Today, we're diving deep into the high-stakes world of Ink Master Season 17 by sitting down with the phenomenal Canadian talent who took the competition by storm: Luka Lajoie from Montreal and Kyra Torres from Vancouver.

Luka, a realism expert, opens up about his initial hesitation due to the show's reality TV elements and how watching his idol win ultimately convinced him to step outside his comfort zone to incorporate more illustrative styles.

Kyra, who has been watching the show since childhood, shares the surreal experience of stepping onto the competition floor and how quickly she had to tackle intense imposter syndrome after winning an early "Tattoo of the Day." We discuss their shared national camaraderie – which Kyra lovingly calls the "Canadian French Fry" connection – the invaluable mentorship they received from their veteran competitors, and the intense emotional and artistic growth that came from navigating the pressure cooker that is Ink Master.