We've seen how the men of Miami Ink have evolved through the seasons, and today, we're about to take a closer look into the lives of the ink men who have made our primetime viewing even more colorful.  We've already seen Kat Von D's departure from the series, and how the guys dealt with it.  A couple of months ago, there was a controversy linking Kat Von D to a photo with an obscene message which she allegedly wrote for Miami Ink artist, Ami James.  In response, Ami wrote a long entry in his MySpace blog, giving thanks to those who continually supported Miami Ink, and retaliation on Kat Von D's claims that the signature and note on the photo were forged.

Miami Ink's Ami James is currently at the center of a controversy that began several months ago, involving him and his former artist, Kat Von D.  Kat, who now headlines the Miami Ink spin-off, LA Ink, allegedly sent her former boss a headshot with an anti-Semitic message written on it.

Not surprisingly, Ami and Kat have opposing claims regarding the controversial photograph.  According to the Miami Ink star, a handwriting analysis has revealed a 99 percent probability that it is Kat's own handwriting.  LA Ink's resident artist however, insists it is a forgery done by jealous people.

Miami Ink is one of the highest-rated reality series on TLC, and has catapulted a small group of Miami-based tattoo artists into stardom.  Surprisingly though, despite all the fame the show and its stars has earned, one of those tattoo artists claims he hasn't exactly been rolling in dough.

“I'm the most broke famous guy you've ever met,” tattooist Chris Nunez recently told George Stroumboulopoulos, host of the Canadian show The Hour. Nunez admitted, however, that having their tattoo shop featured on a hit reality series has been good for business.

There's no doubt TLC's reality series, Miami Ink, helped to boost the popularity of Ami James and Chris Nunez's tattoo shop, Love/Hate Tattoo, and now, the boys are in the process of expanding their business, with Nunez announcing in his MySpace that they are opening shops in two new prime locations.

“We are proud to announce that we're in the process of working on two new Love/Hate Tattoo shops,” Nunez posted on his MySpace blog.  “One located in Vegas and one in New York.”

PETA, the world's biggest youth animal rights group, has recruited Miami Ink star Ami James to appear in its latest ads against the fur industry.  In the ad, the 35-year-old tattoo artist can be seen showing off his amply inked body next to the clever tagline, “Ink, Not Mink.”

James unveiled the ad last Thursday at the Love Hate Lounge, a South Beach bar that he co-owns with Miami Ink costar and fellow tattoo artist Chris Nunez.  To further show his support for Peta2's fight against fur, he has implemented a policy banning fur at the club, which he renamed “Love Animals, Hate Fur” for the night, and designed a special tattoo for the organization.

Nowadays, studies show that one in seven adults now sport one or more tattoos. Much can be credited to shows TLC's Miami Ink, its spin-off series LA Ink, and A&E's Inked as they have taken body art out of the realm of bikers, rock stars and rebellious teenagers.

Among the tattoo-themed programs, Miami Ink has originally established the art of tattoo as a mainstream form of self expression. The show features shop owner Ami James and Chris Nunez as they rise to the top of their field as professional tattoo artists, while they reach out to a number of customers, who also reveals their back stories and motivations for choosing their tattoos.