You remember the sparks. That high-pitched whine of a grinder hitting rusted steel while Steve Darnell barked orders in a garage layered with desert dust. If you watched Vegas Rat Rods back in the day, you definitely remember Twiggy. She wasn’t just "the girl in the shop." Honestly, Twiggy Tallant became the face of a specific kind of grit that made Welder Up world-famous.
But then, she just... disappeared.
One day she’s welding a diesel-spewing monster in the middle of the Nevada heat, and the next, the credits roll on her final episode. No big goodbye. No dramatic explosion. Just an empty bay where a 5’4” Canadian powerhouse used to stand.
The Welder Up Apprentice: Not Just for Show
When Twiggy first showed up at Welder Up in Las Vegas, critics were skeptical. You know how reality TV works. Producers love a "fish out of water" story, and a tattooed former model from Toronto moving to Vegas to build rat rods fit the bill perfectly.
But here’s the thing most people get wrong: she wasn’t a prop.
Twiggy actually moved her entire life for that apprenticeship. She didn't just walk onto a set; she walked into a grease-stained, high-pressure career. She was a recent graduate of an automotive technology course when she hooked up with Steve Darnell’s crew.
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Darnell is a legend for a reason. He’s the guy who built the "D-Rod"—that twin-turbo 12-valve diesel monster that basically put rat rods on the mainstream map. Working for him wasn't a vacation. It was a grind. Twiggy spent those early seasons proving she could strike an arc and handle the relentless pace of a shop that turned junk into "Mad Max" masterpieces in record time.
Why Twiggy Left Vegas Rat Rods
People love drama. They want to hear about a massive fallout or a secret feud between Twiggy and the Welder Up crew.
The truth? It's way more relatable and, frankly, a lot more impressive.
She left to get her "welding ticket." In the trades, a "ticket" is everything. It’s your certification. It’s the proof that you aren't just a hobbyist or a TV personality—you’re a professional. Around October 2017, Twiggy cleared the air on social media. She wasn’t chasing more fame. She was chasing more skill.
Basically, she chose the craft over the camera.
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While the show was a Canadian-backed production (which is why she and a few other Canucks were cast), the reality of TV can be soul-sucking. You’re putting your life on hold for a shooting schedule. Twiggy decided that instead of being a "character" who welds, she wanted to be a welder who happened to be on a show.
Where is Twiggy Tallant in 2026?
She didn't quit the car world. Not even close.
If you look for her today, you’ll find her still deeply embedded in the maker culture. She’s traded the chaotic Vegas Strip for a path that feels a lot more authentic. She has spent the last few years focusing on custom fabrication, motorcycles, and even appearing at major automotive events like the Toronto Motorama.
She's also become a bit of a mentor.
Twiggy often talks about the "dying art" of craftsmanship. She’s worried that if the younger generation doesn’t pick up the torch—or the TIG welder—we’re going to lose the ability to build things by hand.
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- She still welds. (And she’s better than she was on TV).
- She’s an advocate for women in trades. Not by shouting, but by doing the work.
- She keeps it low-key. You won't find her in every tabloid; she’s in the shop.
The Legacy of the Twiggy Rat Rod
While she didn't "own" a specific "Twiggy Rat Rod" in the sense of a personal daily driver that stayed in the spotlight, her fingerprints are all over the most iconic Welder Up builds from the early seasons.
Remember the "Salt Flat Rod"? Or the builds where they’d find a 1930s shell half-buried in a field and somehow make it run on a Cummins diesel? Twiggy was there for the dirty work—the grinding, the fitting, and the endless sanding that never makes it into the "cool" 44-minute edit.
Her real "build" was her own career.
In a world where reality stars usually try to launch a lifestyle brand or a mediocre podcast, Twiggy went back to basics. She proved that you can use the spotlight to get your foot in the door, but it’s the work you do when the lights go out that actually defines you.
What You Can Learn From the Twiggy Story
If you're looking to get into the custom car scene or the trades in general, Twiggy’s path is actually a great blueprint.
- Education first. She went to school for automotive tech before the cameras ever showed up.
- Apprenticeship matters. You have to be willing to be the "small fish" in a big shop like Welder Up to learn the real secrets.
- Know when to walk. Fame is a tool. Once she had the platform, she used that momentum to go get her professional certifications rather than just riding the "TV star" wave until it crashed.
The next time you're scrolling through YouTube and see a clip of a vintage Vegas Rat Rods episode, look past the staged "shop talk." Look at the welds. Look at the grit. That’s where the real story of the Twiggy rat rod era lives.
If you want to follow in those footsteps, start by looking into local trade certifications or find a local fabrication shop that takes apprentices. The "Vegas" lifestyle is mostly flash, but the skill of a master welder is forever.