Best Ink is an American reality competition series on Oxygen that judges tattoo artists. The series ran for three seasons, the first in 2012, the second in 2013, and the third in 2013–2014. The show was hosted by Kimberly Caldwell during Season 1 and by Pete Wentz in Seasons 2 and 3.
Best Ink premiered on March 27, 2012. The second season debuted on April 3, 2013. The third season debuted on December 4, 2013.
Cast
Hannah Aitchison – Judge
Kimberly Caldwell – Host (season 1) Joe Capobianco – Judge Sabina Kelley – Judge Pete Wentz – Host (seasons 2–3)
Format
A group of tattoo artists from around the United States compete in various tattooing challenges. The winner of the competition wins a $100,000 cash prize and a cover article in a well-known tattoo-related magazine. After each challenge, tattoo artist and the show's judges, along with a different guest judge every week, critique the tattoos to find the contestant with the "Best Ink".
Flash challenge
Typically a non-tattooing task that tests the contestants' artistic skills using different media, subjects and "canvases." Usually the skills tested in the Flash Challenge will be a compulsory judging factor in the Elimination Tattoo.
Elimination tattoo
This stage starts with the winner of the Flash Challenge getting a privilege in this second stage. These perks can be first/only choice of which "skin" (client) they would like to tattoo or extra time, but is predetermined by the show's production team. Once each "skin" is allocated to a contestant, a consultation period between artist and "skin" is given (typically in a set amount of time) and followed by chance to create the artwork overnight before tattooing the next day. The Elimination tattoos are performed simultaneously by all contestants and within a set amount of time. The judges then critique the work, choosing the best and worst tattoos of the week. The contestant that produces the worst tattoo is eliminated from the show until the final episode where one tattoo artist is judged the winner.
Contestants
Season 1
Alexis Kovacs
Christina "Charlie" Petty
Jessica Rotwein
Jon Mesa
Kyle Giffen
Brittan "London" Reese
Meghan Pagliaroni
Nicky Hennerez
Roman Abrego
Tiffany Perez
Season 2
Alli Baker
Brittany Elliott
Carolyn
Derek Rubright
DJ Tambe
Jerod Ray
Jordan "Dollarz" Ginsberg
Kelly McEvoy
Melvin Todd
Ralph Giordano
Teresa Sharpe
Tylor Schwarz
Season 3
Alayna Magnan
Amy Zager
Anthony Zamora
Carey Matthews
Danny Lepore
Darnell Waine
Izzi Echo
Joseph Matisa
Karly Cleary
Amy "May May" Yaeger
Romeo Lacoste
Rudy Hetzer
Willy Cutlip
Lara Slater
Contestant progress
Season 1
(WINNER) The contestant won Best Ink. (RUNNER-UP) The contestant was the Runner-Up. (3RD PLACE) The contestant was in 3rd Place. (WIN) The contestant won best tattoo of the week. (HIGH) The contestant had one of the best tattoos of the week, but did not win. (IN) The contestant was safe. (LOW) The contestant had one of the best tattoos of the week, but was voted into the bottom. (LOW) The contestant had one of the worst tattoos of the week, but was the first to be called safe. (BTM2) The contestant had one of the worst tattoos of the week and was the last to be called safe. (OUT) The contestant was eliminated from the competition.
Season 2
Bold The contestant won immunity the previous week and was automatically safe the preceding week. (WINNER) The contestant won Best Ink. (RUNNER-UP) The contestant was the runner-up. (3RD PLACE) The contestant was in 3rd Place. (WIN) The contestant won best tattoo of the week, and received automatic immunity for the next week's Ink Challenge. (WIN) The contestant won best tattoo of the week, but did not receive automatic immunity for the next week's Ink Challenge. (HIGH) The contestant had one of the best tattoos of the week, but did not win. (IN) The contestant was safe. (LOW) The contestant had one of the worst tattoos of the week, but was the first to be called safe. (BTM2) The contestant had one of the worst tattoos of the week and was the last to be called safe. (OUT) The contestant was eliminated from the competition.