Back in 2013, reality TV was in a weird spot. Shows were getting louder, trashier, and more obsessed with "the edit" than the actual talent on screen. Then came the third season of a tattoo competition that was still trying to find its footing. When we look back at the winner of season 3 Ink Master, we aren't just talking about a guy who took home a check. We're talking about Joey Hamilton, the artist who basically proved that you didn't have to be a screaming lunatic to dominate a high-pressure reality show.
It was a different vibe entirely.
Before Joey showed up, the show felt like it was leaning heavily into the drama—and don't get me wrong, season 3 had plenty of that. You had Tatu Baby coming back for a second chance, and Josh Hibbard playing the "villain" role with his strategy-first mindset. But Joey? He was the silent killer. He was the guy who just sat in the corner, did incredible work, and let everyone else exhaust themselves with the infighting. It's honestly rare to see someone win a show like this by just being... really, really good at their job.
Why Joey Hamilton Was the Right Choice at the Right Time
If you watch those early episodes now, the technical gap between Joey and some of the other contestants is kind of wild. He didn't just win; he set a benchmark. The winner of season 3 Ink Master had to navigate a landscape where the judges—Dave Navarro, Chris Núñez, and Oliver Peck—were still figuring out how hard they could push the "human canvas" aspect. Joey’s background as a former Air Force member gave him this disciplined edge that most tattooers just don't have. He didn't crumble when a canvas started crying or when the time limit felt impossible.
He just tattooed.
His style was primarily realism and illustrative, but what made him the winner of season 3 Ink Master was his versatility. If you remember the finale, he went up against Jime Litwalk and Tatu Baby. Jime was a master of New School. Tatu Baby had the fan support and a lot of raw talent. But Joey's final piece—a massive, colorful underwater scene on a woman's side—was a technical masterpiece. It wasn't just a "cool tattoo." It was a demonstration of light, saturation, and skin trauma management.
💡 You might also like: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
The Jime Litwalk Rivalry That Wasn't Really a Rivalry
Everyone wanted there to be beef between Joey and Jime. It makes for good TV. Jime was the specialist; he did one thing better than almost anyone in the world. Joey was the generalist who could do everything at an elite level. During the finale, the judges were split. Some felt Jime's signature style was more "iconic," but Joey’s ability to execute a flawless, large-scale piece across multiple styles is what eventually tipped the scales. It’s funny because, in interviews later, they both showed immense respect for each other. No fake drama. Just two pros.
The Technical Breakdown: How He Won
Let’s get into the weeds for a second. You don't become the winner of season 3 Ink Master by accident. The challenges that season were brutal. They had to tattoo eyelids. They had to do "bloodline" tattoos (no ink, just scarring). Joey’s advantage was his "cleanliness." In the tattoo world, that refers to how solid the lines are and how smooth the shading looks once it heals.
- Consistency: Across 13 episodes, Joey rarely landed in the bottom. He was "safe" or "the best" almost every single week.
- The Air Force Factor: Discipline. He didn't let the 6-hour clocks rattle him.
- Color Theory: While Jime used bright, neon pops, Joey understood depth. He used blacks and greys to make his colors feel more three-dimensional.
Honestly, the "Anatomy" challenge was where I knew he’d win. Tattooing over ribs and muscle structures is a nightmare because the skin moves differently. Joey handled it like he was drawing on a flat piece of paper. Most artists struggle with the "bounce" of the machine on soft tissue, but his hand was like a rock.
Life After the Title: Revolt Tattoos and Las Vegas
Winning a reality show is usually the peak for most people. They take the $100,000, buy a car, and maybe see a slight bump in their hourly rate. Joey Hamilton took a different route. Instead of just being "that guy from TV," he leveraged the win to build a legitimate empire in Las Vegas.
He teamed up with Walter "Sausage" Frank (the runner-up from Season 4) to open Revolt Tattoos. Think about that for a second. Two of the most respected names to ever come off the show joined forces. They didn't just open a shop; they opened a destination. If you go to the Fashion Show Mall in Vegas, you’ll see it. It’s huge. It’s professional. It’s the exact opposite of the "gritty, dark alley" tattoo shop stereotype.
