Skye Hall is an artistic, talented, indigenous tattooed woman with a truly creative soul. Even more, her many beautiful tattoos, talents, and determination has earned her the title of Inked Magazine’s 2022 Cover Girl. Skye pridefully connects with her indigenous roots through jingle dancing, art, and through many of her gorgeous tattoos. It was a pleasure to learn about Skye, her many passions, and her life as a mom, dancer, creator, and inspiring indigenous tattooed woman.

Hey Skye! To start off, tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Skye Hall from the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, where I was raised and where I currently reside right now. I’m also an enroll member – we are known as The Three Affiliated Tribes, which consists of Hidatsa, Mandan and Arikara tribes. I’m a seamstress, jingle dress dancer, and all-around artist with my sewing, photography, beading, painting, and makeup. I’m just an overall creative soul. I grew up on the reservation as a kid, and moved at the age of 19 to Minneapolis, MN to go to college for culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu. I finished with an Associates of Applied Science Degree. 

I’m also a powwow dancer. I’ve traveled to compete at powwows my whole life across the U.S. and Canada. I dance jingle. I love to dance and travel. I’m a single mother to 3 beautiful children, my oldest daughter Anani is 8, my son Lucayan is 6, and my youngest daughter Siani is 4. They are so full of energy and keep me on my toes with their amazing personalities. I do a lot of social media work as an influencer for 3 apps, and recently got into doing native comedy and comedy TikToks this year. I also do sewing, photography and some modeling.

Let’s talk about your modeling experiences! Tell us about some of your modeling gigs.

I started modeling in my early 20s. My very first modeling job I got was a hair show model – the first and last gig I ever did with hair shows due to having my hair cut. Then, I found a competition for a native entertainment magazine for the sexiest of 2012. I got into the competition, and won some pages in the magazine. I had to send my own pictures for the magazine, so I found a photographer who helped me build up a portfolio. From there, I began networking, got a modeling profile for a modeling networking site, and went from there. I was featured in another native magazine called Native Max Magazine when they were first starting out. I worked with many photographers, designers, music artists, and makeup artists, as well as artists in Minneapolis, Oklahoma, Denver, Wisconsin, Maryland, North Dakota and Canada. I’ve been doing it for a long time. I’ve worked with music artists as a music video model from local artists in Minneapolis and another friend of mine in Maryland. I do look at modeling as another career, and also a hobby from time to time. I feel like I have a unique look overall along with my unique tattoos and personality.

Congratulations on being named Ink Magazine’s 2022 Cover Girl! That is such a huge achievement. Tell us what that journey has been like, and what this title means to you?

Thank you so much! It’s honestly my 2nd year trying, and this year I made it to the cover. The journey was very long, and I had moments where I wanted to give up. I just kept pushing myself to get people to vote for me on all my platforms. It was a lot of asking and reminding people to vote. It was definitely worth it all. I’m very thankful for all the support I had from my family, friends and followers. My shoot went amazing, and I met so many wonderful people. It means the world to me being able to accomplish something this big. I’m very honored to represent the indigenous community and also my tribe.

I saw that you’re very proud of your Native American heritage, which is absolutely amazing. Could you tell us about the importance that this plays in your life?

It’s an extremely important part of my life, because it’s my identity and it’s who I am, from the environment that I grew up in and where I live now. I have so much family and a very beautiful culture with many different dynamics to it, from traditions to our celebrations and ceremonies. Our way of life is so unique. I’m so proud and will always be. I grew up dancing, so I traveled to many reservations powwowing – not everyone grows up dancing; it’s a choice. My grandmother was a traditional dancer and she was very passionate for it. It was a way of life for her, and she wanted me to dance as soon as I could walk. I’m grateful she wanted me to be apart of the dance circle, and will always honor her memory in dancing. When I dance, the feeling is unexplainable. It’s a beautiful energy and my heart is so full being out in the arena. This same energy is shared in so many different ways within our culture. I’m grateful for the life that I know and love, and will always represent proudly.

Your ink and yourself and absolutely stunning! When did you first start getting tattooed, and could you tell us the story behind your first tattoo?

