If you’ve spent any time scrolling through VH1’s roster of reality TV legends, you know Sky Days. Jozea Flores once called the franchise a "chess game," but for Sky—born JoKehia Days—it always felt more like a contact sport. People still search for Sky Love & Hip Hop because she wasn't just another supporting cast member; she was the volatile, charismatic, and deeply wounded heartbeat of Black Ink Crew: New York.
She was the "Bitch from the BX." She was the powerhouse manager who could flip a table one minute and offer profound, big-sisterly advice the next. But then, she just... vanished. One day she’s a staple of the New York and Atlanta scenes, and the next, she’s suspended, scrubbed from the intro, and navigating a life away from the cameras that made her a household name.
The reality is complicated. Most fans think they know why she left or what happened with her sons, Genesis and Dessalines, but the truth is buried under layers of reality TV editing and legal NDAs.
The Rise of Sky on Black Ink Crew
Sky didn't start at the top. When she first appeared in Season 2 of Black Ink Crew, she was the receptionist with a personality too big for the desk. She brought a specific kind of energy that the show desperately needed. It wasn't just about tattoos; it was about the struggle of being a Black woman in Harlem trying to reinvent herself.
She quickly became Ceaser Emanuel’s right hand. Their relationship was the pillar of the shop. Honestly, without Sky, the middle seasons of the show would have lacked that chaotic, familial glue that kept viewers coming back. You’ve seen the clips—the fights in Jamaica, the blowups in the shop, the constant "turn up." But behind that was a woman dealing with massive personal trauma that the cameras eventually forced into the spotlight.
Why the Audience Connected With Her
It’s easy to dismiss reality stars as "clout chasers." With Sky, it felt different. She was open about her past, including her time in prison and the heartbreaking decision to give up her children for adoption when she was only 14 and 15 years old. That kind of vulnerability is rare. It’s why the Sky Love & Hip Hop era, specifically her crossover appeal, remains a hot topic. She represented the "around the way girl" who actually made it.
The Crossover: Sky, Love & Hip Hop, and the VH1 Universe
While Sky is technically the face of Black Ink Crew, her DNA is all over the Love & Hip Hop universe. VH1 treats its stars like a touring company. Sky appeared on Love & Hip Hop: New York and Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta in various capacities, often as the bridge between the tattoo world and the music world.
Think about the 2017-2019 era. Sky was everywhere. She was the person everyone wanted at their party because she guaranteed a viral moment.
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But that fame came with a massive price tag.
The pressure to perform for the cameras began to bleed into her real-life reconciliation with her sons. This is where things got dark. If you watched the show, you remember the "reunion" with Genesis. It was uncomfortable. It felt exploitative. It showed the inherent danger of mixing real, deep-seated family trauma with a production crew that needs a "cliffhanger."
The Physical Altercation That Ended Everything
The breaking point happened in 2020. During a filming session for Season 8 in Buckinghamshire, things turned physical between Sky and her son, Dessalines. It wasn't just a standard reality TV argument. It was visceral.
The network’s reaction was swift.
- They suspended her indefinitely.
- They edited her out of the remainder of the season.
- The "official" word was that her behavior didn't align with the show's values—a move many fans found hypocritical given the show's history of televised brawls.
Sky basically went into exile. She moved to Miami. She started focusing on her own business ventures, including her boutique, Her Little Secret. She stopped being the "character" and started trying to be a person again.
Where is Sky Days Now?
If you check her Instagram today, the "Sky from Black Ink" persona is mostly gone. She looks different. She acts different. She’s focused on fitness, fashion, and "the glow up."
She eventually made a return to the Love & Hip Hop family via Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition. It was a test run to see if she could exist in that space without the toxicity that defined her final days in New York. Interestingly, she seemed more centered. She apologized for some of her past actions. She acknowledged that the "Sky" we saw on TV was a woman who didn't know how to process pain without lashing out.
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The Business of Being Sky
Moving away from the franchise was probably the best financial move she ever made. When you're on a show like Black Ink Crew, the network often owns a piece of your brand. By stepping away, Sky was able to:
- Launch independent fashion lines.
- Secure high-paying club appearances without VH1 taking a cut.
- Focus on her mental health without the "producer's ear" telling her to start a fight.
She’s also been incredibly candid about her plastic surgery journey. While some stars hide it, Sky posted the recovery videos. She talked about the "mommy makeover" and the complications. That’s why she stays relevant. She’s real to a fault.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Exit
The biggest misconception is that Sky was "fired" for a single fight. In reality, the relationship between Sky and the producers had been fraying for years. You can only be the "villain" or the "wild card" for so long before the mental toll becomes too heavy.
Sources close to production have often hinted that Sky wanted more creative control over how her family was portrayed. When she didn't get it, the tension became unbearable. The fight with her son was just the catalyst for a breakup that was already in motion.
The Legacy of Sky in the Reality TV Canon
Sky Days changed how we view "the shop manager." She proved that you could be a star in your own right without being a tattoo artist or a rapper. She paved the way for people like Miss Kitty to have their own storylines and brand deals.
But her story is also a cautionary tale.
It shows how quickly a network will discard a "fan favorite" when the optics become too messy. It highlights the desperate need for better mental health support for reality stars who are forced to relive their worst moments for $15,000 an episode.
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How to Follow Sky’s Journey Today
If you’re looking to keep up with what’s actually happening with her—minus the VH1 filter—you need to look beyond the old reruns.
Watch the Family Reunion Specials: Sky’s appearances on the Family Reunion seasons are the most honest she’s ever been. She speaks directly about the regret she feels regarding her children and the way she handled her fame.
Follow Her Socials (With a Grain of Salt): She’s very active on Instagram and TikTok, but she’s also a master of the "rebrand." She posts what she wants you to see—fitness, luxury, and peace.
Support the Businesses: If you liked her style on the show, her boutique Her Little Secret is still the primary way she connects with her fashion-forward fanbase.
Understand the Impact: Sky’s departure marked the beginning of the end for the original Black Ink Crew era. Once she and Ceaser had their falling out (and his subsequent legal troubles), the show lost its core identity.
The most important thing to remember about Sky Love & Hip Hop is that she is a person who had to grow up in front of millions of people who were mostly watching to see her fail. The fact that she’s still standing, still profitable, and seemingly at peace is the real "win" that the cameras didn't capture.
Next time you see a clip of her screaming in Harlem, remember that it was a moment in time, not the whole story. She’s moved on. Maybe the fans should, too, and appreciate her for the pioneer of "unfiltered" TV that she actually was.