Native girls with a ardour for physique artwork are competing to be the subsequent mannequin to seem on the duvet of Inked Journal, a tattoo life-style publication. The winner of the Inked Cowl Lady competitors will obtain a $25,000 grand prize, together with an all-expense-paid journey for an unique cowl shoot with photographer Christopher Kolk and his model staff.
Kaitlyn Conder works as a medical esthetician and beauty tattoo artist at Pores and skin Deep Rejuvenation Heart in Bardstown.
“I truly had a consumer of mine recommend that I enter the competitors,” Conder mentioned. “I had heard of it up to now however by no means thought I may truly do it, so she actually impressed me to look into it. I’ve by no means modeled earlier than so that is actually out of my consolation zone. I’m used to being behind the digital camera as an alternative of in entrance.”
Conder obtained her first tattoo when she was 18 and hasn’t stopped since. She has been tattooed greater than 50 instances, she mentioned.
“My favourite tattoo is definitely within my ear. It’s a spider internet and most of the people don’t even understand it’s there at first,” Conder mentioned. “It was additionally my least painful tattoo.”
Conder has labored with totally different artists through the years, however her favourite artist is Jason Barresi of Dash St Tattoo.
“Now we have change into shut buddies and I’ve all the time admired his work,” she mentioned.
Most of Conder’s tattoos are thought-about “conventional” or “neo-traditional” as she loves the look of daring outlines and vivid colours. Conder has a horror and Halloween-themed leg sleeve, however for essentially the most half, her tattoos are random designs pieced collectively.
“A number of tattoos have vital meanings, however most of them I get as a result of I believe it’s cool,” she mentioned.
Conder is grateful for the help she has obtained up to now within the competitors and mentioned if she wins she plans to donate a portion of the prize cash to native charities so she may give again to the group.
Tiffany Reecer, who additionally resides in Bardstown, is collaborating within the competitors to attempt one thing new.
“I’ve all the time wished to be a mannequin of some type,” Reecer mentioned, explaining she appeared into pursuing modeling as a child however it proved too pricey on the time. When she stumbled upon the chance for the Inked Journal competitors she went for it. Reecer mentioned she desires to see how far she will get within the competitors and additional increase her confidence on the subject of modeling.
Reecer remembers being scared the primary time she received a tattoo — a small coronary heart with vines on her ankle — however the expertise was higher than she anticipated. She received extra tattoos the next yr and it changed into a behavior of annual paintings. This yr she had a sleeve carried out.
“My favourite tattoo I’ve is my dad’s eagle on my again. It’s actually large and it’s a memorable piece for my dad passing away. He beloved eagles,” she mentioned.
Reecer’s household has impressed different items of her physique artwork, together with a Disney princess-themed sleeve for her daughter, who enjoys coloring within the strains with a marker.
“My tattoos actually are about my youngsters. My youngsters are my world,” Reecer mentioned, including a few of her different tattoos embody a mom and two child elephants on her thigh and different symbols of household.
Teresa Roby, who runs a magnificence enterprise in Radcliff however resides in Nelson, can also be competing for the duvet. Roby informed The Information-Enterprise she has been desirous about tattoos and physique artwork for a number of years and has an entire sleeve on one arm and a half sleeve on the opposite, amongst different tattoos.
“I believe they’re a type of artwork and the artwork tells a narrative,” Roby informed the E-City paper, including her present tattoo artist is Tray Benham at Massive Daddy’s Tattoo.
Roby realized of the competitors by means of a good friend and whereas modeling for the duvet of {a magazine} is out of her consolation zone, it ties in nicely together with her work as proprietor of Fantastically Naked, a laser hair elimination and wonder enterprise.
“It’s what I do for a residing, making folks really feel stunning. May as nicely attempt to characterize as greatest I can for what I do for different folks,” she mentioned.
If she have been to win the competitors, Roby mentioned she would use the prize cash to assist pay her dad’s medical payments following his open-heart surgical procedure.
Fashions utilized for the competitors and people accepted have been divided into teams with a choose variety of fashions advancing by means of public voting levels.
Voting for the Prime 10 in every group ended Thursday and voting for the Prime 5 in every group is at the moment open and can conclude Feb. 11. One preliminary winner from every group can be decided on Feb. 18 to advance to the quarterfinals after which to the semi-finals in early March. The general winner of the competitors and the mannequin chosen to be on the duvet of Inked Journal can be decided on March 11.
As of Thursday, Conder was first in her group and Reecer and Roby have been third of their respective teams, inserting all three in good place to advance. To view entrants and to vote, go to inkedmag.com and click on on the Cowl Lady Competitors tab. Every entrant has a personalised web page the place followers can view pictures and vote. Day by day votes are free and additional votes are additionally accessible by donating to charity.