"""Maud Wagner (1877-1961) was the first known professional female tattoo artist in the U.S. She became so, writes Margo DeMello in her history """"Inked"""" while """"working as a contortionist and acrobatic performer in the circus, carnival, and world fair circuit"""" at the turn of the century. She learned to tattoo from her husband Gus Wagner, an artist she met at the St. Louis World's Fair, who offered to teach her in exchange for a date. Her daughter Lovetta also became a tattoo artist."""