‘Ink Master: Angels,’ starring Kingston tattoo artist Ryan Ashley Malarkey, renewed for 2nd season
Premiering on Oct. 3, reality television tattoo competition “Ink Master” introduced a new spin-off series, “Ink Master: Angels,” starring Shavertown resident and Kingston tattoo artist Ryan Ashley Malarkey with three other artists from Season 8. As it finishes its 10-episode run next month, it was announced today that the show has been renewed for a second season by Spike TV, which will become Paramount Network next year.
Becoming the first female “Ink Master” in the live Season 8 finale in 2016, Malarkey proved to be a breakout star but was also aided by an alliance of the top female competitors – Kelly Doty, Nikki Simpson, and Gia Rose – throughout the season. This inspired the all-female “Ink Master: Angels,” where they “travel the country and go head-to-head against some of America’s most talented tattoo artists – male and female – to see if they have what it takes to beat the ‘Angels’ and earn a spot on Season 10 of ‘Ink Master.'”
“Angels” was originally going to air as a special before it was revealed in June that it would be expanding into a full series. Episode 8 premieres tonight at 10 p.m., with the remaining episodes scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5.
It seems Season 2 will continue on with Malarkey, Doty, and Simpson, with Rose leaving the show due to health issues. The ladies have become close friends over the last year, consistently sharing their adventures together on social media, including Malarkey’s massive tattoo work on Simpson that she completed last week:
Sooooooooo I tattooed this on @nsimpsontattoos 😘😉 pic.twitter.com/hnHBUcPoN1
— Ryan Ashley Malarkey (@RyanAshleyM) November 16, 2017
“I am thrilled that the Angels are hitting the road again; Ryan, Kelly, and Nikki are a fierce combo, and I look forward to another round of them going head-to-head against America’s best tattoo artists,” Chachi Senior, senior vice president of alternative programming and development at Spike/Paramount Network, said in a press release.
“The popularity of the ‘Ink Master’ franchise has grown alongside our culture’s fascination with and respect for the art of tattooing. We’re thrilled to continue working with Chachi and the team at Paramount Network to celebrate so many talented and diverse artists,” executive producer and Truly Original co-CEO Glenda Hersh added.
Truly Original, known for shows like “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” “Swamp People,” and “Vanity Fair Confidential,” produce “Ink Master” and “Ink Master: Angels” for Paramount Network with executive producers Glenda Hersh, Steven Weinstock, and Andrea Richter.
No Season 2 premiere date has been released yet, but the show will likely return next fall. In the meantime, Malarkey has been auctioning off the dresses she wore on each episode of Season 1 to benefit various charities.
Malarkey, who is known for her intricate black and gray tattoos, is the co-owner of The Strange and Unusual oddities parlor (with her fiancé Joshua Balz, former keyboardist for Scranton metal band Motionless In White) in Kingston, where she has a private, appointment-only tattoo studio attached to the shop.
Chosen from 30 of the top tattoo artists from around the United States and competing against 17 other artists during Season 8 of the hit TV show, Malarkey came out on top in front of 2.2 million viewers, taking home a cash prize of $100,000, a brand new Dodge Charger, a feature article in tattoo publication Inked, and a guest spot at Oliver Peck’s Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas, Texas.
