This is nuts. The esteemed world-renowned photographer, who is suffering under collapsing magazines, calls me often and he mentioned the next Girl of Biker recently. Markus Cuff lensed some of the best-looking tattooed babes in the world over the last decade or two, and once in awhile we discuss candidates for Girls of Bikernet.
“But what about the story?” I always ask him, since a pretty face doesn’t make the whole picture. Recently, he sent me a few girls and Chelsea Rae intrigued me. I liked her choice of tattoo art and her smile melted my heart, or maybe it was the sparkle in her warm eyes.
She had the looks, but what about the story? We started to dig and it wasn’t easy for a couple of days, until the info floodgate opened and the story blossomed like fresh Palmaris in the bright sun. You’ll see.
We couldn’t reach Chelsea and she works for Sullen, the massive tattoo apparel company, but nothing about the Sullen girls popped up on the site except the sharp, teasing photos and apparel ads. Mr. Cuff couldn’t find the Tattoo magazine where she was featured in full, delightful color. For a couple of days, the lovely Chelsea was missing in action, but then suddenly after only a couple of shots of whiskey, shit started to happen.
“Call me anytime,” Chelsea said and I took her up on it. I called her at 3:00 in the morning, stoned and sipping whiskey.
“I found the feature,” Markus admitted and I went to work.
Chelsea was born and raised in agricultural Upland, California, which was incorporated on May 15, 1906, after previously being named North Ontario. Upland is located at the foot of the highest part of the San Gabriel Mountains. The city is part of the Inland Empire, a metropolitan area situated directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Upland originally was an irrigation colony established by George and William Chaffey. When founded, it was a small rural town based on agriculture; specifically, citrus fruits and grapes.
For bikers, Upland was an escape from the city until the city crept out and wiped out the lush crops for more city dwellers. Chelsea’s father, who was a rider, understood this hiding place in the low hills where he worked for his family-owned business as a carpenter. But he found comfort in constantly sketching rooms and designing furniture. His love for art and creativity inspired his daughter. Chelsea still loves her town at the base of the mountains. “I was born here and will always stay in Upland,” she said with a giggle.
Chelsea picked up on the artist vibe. “I was always inspired by my dad, by tattoos and tattoo artists, and give them props for being able to create such amazing art on skin,” Chelsea said. “After my first tattoo, it just became addicting, and after my father passed away when I was just 16, they became even more meaningful to me. It wasn’t just art anymore, it was memories.”
She has only been tattooed by two people, her ex and Kayle Leogrande. She recommends sticking with the artist you came with and plans on more work from Kayle in the future. Art is the basis for this girl’s life from the Irish script on her right hand that means “Love.”
Although she has a couple of skulls and such, the majority of her tattoos are full of color and beauty with flowers. “Kayle is a wonderful Japanese-style artist and he gave me all these flowers,” Chelsea said.
“Kayle delicately handled the letters on my knuckles. They spell out Sweet Pea, something my dad used to call me. It’s probably my favorite tattoo.”
Like I said, she’s all about art and motorcycles. Four years ago she went to work for an artistic apparel company, Sullen, handling their marketing and social media. And recently, she started to date Anthony, a club member. “It’s a blast to ride again and this lifestyle is exciting, to say the least,” Chelsea added.
Established in Huntington Beach, CA. early in 2001, Sullen got its start from being heavily influenced by Southern California beach culture and tattoo-inspired art. With a strong focus on ideals and practices of modern tattooers, Sullen evolved from a small group of art-driven tattooers and artists into a world-renowned art collective. As a whole, the collective is drawn to the idea that art of all forms should be promoted, while related ideas should be shared for the world to learn from.
Influenced greatly by lessons learned early in tattooing, Co-owner Ryan Smith (a professional tattoo artist since 1996) brought collaborative ideas from the tattoo culture he knew so well and blended them with progressive fashion trends to create Sullen. His inspirations from the tattoo culture allowed him and the collective to build the foundation on which Sullen currently thrives.
This company is all about art, tattoos and style, and was a natural fit for Chelsea.
Through the Sullen connection, Chelsea gets to dabble in several diverse art forms, from social media massive connections to apparel, tattoo art, selecting models and new artists for more collective endeavors and even tattoo TV. Then the nights are filled with cutting across crowded Los Angeles freeways in a pack of wild outlaws searching Hollywood side streets for the next adventure.
Tattoo Magazine crowned Chelsea, the first Miss Inxtravaganza during its inaugural convention November 1-3, 2013 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
“There were a lot of beautiful girls who competed,” Chelsea very graciously said. “My chances were the same as anyone else, so I was really shocked when I won, especially since it was the first time I had ever competed at a tattoo event of any kind.”
Chelsea has one more major endeavor, a 2-year-old son, Trystan, and she loves being a mom.
So, I would say she has a story and it’s just unfolding in so many new art worlds.
–Bandit
