Tampa Tattoo Artist Aims for 'Ink Master' Fame

When Spike TV’s “Ink Master” returns to the air Tuesday, the owner of an Ybor City tattoo parlor will be among the contestants battling it out for the title.

Aaron Is will face off against 16 other contestants and his own personal rival Emily Elegado. Is and South Carolina’s Elegado first met when he worked a guest spot in her shop.

“The two were immediately at odds, and tensions were only made worse by the fact that Is was dating her co-worker,” explained publicist Nicole Platt in an email.

Entering its fifth season, the show pits tattoo artists against each other in a competition similar to “Top Chef.” This time around contestants are charged with not only beating each other, but also their personal rivals for a chance to win a $100,000 prize and a spot in Inked magazine. Challenges include those that test technical skills, on-the-spot creativity and original design, among others.

Is co-owns Ybor’s Bloodline Tattoo and has 16 years in the business to his credit.

The fifth season debuts Tuesday at 10 p.m. with judges Dave Navarro from Jane’s Addiction and tattoo artists Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck overseeing the proceedings.

Photo Credit: Aaron Is/Courtesy of Spike TV