Thank you much! Yeah, I was young. I started right away when I turned 18. My first tattoo was inspired by Ed Hardy roses, and honestly I just love roses. Roses also represent the divine feminine. I’m eventually going to cover up my stomach tattoos – I made some bad decisions with them. I just have to talk my artist into doing it lol.

Are many of your tattoos inspired by your Native roots? If so, tell us about them!

Yes many are. I have waterbirds on my shoulders, which represents a beautiful ceremony that is not originally from my tribe, but is practiced throughout native country. On my arm, I have a teepee with a horse eagle and feather with eagles flying up to the sky in honor of my dad who passed when I was 2. He broke horses for a living and always worked with them, so I dedicated that tattoo to him. I have my great great great.. not sure how many greats to put, but one of my grandfathers portrait on my thigh; Chief Four Bears. He has a really amazing story, and he was a brave warrior. On my inner arm, I have a design dedicated to my 3 children, and each have a design for their middle names – Hummingbird, Storm and Butterfly – within the design. An awesome native artist drew it up for me – credit to Jess Williams. The owl on my chest is known as a messenger who brings warnings, my reasoning behind it is seeing my way through the darkest times of my life.

Where does the motivation come from when you want a new tattoo? Are you more spontaneous, or do you always have a plan?

I love to plan out my tattoos, and some are planned, but for just the design like my geometric wrist tattoos. Most are planned with meaning though. I actually have a line up of tattoos for my busy amazing talented tattoo artist Emily Sabrina Estrada, who is my artist now. I went to her when she was an apprentice, and her work is the best. I’ve been going to her ever since. Her Instagram is @e.s.e.tattoos.

My leg writing and arm tattoo with the wrists were all done when I lived in Minneapolis by Nate McMaster. My Four Bears thigh tattoo was done by Jameson Thomas. My waterbirds were done by Felipe Ramos.

I have some beautiful portraits I’m going to get done, and want to finish up some sleeves as well. 

One of your tattoos that stuck out to me is your gorgeous chest piece of the owl and bear. Could you tell us a little about this piece, and what it means to you?

This is actually my newest piece as well. It’s a cover up for a tattoo that was also beautiful, but had no meaning to me. So, I wanted something more detailed and unique. I picked out an owl for seeing through the darkest moments in my life. Also, the bear has always been just a beautiful animal to me, and I fell in love with the design and thought it would be a perfect fit for the cover up.

As they grow up, what are some things that you hope your kids learn about tattooed women and tattoo culture in general?

I would tell them I feel like tattooed women all have a unique story and they are unapologetically themselves, and they express that without even having to say a word. That in itself is powerful. Just tattoo culture is amazing. The level of self expression is limitless, unless you run out of body to tattoo of course. I love it! It’s definitely a way of life.

Tell us about some of your other hobbies and interests outside of the tattoo world!

I’ve been working out getting into lifting, and I’ve also been a vegan since December 2021. Healthy lifestyle and self care are big ones for me. The busy mom life is always keeping me going. I did pick up tarot as well this year, however I’m just in the learning stages. I have so many interests. I’m huge into meditation too. I love to travel and love doing makeup as well.

What are some of your goals and aspirations for the future? What is in store for you and your family? 

My aspirations for the future are to continue successfully and gracefully with whatever comes my way. I have some projects coming up that I’m excited about. One important thing I’ve learned is not to talk about future plans right away, so that things fall into place when they’re supposed to.

Thank you so much for sharing with us! Could you leave us with one of your favorite quotes or messages you’d like to share with the world?

“Visualize your highest self; start showing up as her.”

Thank you Skye!

Follow Skye on Instagram @skye.hall28, on TikTok @Skye..hall, and check her out as the 2022 Inked Magazine Cover Girl at https://cover.inkedmag.com/

Read about some of our other tattooed women here:

• Loz is a London Tattoo Artist and Tattooed Woman Doing What She Loves
• Rami Kintsugi Channels Her Individuality and Healing Nature Through Tattooing
• Cypress Bates is a Model, Goofball, and Just Your Average “Ghoul Next Door”