New Aussie docu-series ‘Miss Ink’ coming to We Are Pride – Australian-based VA Media has today announced its daring and unfiltered new original documentary series Miss Ink Australia will premiere globally on its We Are Pride YouTube channel from Wednesday, 31 August – with new episodes weekly. Supported by Screen Australia, the 6 x 25-minute series follows the extraordinary, raw and inspiring stories of the tattooed women competing to be crowned Miss Ink Australia.
Originally founded in 2009 by Fallon Nicole, Miss Ink has hosted tattoo beauty pageants across Australia and New Zealand for over 14 years, with contestants competing for a sash, tiara, cash prize, and a spot in the National Championships. The We Are Pride docu-series Miss Ink Australia marks the first time the competition has ever been recorded commercially, revealing the beauty, diversity and drama of the 2023 Miss Ink competition.
From members of the LGBTQIA+ community, to First Nations designers, Only Fans creators, gamers, performance artists and beyond, the all-women contestants hail from a range of backgrounds and cultural communities. With every episode, we follow their journeys as they bare their tattoos in all their artistic glory and share in the often intimate stories behind the ink.
Miss Ink founder Fallon Nicole said:
“The world of tattoos provides a safe space for women across all walks of life, especially those from communities that have been historically discriminated against in mainstream culture. I cannot wait for the world to meet the extraordinary women of Miss Ink Australia as we follow their journeys each week on the We Are Pride YouTube channel and watch them compete for the crown.”
Nudge Co Studios founder, series producer and director Jo-Anne Brechin said:
“There’s no beauty pageant in the world quite like Miss Ink Australia and now with the support of Screen Australia and our incredible partners at VA Media, we’re bringing this special competition to a global audience for the very first time on the We Are Pride YouTube channel. I’d like to thank all of our amazing contestants, who let us bring our cameras into their world and shared their inspiring, unfiltered stories with us.”
We Are Pride Director of Original Content Hannah Barnes said:
“Miss Ink is an unfiltered celebration of extraordinary Australian women and is a bold exploration of sex and body positivity in 2024. Authenticity and representation are at the core of what we do at VA Media, and we’re excited to be working with Jo-Anne and Screen Australia to bring Miss Ink Australia to our We Are Pride YouTube channel from 31 August. Every episode of this sensational six-part documentary series will be available free with ads to our global audience on YouTube.”
Screen Australia Head of Online and Games Lee Naimo said:
“Miss Ink Australia is an authentic documentary series that follows a cohort of female contestants and how they find self-expression, confidence and meaning in tattoos. Filmed across the country, the breadth of stories showcased are raw, powerful and celebratory. Helmed by a talented all female creative team led by Jo-Anne Brechin, I can’t wait for audiences here and around the world to connect with this inspirational series on YouTube.”
The Miss Ink Australia contestants include:
- Blayze: Winner of the competition in 2022 and holds the crown as current Miss Ink Australia. Blayze first made headlines in 2018, after being dubbed the “world’s hottest truck driver”, and opening up about her experiences as a young woman working on the road. In the series, she acts as a mentor to three of the Adelaide Miss Ink contestants, hoping to keep the crown local.
- Miss Donut: A proud Aboriginal Ngarrindjeri woman, Donut lists her black swan tattoo (the Ngarrindjeri totem) as one of her favourites.
- Miss Chloe Coven: A pansexual body piercer and dancer, having battled mental illness and drug addiction, Chloe views getting tattooed as “therapy”, something which has allowed her to be happy “inside and out”.
- Miss 6 Inch Minx: A lesbian burlesque artist and erotic content creator working in Perth, Australia. She is also the creative director of Hell In Heels, an adults only performance art group.
- Miss Suge: Since her father took her to get her first tattoo at 16-years-old, Suge has lived and breathed the tattoo industry, working as a tattoo artist in the heart of Newcastle, Australia.
- Miss Amber Luke: Australia’s most tattooed woman, Amber Luke got her first tattoo at age 16 and 11 years later, she has over 600 tattoos and has spent nearly $300,000 transforming her body. Diagnosed with body dysmorphia, tattoos have allowed Amber to feel comfortable in her own body and reinvent herself, both mentally and physically.
- Miss Nadine: Growing up, Nadine faced bullying for her accent and body. Once she began getting tattooed, Nadine found a community that made her feel comfortable and accepted. She currently works as a tattoo model, as well as a cosplayer – with her favourite character being Marvel’s Harley Quinn.
- Miss Nikki Dimples: For over twelve years, Nikki Dimples has run Dreamtime Ink, Australia’s only all-Aboriginal tattoo platform. The company aims to “keep the dreaming alive through tattoos” and promote cultural awareness in the industry. Nikki sees her tattoos as a strong connection to her heritage. Nikki is inspired by her parent’s love for their community and her mother’s glamorous style.
- Miss Kiki: Dubbed the “real life inked barbie”, Kiki is a self-made influencer from Perth, Western Australia, who is not afraid to ruffle some feathers. Kiki has her own fashion label and clothing brand.
The competition, taking place in capital cities around Australia, also features a judging panel of prominent Australian tattoo artists and influencers, including: Alix Tully from Magnum Optus Tattoo, Burlesque instructor Bettie Bang Bang, tattoo content creator Mother of Hades, and Australian Anime tattoo artist Junk Yard Rabbit.
Operated by global entertainment company VA Media, The We Are Pride YouTube channel boasts more than 500K subscribers and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community – delivering a diverse slate of acclaimed film and television content from around the world that’s free to watch on YouTube.
Averaging up to 300 new titles per year, We Are Pride has reached more than 45 million views across its YouTube catalogue.
Miss Ink Australia is a Nudge Co Studio production. Principal production funding from Screen Australia. Developed with assistance of Screen Australia.
Miss Ink Australia premieres globally on the ‘We Are Pride’ YouTube channel from 31 August, with new episodes weekly.
Media Release – VA Media
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New Aussie docu-series ‘Miss Ink’ coming to We Are Pride
