Shelly Benally

Hi! I’m Shelly! I am proudly both the apprentice and the shop manager here at Dame of the West Tattoo. I joined Dame of the West as counter help in the summer of 2022 and officially started my apprenticeship at the beginning of 2025.

My work is heavily influenced by American Traditional tattooing and Southwest/Indigenous imagery, shaped by growing up in the Southwest and my own Indigenous heritage. My goal is to tattoo both styles while meeting somewhere in the middle and eventually making it my own.

A few fun side notes about me! For my astrology lovers, I’m an Aquarius Sun, Cancer Moon, and Pisces Rising with big feelings, dreamy energy, and a soft spot for humanity. My ideal day off usually involves browsing local record stores, antique shopping, going for drives, and spending time with the people closest to me.