BuddyTV - USA - Since becoming a television celebrity, tattoo artist Kat Von D has come to realize the high price of fame.  Aside from being over-analyzed by viewers and her peers, she also feels the overwhelming responsibility to make others understand her lifestyle.  However, with pain comes pleasure, and Von D says that having the chance to represent women and the tattoo community is one of the best things about being a reality star.

“I think the opportunity to represent not only independent and self-created women but the tattoo community in general is one of the biggest payoffs,” Von D, star of TLC's LA

BuddyTV - USA - The new TLC series, LA Ink, premiered last Tuesday, averaging 2.9 million total viewers at the 10pm timeslot.  According to The Hollywood Reporter, the number makes the show the most-watched series debut for the cable channel since the premiere of What Not to Wear in January 2003.

The premiere of LA Ink also did better than several recent TLC series premieres, including May's Big Medicine, June's I've Got Nothing to Wear, and July's Hard Shine and Diagnosis X.

The show, which stars tattoo artist Kat Von D, her staff and A-list clientele, is also the highest-rated series premiere in the history of