Honestly, if you watched the early seasons of Black Ink Crew: Chicago, you probably remember the absolute chaos surrounding Katrina Jackson, better known as Kat Tat. One minute she’s the "little sister" of the shop, and the next, she’s in the middle of a lake house scandal that basically broke the internet (and Ryan Henry’s relationship).
But look at her now. It’s 2026, and while many reality stars fade into "where are they now" listicles, Kat has pulled off one of the most successful pivots in the franchise's history. She didn't just leave the drama; she outgrew it.
The 9Mag Fallout and Moving to LA
The departure of Kat from Black Ink Crew wasn't some quiet exit. It was loud. It was messy. After three seasons of being the standout female artist at 9Mag, things hit a breaking point. The tension between her and Ryan Henry—fueled by rumors of a hookup at a lake house—turned the shop into a toxic environment.
You’ve gotta realize how risky it was for her to walk away. At the time, she was a fan favorite on a hit VH1 show. Most people would have clung to that paycheck for dear life. Instead, Kat took the last of her savings and moved to Los Angeles.
She wasn't just chasing sunshine. She was looking for a fresh start where her art came before her dating life. Moving to LA meant starting from zero. She’s admitted in interviews that for a while, people forgot she was even on TV. She had to build a new clientele in a city that doesn't care about your IMDb credits if your lines aren't clean.
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Breaking Barriers: Enigma Tattoo Beverly Hills
Most people don't know that when Kat opened Enigma Tattoo in 2018, she made history. She became the first Black woman to own a tattoo studio in the posh neighborhood of Beverly Hills. That's a huge deal.
Think about the vibe of Beverly Hills. It’s luxury, it’s high-end, and for a long time, it wasn't exactly welcoming to the "urban" tattoo scene. Kat flipped the script. She didn't want a "hole-in-the-wall" shop. She wanted a space that felt like a high-end art gallery.
Today, Enigma isn't just a shop; it’s a brand. She’s tattooed massive names like:
- Idris Elba
- Trey Songz
- Von Miller
- Faith Evans
The shop survived the pandemic and the shifting landscape of retail because she focused on "fine art" tattooing rather than just reality TV fame. She hires artists who are painters and illustrators, not just people who can hold a machine.
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Kat’s New Life: Marriage and Motherhood
While the show focused on her "situationships," Kat’s real-life evolution has been much more stable. She’s now married to former NFL linebacker Jamie Collins.
Life looks a lot different for her in 2026. She’s a mother of four now—recently welcoming twins in early 2025. It’s wild to think that the girl we saw crying in a pool in Chicago is now running a household and a multi-million dollar business empire.
She’s been very open about the "ambition shift" that happens after kids. In a 2023 interview with Revolt, she mentioned how her brain is often more with her babies than the shop. It’s a relatable struggle for any boss who’s also a parent. She isn't trying to be "on and popping" every second of the day anymore. She’s playing the long game.
The Return to TV on Her Terms
You might have caught her brief return to the franchise through Black Ink Crew: Compton or her development deal with Paramount. But there’s a key difference now: she has executive producer credits.
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She isn't just a "cast member" anymore. She’s a partner. By signing a first-look deal to develop and produce content, she’s ensuring she never has to be the subject of a "lake house" edit ever again. She’s controlling the narrative.
What Most People Get Wrong About Kat
People think she was "kicked off" or that she left because she couldn't handle the heat. In reality, Kat has stated that her hair was literally falling out from the stress of filming. The "mixxxy" culture of 9Mag was destroying her mental health.
Leaving was a business decision. She realized that being a "reality star" has a shelf life, but being a "master tattooer" is forever. She chose the craft over the cameras, and it paid off.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Artists
If you’re looking at Kat’s career as a blueprint, here is what actually worked for her:
- Invest in Yourself: She used her TV savings to fund her own shop rather than buying jewelry or cars.
- Niche Down: She specialized in high-end, detailed portraiture and black-and-grey work that commands a premium price.
- Know When to Fold: She recognized when an environment (9Mag) was no longer serving her growth and had the courage to leave.
- Diversify: Between tattoo conventions, TV production, and her shop, she has multiple streams of income that don't depend on her being in the chair 40 hours a week.
Katrina Jackson proved that you can use reality TV as a springboard without letting it become your ceiling. She’s no longer just "Kat from Black Ink Crew"—she’s a mogul who happens to have been on TV.