We recently had the chance to connect with Jaclyn Matikas and have shared our conversation below.
Jaclyn, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Honestly, plants. 🌿
I picked up the hobby during COVID—I went from having zero to buying nine plants in one day. When I somehow kept them alive for two months, I celebrated with a little green leaf tattoo on my thumb for my “green thumb.” Nicole, my best friend and the shop manager, laughed and said that once the world opened back up and I got busy again, I’d have to color it brown when they all died. 😅
But here we are, years later—my thumb’s still green, and my collection has grown to over 400 houseplants. They’ve basically taken over the shop (in the best way), and now we even sell plants alongside tattoos.
It’s become this beautiful connection between everything I love—mothering, creating, nurturing. I even dedicated my whole leg sleeve to Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest, agriculture, and fertility. I already have 4 kids, and although i won’t be having any more — trust me, I’ll be having plenty more plant babies. 🌱💚
Caring for plants reminds me a lot of running a business and raising a family—it’s all about attention, love, and balance. And when everything’s thriving together, that’s when I feel most myself.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As a millennial mom of four girls, wife, and frequent flyer, I’ve somehow juggled the art of doing it all — on little sleep and a lot of caffeine. ☕ I built Pretty in Ink Tattoos on hustle, heart, and rule-breaking — carving out space for women in an industry that wasn’t exactly designed for us.
Pretty in Ink started nearly 18 years ago in my mom’s basement with nothing but a tattoo machine, a vision, and a whole lot of drive. I actually studied Public Relations and Communications in college, but with only three classes left before graduation, I dropped out to chase tattooing full-time. Everyone thought I was out of my mind — but I wanted freedom, creativity, and a life that felt truly mine.
That leap turned into something bigger than I ever imagined. What began as one woman with a dream has grown into a full-fledged femmepire — an all-female-owned tattoo studio built on good vibes, great art, and women hyping women.
Our studio gives “less skulls, more sparkle” energy — think crystals, pink accents, hundreds of plants, and a space that instantly feels like home. We’re not your typical tattoo shop. We’ve created a space where women feel safe, seen, and celebrated — whether it’s their first tattoo or their fiftieth.
But Pretty in Ink has always been about more than tattoos — it’s about healing, empowerment, and connection. Every October, we host Tatts for Tatas, a breast cancer awareness event where we gift post-mastectomy scar cover-up tattoos to survivors nominated by our community. It’s one of the most emotional, inspiring days of the year — powered by local women-owned businesses who help us spoil these survivors with hair styling, self-care goodies, and even boudoir photoshoots to celebrate their strength and beauty. 💕
We’ve also raised funds for social justice organizations, mentored women starting their own businesses, and built a culture rooted in sisterhood, creativity, and support. After years of pouring everything into building this business, my focus now is enjoying what we’ve created together. The foundation’s strong, the girls beside me are thriving, and we’re finally in that sweet spot — doing what we love, with people we love, while balancing the chaos of family life and soaking in the freedom we worked so hard for.
At the end of the day, I just want every client to walk out feeling confident, inspired, and in love with their skin — because tattoos aren’t just art, they’re affirmations you can wear.
Pretty in Ink was built by women, grown with heart, and designed to sparkle — proof that when you nurture something with passion (and maybe a little glitter), it’ll grow into a life you love. 🌿✨
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Without a doubt, my relationship with my mom. She has always been my biggest supporter — the type of mom who would sign me up for any sport, hobby, or creative phase I wanted to try, no questions asked. She never cared if I won, lost, quit, or changed my mind; she just cared that I tried. Looking back, that unconditional support shaped everything about who I am.
She taught me that curiosity is powerful — that it’s okay to explore, pivot, and start over as many times as you need to until you find what you love. When I switched majors three times, when I hated my design job, and even when I dropped out of college with only three classes left to pursue tattooing full time, she never once made me feel like I failed. Instead, she told me to go for it — and even helped me take out my first line of credit to buy tattoo supplies and set up my space in her basement.
That kind of belief is rare — and it made me brave enough to take risks, to build something from scratch, and to trust my gut even when it didn’t make sense to anyone else. I realize now that her parenting style is exactly how I run my business and how I parent my own kids.
