During the second season finale of Miami Ink, viewers watched as Kat Von D stormed out of the tattoo shop following a dramatic fight with fellow tattoo artist and shop owner, Ami James. The episodes leading up to the finale showed the tension between the two escalating, with brusque words being thrown left and right.

Kat Von D’s departure from Miami Ink has forced the remaining artists to look for a replacement for the lone female tattoo artist, a task which was featured during the third season premiere of the show on June 12th. However, fans of Kat Von D need not fret about her exit from the show, because come August, she will star in her own reality series, aptly named LA Ink.

LA Ink, a spin-off of Miami Ink, will feature Kat Von D headlining her own tattoo shop, which was designed to reflect her personal style. The interiors of the shop have been filled with black and white photography and signed rock and roll and sports memorabilia.

The spin-off is distinct from Miami Ink mainly for its female-dominated work staff, with three out of the four additional tattoo artists being women.

In a press release dated April, TLC Senior Vice President of Programming Christian Drobnyk said, “Kat Von D is a legitimate television star who has remained a true artist and authentic personality in the tattoo community. Kat's tremendous talent, dedication to her fans and compassionate heart make her the perfect person to anchor LA Ink."

Kat Von D’s decision to return to Los Angeles has not only given her the opportunity to open her own tattoo shop, but has also made it easier for her to stay close to her loved ones.

“I love L.A.," she said. “The amazing weather, art, music, shopping, diversity, people and action - it's just rad that I got to open a shop here. As far as the guys at Miami Ink go, I appreciate everything they did for me, and I wish them all the best! Working with them, I was able to learn some really important life lessons, and am excited about using these lessons in all my future endeavors!”

LA Ink is under the production of Original Media’s Charlie Corwin and Clara Markowicz, and TLC’s Pamela Deutsch.

-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

Source: TLC

(Photo Courtesy of TLC)