Beyond the Ink: Soaring in the Clouds with Miss Tina Louise

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Alysha Nett checks in with us as often as her busy schedule will allow to give her insight on modeling,tattoos and art. She even throws in a recipe from time to time. Alysha always makes sure to include plenty of sexy pictures of her exploits, so check back often to see what she’s been up to.

Alysha: Hi Tina! It’s been so fun working with you recently, I felt like the readers of Inked should know more about you. Can you introduce yourself to those who may not be familiar?
Tina Louise:G’Day Mate! My name is Tina Louise and I’m 34-years-old. I grew up in the country, a small town called Castlemaine in Victoria, Australia. I’m a gemini so I’m supposed to have 2 personalities but I think I have, like, 10. I love my dogs, living a simple life being surrounded by nature and traveling the world. You could say I’m a tomboy with a bubbly personality. I am a little shy, even though my whole life I’ve been in front of a camera. I love adventure and being surrounded by people who make me laugh. I’m also addicted to tattoos.

You’re such a great model. I only recently discovered you in the last year or so, but you’ve been modeling for something like 13 years right? Can you tell us a little about your modeling background?
I was discovered by a photographer at the age of 21, he took a few photos of me and they ended up on the cover of Maxim. Shortly after that, in 2007, I won Australia’s hottest bikini model. After that I kinda blew up, featured on every magazine cover and swimsuit calendar in Australia, not to mention a few international ones also. I was interviewed on television for being Australia’s most downloaded model. I’ve been in the game for so long, and I’m so blessed to still be able to model at the age of 34. I’ve changed my style quite a lot but I finally feel most comfortable with who I am now.

You mentioned to me that you were raised on a farm. I was born and raised in kansas so I think I can relate a bit! I would love to hear more about your childhood. Did you have a lot of animals?
I grew up in the country in an old 3 bedroom cottage and there were 7 of us! We lived in a small gold rush town with dirt roads and rode our bikes everywhere, we had chickens, doves, ducks, guinea pigs and, of course, dogs. We grew fruit trees and had a veggie garden. We were very self contained and on the weekend’s we went yabbying (Australian slang for crawfish fishing), camping, climbed trees and picked blackberries all the fun stuff kids don’t get to do these days, I have so many great memories.

When did you come to America for the first time and at what point did you decide you wanted to move here?
I first visited America when I was 26, for a modeling job. I stayed for three weeks and really fell in love with the weather and the Californian beaches. I visited again a few years later, then again a few after that. The decision to move, only came after I realized how acceptable it was here to be a model with tattoos. I’ve always loved tattoos but in Australia you are limited on what you can do, so I always restrained myself from getting more. After the first few months or so of moving I began my ink work, and now I book more jobs being a tattooed model then I did before when I had none.

How does living in Australia compare to living in Southern California?
Both are amazing places to live. Australia does have some of the best beaches in the world, but you can’t beat the warm all year round weather here in California, it’s one of the reasons I made the move. I don’t like cold unpredictable weather.

At what age did you start getting tattooed and what was your first one?
I got my first tattoo on my 18th birthday, it was a small butterfly to represent freedom. I waited a while after that before getting any more due to my modeling career. My second tattoo came at 27, a cross to remind me of what’s most important in life. God. Then came some scripture on my back, “Theres nothing in a butterfly that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly,” which means don’t judge a book by its cover. I was bullied in school for being what they called ugly, I later became one of Australia’s top bikini models. So this quote I hold close to my heart. Then came a few more small ones, including my sister’s name. But it wasn’t until I moved to America that I started doing my sleeves.

Is there a particular artist that you go to for your tattoos?
Yes, my tattoo artist Kareem Masarani from Newport Tattoo has done most of my tattoo work, I chose him because I really like his style. He knows what I like and I completely trust him, his work is amazing! Check out his Instagram.

Any plans to get a new tattoo soon?
Of course! I have some room on my left arm that needs to be filled. I’m also getting my right hand done, some small finger tattoos and a collar bone tattoo. I will eventually do my whole back as well.

What is a normal day like for Miss Tina Louise?
I always wake up early, like 5:30am. I’m a morning person, always have been. I work on my Instagram for an hour or so before getting out of bed. Then coffee. I feed and walk my dogs, I have 2 dachshunds—Gertrude and Norman.

I always try to Snapchat a little bit and answer questions before getting ready for a shoot. Got to keep my followers happy. Most days I’m shooting, like 3-4 shoots a week. But on the off chance I’m not, I like to go to the beach or ride my beach cruiser around Newport Beach. I’m not a party girl, I don’t drink or smoke. I’m usually in bed by 9:30pm.

You really have this social media thing locked down! Did it come naturally to you or was it something you had to learn?
I haven’t been on Instagram long. I began working with some great photographers here in America and I guess that’s when people started to really notice me. I guess they were interested in my ink work, or the fact I was always half naked in my photos. LOL. I do get a lot of comments on my crazy hair, so could be that also? I’m not your typical model, I like to post stuff that pushes the boundaries. I shoot a lot so I have many different styles, so maybe they look to my page for inspiration, I’m not sure. But either way I’m very blessed that people are interested in what i am doing.

There is really a lot of value and talent involved when it comes to growing an audience like you have. What is your favorite social media platform and why?
I love Instagram. People like to follow people who are different, or pages that inspire them. I feel Instagram is a way of showing your personality and what inspires you.
For me Instagram is my full-time job, I book all my modeling work from there. I was never really tall enough to join an agency, so Instagram has given me and hundreds of other models the platform to grow and showcase their talent. People who are different and not your average model can now book jobs that they wouldn’t have been able to before. It really has changed the modeling industry, and what we all define as beautiful. It has given so many opportunities to people who are really talented but never really given the chance.

Quick fire wrap up!

Favorite Australian food: I really miss my Cadbury Cherry Ripe’s
Favorite American food: Not sure about food but I’m addicted to lemonade.
Current favorite bikini brand: I’m totally obsessed with one-pieces at the moment, but I love Velvet Sphynx Swim’s cute bikini prints plus they fit perfectly.
Dream vacation spot: Anywhere surrounded by water and nature.
Dog or cat? Dog… Always.
Beach or snow? Beach, hate the cold.
Vans or Converse? I’m a Chuck Taylors Girl.

You can follow Miss Tina Louise on her Instagram @miss_tina_louise, and on Snapchat at miss_tinalouise.