|
 |
OH, CANADA!
HOT INK - KENSINGTON
by Max Brand
Photos by Calla Evans
From the January 2006 issue of Prick Magazine.
|
|
|
|
I'm not too familiar with Canada and it's cultures. I should have been paying more attention to my Canadian friend
because apparently there are ton of gorgeous women there. And besides being as addictive as heroine, MySpace
is great for finding models all over the world with great tattoos. That's exactly where we found Katie, aka
Kensington Suicide, from Toronto.
Kensington grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. "I know a common American misconception is that we all live in igloos
around polar bears," she says. "We don't, but we do have to plug in our cars come winter [to keep the engine from freezing].
I had a brief stint in Halifax where I studied art and drank a lot of Alexander Keith beer."
She's now settled in Toronto and has no plans on leaving soon. "The best thing about Toronto is the mix of nationalities
all living in one city," she says. "There is also tons to see and do. My favorite part is Kensington Market, a small produce
and vegetarian haven in the middle of the city." She is now studying design and has her heart set on working for a
magazine. There goes my job!
Aside from all of that, Kensington is covered with a great assortment of traditional designs that she started at the
age of 15. "There's a great story behind it," she says. "I honestly had never seen a real tattoo up close. I was raised in private
school and my grandfather was in the Canadian Senate. In one week I had my first drink, smoked my first pack of cigarettes
and got a tattoo. My first tattoo was done at a shop in Nice, France, called House of Pain. It just seemed like a really
good idea at the time! The guy that did it had gold teeth, a teardrop tattoo, the whole deal. I remember sitting there for
like five seconds and saying, 'Um, can I take a break now?' I got three little daisies the size of three quarters on my lower
back. I still love them."
|
|
\
Somehow this little Canadian cutie acquired a lot of tattoos in just a few years. "I honestly don't know how I started
hanging out in tattoo shops. I would actually cut class and get tattooed in my school uniform, which a lot of the artists
thought was pretty hilarious." Yeah, I bet that's exactly what they thought!
"As a designer, I'm totally obsessed with placement,” she says. “I like
tattoos that enhance the natural curves of my body. I've stuck to a theme of
traditional American and Japanese style work. I'm a big fan of Sailor Jerry. I
try not to get too personal with my tattoos. They are significant to me
because of what they represent to the world. I have a Japanese money cat
on my chest that represents prosperity. I have a lot of old-school sailor
images like roses, flames, and women in various stages of undress. My
absolute favorite tattoo is a red Jolly Roger behind my ear."
This polar princess is also a SuicideGirl! "I've
been involved with SG for almost a year now,” she
says. “My favorite thing about SG is the gorgeous
ladies who want to show off their amazing tattoos
and even more amazing personalities. There is a
real sense of SG Canada pride up here!"
She also takes her New Year's resolutions
pretty serious. Maybe a little too serious. "I keep
my resolutions," she says. "I'm so stubborn. My best
friend dared me to stop eating meat ten years ago,
and to this day I haven't touched it. My New Year's
resolution for 2006 is to stop collecting things. I
have heaps of books and boxes crammed full of
bits I've collected over the years. It's impossible for
me to move!"
So, our new friend from the north is obviously
not done getting tattooed and has lots of
modeling in her future. "I love having my picture
taken. When I'm older I'll have something to
embarrass my kids with." She doesn't have any kids
yet, but she does love her dog, Bailey,and she wants
everyone to know she smokes Peter Jackson's and
wears Chanel glasses. God I love this girl!
|
Check out Kensington at www.suicidegirls.com.
Kensington's tattoos are by: Chris David of Soul Survivors; Scott McEwan, Andres
Merrill, Daxton Brunet, and Bryan Turnbull of TCB Tattoos; Stuart Archibald of New Tribe
Tattoo; Daniel Innes of Sal's Tattoo and Barbershop; Mike LeDrue of Younge Street
Tattoos; Jay Decator of Passage Tattoo; and Sailor Jerry Swallow of Sailor Jerry Tattoo
For more Calla Evans photography, go to www.callaevans.com.
back to top
|
|
|
