'Risen From My Ashes': Ink Gives Woman Confidence After Bullying

SOUTHOLD, NY — A woman who was bullied as a teen found confidence in her tattoos, her ink: And now, she's vying to win an Inked magazine "Cover Girl" contest and reaching out for votes.

The Ink contest is a fundraiser for MusiCares, a nonprofit that helps musicians in times of financial, personal, or medical crisis, said Katie Masterson, of Southold.

Masterson, a volunteer interior firefighter and EMT with the Southold Fire Department, said her reasons for wanting to participate in the competition were deeply personal.

"I want to show my bullies who I've become," she said. Reflecting, Masterson said: "High school was an extremely difficult time for me. Bullying was an everyday battle."

Then, in her senior year, Masterson was in a serious, head-on collision while in a taxi, she said. "At the time, I lost a lot of 'friends,' and I was bullied endlessly and relentlessly due to my resulting facial scar," she said.

She became extremely self-conscious, Masterson said. And then, through her ink, she found a way to find strength and inner fortitude through self-expression.

"My favorite ink is my sleeve, my phoenixes," she said. "It took years of progress, but I developed confidence, for the first time ever — I had finally 'risen from my ashes.'"

And so, Masterson said, the competition is a way to also feel empowered and "show off my ink."

Finally, she said, winning would mean a chance at modeling.

But to win, Masterson needs votes. "Votes are now more important than ever," she said. "Up until now my votes are cumulative. Now my votes will be reset every round."

On Thursday, at 10 p.m., the next cut takes place, she said. "I have been trending to make it through this round and then the quarterfinals, if she survives the cut.

Should she move on in the competition, the quarterfinals begin Feb. 25 and end March 3. Preliminary group winners will be divided into quarterfinal groups. Voting will be reset, and public voting will determine one winner from each quarterfinal group who will then advance to the semifinals, Masterson said.

Next come semifinals, which begin March 4 and end March 10. Quarterfinals winners will be divided into semifinal groups. Voting will be reset, and public voting will determine one winner from each semifinals group who will then advance to the finals, which begin March 11 and end March 17.

Of that final group, one winner will become the 2022 Inked cover girl and win the grand prize of $25,000.

If she wins, Masterson told Ink, she'd like to donate a portion to an anti-bullying organization. Also, she'd like to use a portion to help buy a home to share with her fiance in their hometown of Southold, where both volunteer as firefighters and EMTs. "He is my biggest supporter," she said.

To others who might be bullied, Masterson has a message: "Don’t let the potential judgment of others prevent you from doing anything you want to do."

People can vote once for free every day; registration through Facebook required. Additional votes can also be purchased for $1 each to help support Musicares. To vote for Masterson, click here.