Tucson tattoo artist inked into the spotlight as contestant on 'Ink Master' season 16

Tucson tattoo artist Stephanie Heffron is making waves in the tattoo world as a contestant on “Ink Master” Season 16, bringing her bold, creative flair and mastery of ink to the TV competition. 

With a reputation for blending artistic designs with vibrant colors and storytelling, Heffron is excited to prove she has what it takes to outlast the pressure and emerge as the ultimate champion of the iconic tattoo reality show.

Heffron was selected from thousands of applicants to compete against some of the best tattoo artists from across the country for a chance at $250,000 and the title of “Ink Master.” This season of “Ink Master,” which can be watched on Paramount Plus, features a twist where the show pits "OGs” or artists with over a decade of tattooing experience against “Young Guns," in a series of challenging tattooing competitions designed to test their skills and creativity.

"I’m thrilled to represent Tucson,” Heffron said. "This is a huge opportunity, not just for me, but for all the talented artists here. I hope to make it far and inspire others to chase their dreams."

Heffron has 14 years of experience as a tattoo artist and has a background in painting, which helps her define her tattoo style. 

“In color is where I shine. I get to bring out my painter's background and can translate that into tattoos,” Heffron said. She also works best on realism, illustrative and neo-traditional tattoos. 

Heffron has been tattooing in Tucson for the last four years and previously worked at 2512 collective with renowned tattoo artist Anthony Michaels who won season 7 of “Ink Master.” 

“I was able to work alongside such an amazing artist who had a lot of experience and learn so much from him,” Heffron said. “It was remarkable bouncing ideas off of him and expanding my portfolio.”

Working alongside other talented artists and taking in their feedback has prepared her for being on “Ink Master.” She also credited watching the show over the years as a major tool that has helped her grow as an artist and competitor.

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“I feel so honored to be on ‘Ink Master’ season 16. I’ve looked up to the show and the artists over the years and really valued what the judges say and I’ve even applied their feedback to the tattoos that I do and have done, even before I was on the show,” Heffron said. 

Heffron stressed the importance of always listening to feedback from other artists and professionals and credits that to her success and ability to continue to grow in the field.

“I think that’s a really important thing for artists to take away from the show, absorbing all the critique — all the bad, all the good and how you can implement that into your work, into your designs,” Heffron said.

Heffron will compete as an “OG” on this season of “Ink Master” and as the show progresses, fans can expect to see Heffron tackle a variety of tattooing styles and techniques, pushing her artistic boundaries while also showcasing her signature flair. 

“It’s so cool to be part of a season where they’ve never done anything like this before,” Heffron said, referring to pitting “OGs” vs. “Young Guns” as the show’s theme this season. “It’s so cool that there’s a father and son competing against each other at the same time this season,” she teases.

Heffron said she is most excited to compete alongside other talented artists in this competition and expand her skills in every challenge that is presented to her.

“I feel like I stayed strong through the entire season,” Heffron said. “I wanna say thank-you to all my clients I’ve been able to tattoo in Tucson and throughout my career, because every single tattoo that I’ve done has helped me be able to build my skillset to make it to where I am today and be on the show.” 

“Ink Master” season 16 premiered on Oct. 23 on Paramount Plus and new episodes drop Wednesdays. Fans can tune in to see how Heffron navigates the challenges of the competition and represents Tucson on a national stage.

For updates on Heffron’s journey and behind-the-scenes content, follow her on Instagram @stephanieheffrontattoos.