If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last decade, you probably have a specific image of Kat Von D burned into your brain. The heavy black eyeliner. The intricate face tattoos. The high-glamour Hollywood goth aesthetic that defined an entire era of beauty. For a long time, she was the undisputed queen of a certain kind of dark, edgy L.A. luxury.
But things look a whole lot different in 2026.
Honestly, the transformation is wild. The woman who once reigned over High Voltage Tattoo in West Hollywood has traded the neon lights of the Sunset Strip for the quiet, rolling hills of Vevay, Indiana. And at the center of this massive pivot is her relationship. When people search for news on Kat Von D married life, they aren't just looking for a wedding date—they’re looking for the story of how a celebrity completely dismantled her old life to start over.
The Man Behind the Transformation: Who is Rafael Reyes?
Kat didn’t just marry a random guy. In February 2018, she legally wed Rafael Reyes, though most of the world knows him by his stage name, Leafar Seyer. If you aren't familiar with the "cholo goth" music scene, Leafar is basically its architect. He’s the frontman of the band Prayers, and his vibe is just as intense and stylized as Kat’s used to be.
They didn't just have a wedding; they had an event. While the legal paperwork happened in February, the actual ceremony in June 2018 was a red-and-black masterpiece. Every guest wore black. Kat wore a bright red gown with a literal antler-style headpiece. It was peak Kat Von D.
But here’s what’s interesting: their marriage became the catalyst for a series of dominoes falling. Within a few years of saying "I do," Kat sold her massive makeup empire, closed her world-famous tattoo shop, and packed up a U-Haul for the Midwest.
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Moving to Indiana: The Great Escape
Why Vevay? Most people can’t even pronounce it (it’s Vee-vee, by the way).
Kat and Rafael bought the Schenck Mansion, a 35-room historic estate that looks like something out of a Victorian ghost story. They moved there officially around 2021, and the reason was surprisingly grounded. Kat has been vocal about the fact that California just didn't feel like home anymore. Between the taxes, the politics, and the general "vibe" of Los Angeles, she wanted something different for her son, Leafar Von D Reyes, who was born in late 2018.
It's sorta refreshing to see a celebrity actually follow through on the "I'm leaving L.A." threat. Most just complain and stay. She actually left.
In Indiana, life is slower. She’s been renovating the mansion—which was once a B&B—and focusing on her music career. She even opened a private tattoo studio there, but it's a far cry from the chaotic reality TV drama of LA Ink.
The Religious Pivot: From Occult to Orthodox
If the move to Indiana was a shock, her spiritual shift was a tectonic plate movement. For years, Kat’s brand was synonymous with witchcraft imagery and occult themes. Then, in 2022, she posted a video of herself literally throwing her occult library into the trash.
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She told her followers that she had reached a point where those things no longer aligned with who she was.
Then came the baptism. In October 2023, Kat shared footage of her baptism at Switzerland Baptist Church in Indiana. It went viral, obviously. Some people cheered, others called it a PR stunt. But Kat didn't stop there. By July 2025, she announced that she had officially entered the Orthodox Church.
This is where her marriage to Rafael gets even more interesting. Usually, when one person in a high-profile "alternative" couple goes through a massive religious conversion, it creates a rift. But by all accounts, they are more solid than ever. While Kat is the one in the spotlight talking about her faith, they’ve navigated this entire lifestyle overhaul as a unit.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Marriage
There’s a common misconception that Kat "changed" for a man or that she’s being "tradwife-ified" against her will. If you actually listen to her interviews—like her deep dive on the Relatable podcast—it sounds more like she just grew up. She’s been sober for over 15 years now. That kind of long-term sobriety usually leads to a lot of soul-searching.
Here is the reality of Kat Von D married life in 2026:
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- They are still vegans: Despite the shift in religious and political leanings, their commitment to animal rights remains a core part of their household.
- Music is the priority: Both Kat and Rafael are leaning heavily into their musical projects. She released her debut album Love Made Me Do It and has been touring intermittently.
- Privacy is king: You won't see them on a reality show anytime soon. They share snippets on Instagram, but the days of "all access" are over.
The Impact on Her Career
You can’t talk about her marriage without talking about the end of Kat Von D Beauty. She sold her shares to Kendo (a LVMH subsidiary) in 2020. The brand was rebranded to KVD Vegan Beauty (now KVD Beauty), and she has zero involvement with it now.
Some fans were devastated. They felt like she abandoned the community she built. But from her perspective, she was just tired. Tired of the "cancel culture" of the beauty industry and tired of the constant pressure to produce.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
If you’re looking at Kat Von D’s trajectory and wondering what to take away from it, it’s basically a masterclass in "lifestyle design."
- Don't be afraid to outgrow your brand. If you feel like your current "look" or "vibe" is a cage, you can walk out of it. It might cost you fans, but it’ll save your sanity.
- Small towns aren't career killers. In the digital age, you can run a music career and a private tattoo business from a 1,700-person town in Indiana.
- Values over Aesthetics. Kat proves that you can keep the black clothes and the tattoos while completely changing your internal value system. You don't have to start wearing beige linen just because you moved to the country and joined a church.
Kat Von D and Rafael Reyes are currently living a life that most people wouldn't have predicted back in 2010. They’re a tattooed, vegan, Orthodox Christian family living in a Victorian mansion in the middle of a hay-farming county. It’s weird, it’s specific, and it’s entirely theirs.
Whether you agree with her new direction or miss the old Hollywood version of Kat, you have to respect the hustle. She didn't just get married; she rebuilt her entire world from the ground up.
Next Steps to Understand the Shift:
- Check out the discography of Prayers (Rafael's band) to understand the "Cholo Goth" aesthetic that first brought them together.
- Look up the Schenck Mansion history if you’re into Victorian architecture; the house itself is a character in their new life.
- Watch Kat's 2023 baptism video to see the literal turning point in her public spiritual journey.