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A Pueblo woman who served as a combat medic in the Army National Guard hopes her tattoos will help her become Inked magazine’s next cover girl.
To get her wish, Kellie Cowger must place first in her class in the competition to advance to the next round. Puebloans have until 8 p.m. Thursday to vote for her at cover.inkedmag.com/2022/kellie-cowger.
Cowger has 13 tattoos, 10 of which were done by Joaquin Molina of Arcanum Electric Tattoo, 113 Colorado Ave. Her favorite is a pink sleeve that covers her left arm.
“I told my artist I wanted a sad rose and let him do whatever he wanted and he did a phenomenal job,” she said.
Former combat medic Kellie Cowger is now studying for a college degree
Cowger joined the military after graduating from county high school in 2016 and served as a combat medic.
“I love helping people and the military has shown me that I’m so much stronger than I thought I was. I was honorably discharged due to injury,” she explained.
She worked at the Grind Haus Cafe for five years, before getting a job at Parkview Medical Center while attending Pueblo Community College, studying for an associate’s degree as a paramedic.
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Cowger has plans for Inked magazine’s prize money
If she wins the cover girl contest, Cowger said she would use the $25,000 in prize money to help pay for her education and further her medical career.
“I would also pay off my family’s debt and help as many friends as possible,” she wrote in a biography submitted to the competition.
As for Molina, he leaves Pueblo on March 1 to settle in Los Angeles, where he plans to continue working as a tattoo artist.
“I was so pleasantly surprised to see her mention my name in her submission for Inked Magazine,” he said. “I’ve had a small handful of clients competing for this cover, but it’s always humbling when they give you that credit in their writing.”
Tracy Harmon, Chief Reporter, covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps.