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Ryan Ashley Malarkey Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 14, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth29 April 1987

Age36

BirthplaceDallas, Pennsylvania

ProfessionTattoo Artist

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusMarried

SpouseArlo DiCristina

FamilySon - Atheus Omni DiCristina; Sisters - Autumn Hudson and Lauren Malarkey

Ryan Ashley Malarkey Biography

Tattoo artist and reality TV figure Ryan Ashley Malarkey rose from fashion design to become the first woman to win Ink Master (season 8). Known for ornate,

Early life and background
Ryan Ashley Malarkey was born on April 29, 1987, and raised in Dallas, Pennsylvania. From a young age she was encouraged in visual arts by her mother, who introduced her to drawing. That early training led Ryan to explore sewing and clothing design, and she later studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, completing her degree in 2007.

Career
After graduating, Ryan spent about five years working in fashion design for a private label in New York. She returned to Pennsylvania and transitioned into tattooing, developing a distinctive black-and-grey aesthetic that incorporates beadwork, lace-like details, and ornamental jewelry motifs. That signature approach helped build her reputation in the tattoo community.

Her national profile rose dramatically when she competed on and won season 8 of the reality competition Ink Master in 2016, making her the first woman to take that title. At the time she had been tattooing for roughly five years. Following her victory she has continued to appear on the Ink Master franchise in multiple capacities, including hosting spin-off series such as Angels and Grudge Match, and she served as a judge on season 14 of Ink Master in 2022.

In addition to her television work, Ryan maintains a tattoo practice and has tattooed a range of clients, including rock musicians and celebrities. She has been invited to create live tattoos on television and at events; in May 2021 she tattooed actress Drew Barrymore’s forearm. Ryan also runs retail shops in Pennsylvania that sell oddities and antique items; one of these spaces, launched in 2013 with then-partner Josh Balz, combined a front retail area with a tattoo studio in the back.

Public profile
Ryan has been featured on several magazine covers and in industry publications. She appeared on the cover of Inked magazine in February 2020 and on the cover of Skin & Ink in November 2021. Her work has also been showcased in Tattoo Society, Tattoo Life, Dark Pinup, Tattoo Expo and other outlets.

Personal life
Ryan is married to tattoo artist Arlo DiCristina; the couple wed in October 2019. Their son, Atheus Omni DiCristina, was born on May 16, 2020. Ryan has two sisters, Autumn Hudson and Lauren Malarkey. Prior to her marriage, she was in a long-term relationship with musician Josh Balz; the two ended their engagement after several years but have remained on amicable terms according to reported accounts.

Interests and public habits
Outside of tattooing, Ryan collects unusual and antique items and operates shops that reflect that interest. She enjoys cooking, shopping and traveling with her family. She is known for maintaining an active social-media presence, where she shares images of nail art, dogs, and aspects of her lifestyle.

Latest updates
In recent years Ryan has continued to appear within the Ink Master universe, moving between roles on the main show and its spin-offs. Magazine cover appearances in 2020 and 2021 kept her visible in tattoo and pop-culture circles, and notable live tattoo appearances, including work on Drew Barrymore, have punctuated her public activity.

Ryan Ashley remains recognized for blending a fashion and design background with tattooing to produce highly ornamental black-and-grey work, and for breaking ground as a woman winner of a major tattoo competition.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Ryan Ashley Malarkey, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Ink Master (Judge) - Season 14

Served as a judge on the reality tattoo competition series.

2022
Ink Master (Winner) - Season 8

Winner of the eighth season of the tattoo competition series.

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. First woman to win Ink Master (Season 8, 2016)
  2. Served as judge on Ink Master Season 14 (2022)
  3. Appeared on covers of Inked (Feb 2020) and Skin & Ink (Nov 2021)
  4. Owns retail shops selling antiques and oddities in Pennsylvania
  5. Tattooed clients including musicians and celebrities
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ryan Ashley Malarkey born?

Ryan Ashley Malarkey was born on 29 April 1987.

What is Ryan Ashley Malarkey known for?

Ryan Ashley Malarkey is known for tattoo Artist.

What is Ryan Ashley Malarkey’s marital status?

Ryan Ashley Malarkey's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Ryan Ashley Malarkey married to?

Ryan Ashley Malarkey is publicly listed as married to Arlo DiCristina.