At Pretty in Ink, I try to lead the same way she led me — with freedom, trust, and love. My artists have space to grow, experiment, and make mistakes without judgment. My clients are encouraged to explore, to express themselves, and to create something meaningful just for them. And as a mom, I want my daughters to know that it’s okay to change your mind, to chase what excites you, and to never let fear keep you in the wrong lane.
My mom showed me that success isn’t about sticking to one plan — it’s about believing in yourself enough to start over when you need to. That lesson built me as an artist, a leader, and a mom — and it’s the same energy that built Pretty in Ink.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. When life fell apart, I had to face myself and decide who I wanted to become. From 2009 to 2018, I worked alongside my (now) ex-husband and father of two of my girls. Near the end, things weren’t great — personally or professionally — but I was scared to start over. Leaving meant walking away from the shop we built together and rebuilding my life from scratch. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it led me exactly where I was meant to be.
In 2018, I took a few steps back to move forward again. I went back to tattooing in a basement for two months, then found a small office space I swore I’d rent for no more than a year. Within ten months, I found the perfect commercial property in Bowie. I signed a three-year lease — and just last month, six years later, I bought that very building. Walking away from a toxic relationship and taking the time to truly heal opened the door for me to find my soulmate, Cory, who I’ve now been happily married to for almost two years.
The hardest seasons of my life taught me what I truly value: integrity, connection, freedom, and peace. They reminded me that strength is built in the moments no one sees, not the highlight reels. Most of the real lessons come from the struggle, not the shiny trophy at the end. You have to become the person capable of handling success, and that only happens through hardship. Suffering strips away ego, perfectionism, and control. It teaches patience, empathy, and faith in yourself when nothing feels certain. Strength is built in the moments no one sees, not the highlight reels.
Because I’ve known struggle, I built Pretty in Ink to be a space rooted in compassion, growth, and second chances. The real glow-up doesn’t come from the wins — it comes from the courage to pivot and start again, and knowing if and when to do so. 💖
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’ll show up as I am… that day. My image is constantly changing, and honestly, it just depends on how I feel. You might catch me in oversized sweats hiding under a hat, running around in athleisure (that’s most days), or completely dolled up in full glam and thigh-high pink heels. But under all of that, I’m fearlessly transparent and authentically me — always.
Anyone who knows me would probably say the same thing: I’m a chronic oversharer and I’ve already faced most of my shadows and accepted them. Showing up as myself — whichever version you get that day — is what helps me build real connections so quickly. I’m not afraid to share things most people hold back out of fear of being vulnerable. I’ve got a growth mindset, and for me, being authentic opens the door for deeper conversations and real growth.
I think when you’re unapologetically yourself, it makes other people feel safe to do the same — and we need more of that. I’ve embraced my imperfections and I know exactly what they are (at least, the ones that still bother me). That gives me an advantage — no one can use them against me. Instagram filters are fun and all, but they create this unrealistic expectation that women need to show up looking perfect every day. I don’t have time for that.
These days, I usually have a choice to use 30 minutes to work out or put on makeup — and I’m choosing the workout. Some days call for glam, but most days, if you see me at the shop, school pickup, or the running errands, you’re getting the fresh-faced, messy bun, leggings-and-sneakers version of me. And honestly? I love her.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Everyone’s told to go to school, get a good job, and follow the “plan.” But every time I followed what I was told to do, I felt disconnected from myself. Even after dropping out of college to chase tattooing, I still couldn’t fit into the traditional shop environment — so I built my own space.
When I started tattooing, there weren’t any studios like Pretty in Ink in the area. I saw the need for it and created it. I knew if I loved chic, girly, curated spaces and tattoos, there had to be other women like me too — women who wanted comfort, professionalism, and empowerment without the dark, masculine shop vibe. I built the kind of space where women could feel safe, seen, and celebrated.
If you ask me, creating a vision and executing it is anything but what I was told to do. Tattooing found me when I stopped trying to fit the mold and gave myself permission to create on my own terms. I’ve aligned my passion, my purpose, and my paycheck — and that’s how I know I’m doing what I was born to do. I was told to be successful, i was born to do it on my own terms, with a little pink sparkle!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.prettyinink.net
- Instagram: @prettyininktattoos
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/prettyininktattooshop
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pretty-in-ink-tattoos-bowie
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrettyinInkTattoos
- Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prettyinink.tattoos
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