My name is Isabela Livingstone. I opened June Bug Tattoo in Altadena in April of 2023. Having a tattoo shop run by women was a dream of mine. I wanted to create a space for people to feel safe and comfortable in a tattoo environment. June Bug became that and so much more—a safe haven for trans and queer folks, and people with sensory or accessibility needs who want tattoos done by peers. I'm so proud of the legacy we’ve built in such a relatively short time.

In January 2025 we lost our original June Bug Tattoo location in the Eaton Fire. I spent my life savings building our shop, and to see it as a pile of ash was incredibly painful. However, the support from women in the tattoo community, the Altadena community, and our community at large has been heartwarming and overwhelming. We knew that the path forward was to rebuild and keep the vision alive.

In March 2025, I was able to secure a new location for June Bug to continue in Eagle Rock. Our new location is bigger, cozier, and more accessible. We were able to grow our team of artists from 5 to 8! I am so excited to see our space rise from the ashes, and the future is brighter than ever.

June Bug Tattoo has received a lot of media attention, especially after the fire, and I wanted to showcase the journalism published about June Bug here.