📖 Related: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
Is the Ink Master Curse Real?
There's always talk about the "Ink Master Curse," where winners sort of fade into obscurity or get bogged down by the stigma of being a "reality star" instead of a "real artist." Joey broke that. He’s one of the few winners who stayed relevant in the actual industry circles, not just the TV ones. He’s still winning awards at conventions that have nothing to do with Paramount Network.
He stayed humble. You've probably seen him at a convention if you're a tattoo nerd. He's the guy who actually talks to fans and doesn't charge for a photo. That goes a long way.
What Most People Get Wrong About Season 3
People love to say Tatu Baby was "robbed." Look, she’s a phenomenal artist. Her return was a huge storyline. But if you look at the raw data of the season, the winner of season 3 Ink Master had to be Joey. Tatu Baby struggled with her time management throughout the season. She had several unfinished pieces. In the world of professional tattooing, "finished" is a prerequisite. You can't leave a client with half a tattoo.
Joey, on the other hand, never missed a deadline.
Another misconception is that the judges were biased toward Joey’s "boring" personality. Reality TV producers hate boring. They want the guy throwing chairs. The fact that the judges still picked Joey despite him not providing "explosive" soundbites tells you everything you need to know about the quality of his work. It was undeniable.
👉 See also: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
The Evolution of the Show Post-Joey
After Joey won, the show changed. The producers realized they couldn't just have artists; they needed personalities. That's why later seasons moved toward the "Peck vs. Nuñez" or "Shop Wars" formats. They were trying to manufacture the tension that Joey naturally diffused with his competence.
He was arguably the last "pure" winner before the show became a full-blown soap opera.
If you're an aspiring artist watching the reruns, Joey is the one to study. Don't study the guys who won because they were good at politics. Study the winner of season 3 Ink Master because he was good at the craft. He proved that technical proficiency is the best shield against the chaos of a reality TV set.
Real-World Takeaways for Your Next Tattoo
If you're looking to get a tattoo based on what you saw in season 3, here’s some actual advice based on Joey's winning strategy:
- Prioritize "Readability": Joey’s tattoos look good from across the room. If a tattoo is too busy, it turns into a smudge in ten years.
- Listen to Your Artist on Placement: Joey won because he knew how to wrap a design around a limb. Don't fight your artist on where the tattoo should go.
- The "Safe" Artist is Usually Better: You don't want a "rockstar" tattooing your neck. You want a disciplined, calm professional like Joey who isn't going to have an emotional breakdown midway through the session.
Taking Action: Where to Find Joey Now
If you actually want a piece by the winner of season 3 Ink Master, you aren't out of luck. Unlike some celebrity tattooers who stop taking appointments, Joey still works.
- Location: Revolt Tattoos in Las Vegas is his home base. They have multiple locations now, including one in Henderson.
- Booking: Don't expect to walk in. His books are usually filled months in advance. You’ll need to go through the Revolt Tattoos website and submit a formal inquiry.
- Consultations: Be prepared to describe your vision clearly. Joey works best when he has a bit of creative freedom within a specific theme—much like he did on the show.
- Research: Check his Instagram (@joehamiltontattoo). He posts his recent work constantly. You’ll see that his lines are still just as crisp as they were when he was fighting for that title in 2013.
The legacy of the winner of season 3 Ink Master isn't just a trophy on a shelf. It’s a standard of professionalism that helped elevate tattooing from a subculture hobby to a mainstream art form. Joey Hamilton didn't just win a show; he showed everyone how the job is supposed to be done. If you're heading to Vegas, even if you don't get tattooed by him, stopping by the shop is like a pilgrimage for fans of the show. It's proof that sometimes, the nice guy actually finishes first.
Go look at his portfolio. Compare it to the winners of the later, flashier seasons. You’ll see the difference. It’s all in the skin trauma—or lack thereof. That’s the mark of a true master.