More than a thousand people flocked downtown earlier this week for a chance to meet the star of the TLC program L.A. Ink.

Tattoo artist Kat Von D was in Ottawa promoting her new book, High Voltage Tattoo, the same day her boyfriend, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, was in town to perform at Scotiabank Place.

Ottawa resident Bianca Wahab was in the line of more than 1,000 fans at the Rideau Street Chapters waiting to get up close and personal with her idol.

For Wahab, 21, the opportunity to say thank you to her hero was worth far more than the autograph opportunity. “She’s such an inspiration to me,” said Wahab, who’s got her own fashion and accessory line.

Wahab came to the table with a custom purse in hand, designed specifically for Von D. The leather bag displayed a giant lightning bolt in the centre, which Wahab modelled after Von D’s High Voltage logo.

“I just wanted to give her something to say thanks,” said Wahab. “You know, she’s a woman in the business. It was to kind of say, ‘You go, girl.’”

Fans were asked to have only the book ready to be signed and keep all other memorabilia to themselves to allow everyone an opportunity for an autograph and photo. This didn’t stop fans from giving Von D gifts, from CDs to birthday cards (Von D turned 27 on March 8.)

After an hour, fans were warned that there may not be time to get through everyone, but the store and Von D’s staff ensured that everybody had a chance to greet her.