Today is National Tattoo Day and we were joined by Joanna Angel and Aaron “Small Hands” to talk about their first tattoos, their experiences as inked performers, their brand-new podcast, Just The Tips, and the kiss between Aaron and Owen that took the internet by storm!
What was the first tattoo you got?
Aaron: My first tattoo was my chest piece - it’s a crown with old school barbershop straight razors and flowers and a banner that says, “Rock n’ Roll, Heart n’ Soul.” I was 18 years old and had been planning on getting tattooed since I was around 15, all my musical idols and influences had a lot of tattoos so that was the inspiration. My parents did not know about it for 6 months because I hid it from them. My father always said he would kick me out of the house if I got a tattoo, so I figured it was best to keep my shirt on until I moved out on my own! The day I moved out I flashed him my chest and said “Check it out! I got a tattoo!” and then I drove away in the moving truck.
Joanna: My first tattoo was the “so it goes” mask on my left shoulder. It was an homage to one of my favorite novels at the time, “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut. All my friends were older tattooed people and I hated that I didn’t have any. I tried to get tattooed before I was 18, multiple times, and no artist would do it. Looking back on that now - I applaud them.
I hid it from my parents for about a year. It was uncomfortable, I kept pretending I was cold even in hot weather, to keep myself covered. After about a year they saw it. I wore a t-shirt that just barely covered it and … at some point I moved my arm, and it stuck out. They were disappointed but not surprised at all. After that, I continued to get tattooed and every time my mom saw me, she’d say, “Did you get more tattoos?” and I’d say “No! That’s the same one you already saw!” I’ve continued this bit for 20 years now and somehow it seems to still work!
Congrats on launching your new podcast, Just The Tips! What topics are you excited to cover? Any star-studded guests scheduled for an appearance?
Joanna and Aaron: Thank you! We are loving the podcast and excited to see where it goes. We just had Lena the Plug on as a guest talking about her newest scene with Jason Luv. Everyone should go check out the podcast, and her newest scene!
Joanna, you’re known as the Queen of Alt Porn. In your opinion, what defines alterative porn and are tattoos an absolute requirement?
Joanna: That was a title given to me about 20 years ago and I’ve always found it embarrassing. Back in the 1700’s, when I started in porn, having tattoos was unheard of — which was strange because I lived in a world where *not* having tattoos was unheard of. While it was a shock to the industry that someone who had tattoos did porn, it was a shock to me that there was an entire community of people who didn’t have tattoos. Things were different back then. Before social media, the world you lived in was actually all in front of you. But anyways, “alternative porn” was some kind of umbrella term given to me and the films I used to direct as a way of saying, “these movies are different than the other movies.” I don’t direct films anymore, so I’ve been dethroned as the Queen of Alt porn. And now I am proudly Mom’s Goth Best Friend!
Speaking of alt Models, Small Hands and Owen Gray shared a famous smooch at the XBIZ Awards! Did you go up there knowing you would do that or was it spur of the moment?
Joanna: This was a planned-out smooch. After several organic non planned out smooches have happened between them off camera. I’ve seen it. It’s fucking magical. Those two should get a room. Anyways, it started as a conversation about Owen coming to the awards show to support Aaron, and as you all may or may not know, Owen coming to an awards show in general was quite special because he’s rather elusive and never goes anywhere! And then… Well…. I’ll let Aaron explain it.
Aaron: I was trying to think of a fun surprise to spring on the audience at the show, and I knew that people love Owen and myself, so what better way to give the people what they want plus to show my very own love for Owen than our own Britney / Madonna onstage make-out session!? I called him and pitched him the idea and he thought it was great! The rest, as they say, is history!
As tattooed models, are there more unique opportunities for you because of your body art?
Joanna: I suppose in the earlier days of my career I did appearances at a lot of tattoo conventions, and modeled for a lot of tattoo magazines. I got to do a handful of music videos, and even did some cross marketing with bands and record labels. As a tattooed model, you always get to play the person in porn who’s breaking up a marriage or like, turning someone into a lesbian. And it’s rather exciting!
Aaron: And I’ll add that as a tattooed male model, you can still play a stepson in your 40’s…. Even when your stepmom co-star is 29.
Do you think fully tattooed performers are still a niche interest, or have mainstream audiences embraced the look?
Joanna: I think it’s become mainstream. However, part of getting tattooed is showing society you just don’t give a fuck. I remember when I first got tattooed, “below the elbow” the tattoo artist was like “Ok.. just so you know, this might stop you from getting a job when you get older” and I said, “I don’t care.” I very much wanted to be a derelict of society and I still do.
Joanna, you star in a scene where you play a tattoo consultant, and it seems like the Grim Reaper tattoo really brings people together! Which other tattoos have helped you break the ice on set?
Joanna: That scene has inspired so many people to come up to me at conventions asking me to be their tattoo consultant and I must explain to them it isn’t a real job. But I’m starting to think it’s a realistic side hustle for me. The ice is usually broken on set with sex and not tattoos.
Small Hands, do normies ask you sillier questions about your tattoos or about your job? What’s your favorite silly question that civilians have asked you about?
Aaron: Most of the silly questions I get are job/porn related. Most people don’t even mention my tattoos much. I feel tattoos are so mainstream now it’s not as exciting to talk about versus porn. The generic questions are always, “Who’s your favorite female performer to work with? Who’s your least favorite? How do I get into porn? And are your hands REALLY that small?!”
Any advice for new and up and coming alternative Models?
Aaron: My advice to new up and coming performers is develop a following and a fanbase by offering what is special and unique about you to the world. Then work hard to manage, grow and be consistent. As your fanbase grows, more opportunities will present themselves and more money will be there for you to make.
Joanna: I agree with Aaron on this one!
As a couple, you film with many different performers with diverse sexual preferences and gender identities. If you had to film in a dream location with any collaborators, who would it be and where?
Aaron: I’ve always dreamed of visiting Japan. Being part Japanese myself it’s held a special place in my heart and mind and been on my list for years. Although I’ve traveled all over the world touring in bands and filming porn, I’ve yet to make it to Japan. I think it would be super cool to work with some of the talent who lives there as well!
Joanna: Honestly every time I dream of shooting with someone, I just make it happen. Life is too short to have unrequited sexual conquests! But I will call out a handful of my favorite tattooed creators here who I’ve worked with!
Jessie Lee, HawkHatesYou, Rocky Emerson, Aubrey Kate, Gracie Jane, Arabelle Raphael, Emma Magnolia, The Flesh Mechanic, Christy Mack, Valerica Steele & Logan Xander.
That’s just a few. There’s many more! Everyone go jerk off to them! And make sure to subscribe to my Pornhub page and Small Hand’s page too!
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