Meet Danielle McKnight | Tattoo Artist & Shop Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle McKnight and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up between Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga, California my entire life, and only recently moved to Long Beach at the beginning of 2022. As a child, I was into all things art and creativity, from drawing, to painting, to writing short stories and poems. I’ve always been naturally artistic, and that’s a theme that’s been constant throughout my entire life. I knew that I wanted an art oriented career since I was young, and that’s a dream that I never gave up, and I’m glad that I didn’t. I was always the odd kid that stuck out in some way or another, from childhood through high school, and as a result of that I had to learn how to stand up for myself, and remain true to who I was regardless of what other people though of me. And that mindset has done me well as an adult, especially when it came to chasing my dreams as a tattoo artist, and in an industry that really wasn’t created for people like me, and where people like myself weren’t expected to thrive. But here I am, fifteen years in the making as a successful tattoo artist and business owner, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Getting to where I am now, as a tattoo artist, definitely wasn’t an easy road. As a black woman in a white, male dominated industry, I definitely had to work a lot harder than my constituents to get here. And although I’ve experienced some less than desirable situations, and had to overcome a slew of obstacles, I wouldn’t change anything because it all lead me to where I am now, and gave me the strength and tough exterior in order to brave everything that comes with this industry and this job. You still don’t see a lot of black women in the tattoo industry. Women are definitely more prominent in the industry as a whole, and a lot of female owned shops are popping up everywhere, which is absolutely amazing, yet there’s still a lack of representation when it comes to women of color, particularly black women. I think I definitely stand out in the industry in that regard, and I hope that I can be an influence and an inspiration to other black women and black girls that may want to be a tattoo artist, but are unsure or wavering because they don’t see themselves represented as often.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To be honest, I’m a bit of an introvert these days. I got sober a little over two years ago, and moved here to Long Beach, and I’ve become more of a homebody. Shocking for a tattoo artist, right?! Haha. I am trying to make it a point to get out and explore the city more, though. There are definitely tons of places to eat in the downtown, Alamitos, and Belmont Shore area of Long Beach where I am. I make it a point to try a new restaurant or coffee shop every week, and I’ve barely put a dent in what the city has to offer. So if I had to plan something, I’d definitely plan some beach bike rides along the bike path, some dining and shopping at the Pike, head down to 2nd street in Belmont Shore and check out some restaurants and shopping, and definitely stopping by my shop for a spontaneous tattoo!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my brother, John McKnight. He is my best friend, and he has been there for me through my entire journey. He’s always had my back no matter what, and supported my through the toughest parts of my life, as well as the most wonderful parts. He keeps me grounded when I need it, and he is my biggest cheerleader in the game of life. I don’t know what I’d do without him, and I’m blessed and grateful to have someone so amazing by my side.

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