None of this was supposed to happen to me.
A Cambodian refugee with a past, no formal education, and no easy path forward. I stand before the mirror, tracing the stories etched on my skin, each one a memory of the journey.
I wonder, “How did I get here?”
Even now, it’s hard to believe I built Skin Design Tattoos, a global empire with nine studios and a team of renowned artists.
Looking back on my life, the challenges I’ve conquered, the resilience it took, I know my greatest achievement isn’t my business.
My greatest accomplishment, by far, is my daughter Reena.
Who I Was Before Reena
My life can be broken into two chapters: The broken young man I was before Reena, and the man and father she helped me to become.
Before Reena arrived, I was a fresh-out ex-con starting over with my new wife, Cristina. Making ends meet was a constant battle. Parole meant hustling for any job I could find: telemarketing, door-to-door sales, soliciting. If you saw it in the “Help Wanted” section of the Los Angeles newspaper, I was probably scrambling to do it myself.
I was always grinding, but it felt like I wasn’t going anywhere.
Meeting My Daughter
Cristina and I spent seven painful years trying to grow our family. Every negative pregnancy test felt like another failure, another burden of guilt.
With Cristina supporting me out of prison, giving me the foundation I needed to stand on my own feet again, who would I be if I couldn’t give her a child? What if we could never build the life we’d been imagining for so long?
Six years in, God answered our prayers. When Cristina and I held the positive pregnancy test, it’s like we were holding the promise of our future.
That day, we both quit smoking. In that moment, we were more than just husband and wife — we created a family, a miracle, and our bond became inseparable.
On July 13, 2003, our lives changed forever with the birth of our beautiful daughter.
When I looked at Reena, I saw a new beginning. I saw the potential in me that Cristina had seen mirrored in my daughter’s eyes. In that moment, everything shifted.
Growing up, I questioned the purpose of my life. It was my lack of direction that led me to the gang. In a misguided attempt at belonging, I thought I’d finally found brotherhood. Instead, I ended up trapped in a cycle of violence that left me empty.
When I met Reena, I realized I’d been waiting for her my whole life. Everything made sense to me when I held my daughter.
It’s like a light hit my soul and illuminated the world around me. I wasn’t in the dark anymore. I could see all the colors that had been dulled for so long and the path that I was meant to not just follow, but lead.
The focus wasn’t just on survival anymore; it was about building a life filled with love and purpose, a life where I could be the best man, husband, and father Reena deserved.
Fatherhood
When you become a father, you look down into the eyes of your child, who is this perfect blend of you and the woman you love, and you feel a renewed sense of hope. You feel this overwhelming sense of purpose. You want your child to inherit all the best parts of you, and you need to make sure you really give them something to look up to.
Once I had my daughter, I knew that things weren’t just about me anymore. I knew that from then on, every decision I made would be with Reena in mind.
I realized the true meaning of my struggles and sacrifices – to build a legacy for Reena, a future that would break the cycle of generational trauma and offer her opportunities I never had.
Who I Became
2004: In a full-circle moment, I was confronted with the news of my father’s murder. I faced that familiar urge to revert to the lost young man I’d once been, the 16 year old gang member facing a 14 year sentence.
The last time I’d seen my father was through prison glass. I’d never get to tell him about my wife, about Reena, about the changes I’d been making in my life.
I thought about how he’d never get to hold his granddaughter, how I’d never get to apologize for the pain I’d caused him growing up.
He would never know the man I’d become; I’d forever be his son who raised hell and left him disappointed. He was gone. Those moments of reconciliation were stolen from us.
All I could hear was that angry young man I used to be wanting to get even.
It would be so easy to slip back into my old ways, to dial a number I hadn’t used in years, to reconnect with the ghosts of my past.
But when I looked down into the eyes of my one-year-old daughter, I knew that I didn’t have to be that person anymore. She showed me the future I could create for her – far greater than the past I’d barely escaped.
She saved me. I knew then that I’d spend the rest of my life committed to being a man worthy of saving.
Creating a Legacy
With Reena as my inspiration, I poured my heart and soul into the tattoo industry, determined to create something that would make my family proud.
There were times when I thought I was failing her. Self-doubt made me question if I was capable of being a provider for my family. Work was inconsistent, collections were coming after us, foreclosures, repossessions — for a while, those were our reality. I didn’t feel strong enough to bear the weight of it all.
I wrote letters. To myself, my daughter, and my wife. I told them I was sorry if I wasn’t enough, that I didn’t think I could do it much longer. I was on the edge of giving up, giving in to what felt like a much needed rest.
What kept me going was Reena.
I kept pushing. I pushed myself harder and farther than I ever thought I could to give my family the chance at happiness. Stability.
I think the universe had bigger plans for me. Clients started to recognize my work and Skin Design Tattoos gained notoriety.
Over time, the debt, the loss of my father, and the insecurities started to feel small.
Now, those letters serve as a reminder of the power of redemption, determination, and love.
Working With Reena
Throughout her childhood, I taught Reena to be strong and work hard, instilling her with the confidence to pursue anything she wanted from life.
When she told me she wanted to follow in my footsteps, I couldn’t be more honored as a father. When she turned 18, I started to apprentice her.
As you can imagine, it’s not always easy working with your father — especially when he’s as much of a perfectionist as I am.
At one point, I was forced to make a decision that strained our relationship. I let her go. While I always knew she was talented, I wasn’t convinced she had the hunger necessary to dedicate herself to the long hours and relentless practice it takes to truly master this art form.
An apprenticeship is all-consuming. There are no days off, no breaks. It requires you to totally give yourself into the craft. At the time, Reena was only 18. Her friends were out finding themselves, building relationships, going to parties, making memories.
I thought that Reena, like most people her age, would value her freedom and independence.
I’m proud to say that two years later, she proved me wrong. After intense training, she silenced all my doubts and exceeded all my expectations. She continues to inspire me everyday.
My Greatest Blessing
No matter how long I work alongside Reena, I’ll never stop being in awe of her skill and commitment to the craft.
To have your daughter be a prodigy in your greatest passion, making waves and getting recognized after only two years, and be the youngest artist at Skin Design Tattoos is a surreal experience.
As soon as I knew Reena was ready, I couldn’t wait to work alongside her.
Word got around that Reena and I were looking to collaborate.
A former client traveled from Salt Lake City to book a three-day session to complete his back piece — a canvas to honor his Cambodian ancestry through the sacred art of tattoo.
This wasn’t just a project, it was a blessing. Not only were we given the freedom to create, but also the opportunity to honor our lineage through our work, and for me, to guide Reena in connecting with her own Cambodian roots.
I am so grateful for the trust placed in me by my clients, for them allowing me to build this life for my family. A life I never would have imagined myself worthy or capable of leading.
And I am beyond proud of Reena. Her dedication, vision, and heritage shine through in her work — work that rivals even the most experienced artists.
To get to work alongside my daughter, side-by-side on the same client is one of my greatest gifts. I cannot think of any greater joy than to watch your child succeed in life and to share in those moments of growth.
To think that this is only the beginning of Reena’s journey — I am in awe both as a father and an artist.
None of this was supposed to happen to me.
I think I’ll always ask myself, “How did I get here?”
And I’ll always owe it all to my baby girl.
The Session
