never take my job as a tattooer for granted, and the opportunity that tattooing presents as a way of helping someone, in such a little way.  The lessons to be learned from each individual life changing experience give both client and artists this amazing connection.”

Von D did not say whether or not her meeting with Emily will be featured in the LA Ink's second season, which she and the rest of the cast, which includes Kim Saigh, Hannah Aitchison, Corey Miller and Pixie Acia, are currently filming.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Kat Von D Official MySpace
(Image Courtesy of poptower.com)