When you think of Vanna White, you probably picture sequins, the iconic Wheel of Fortune board, and a smile that hasn't aged since the eighties. She is the queen of American game shows. Naturally, people get curious about her kids. They want to know if they followed her into the bright lights of Hollywood or if they're off living "normal" lives.
Vanna’s daughter, Giovanna "Gigi" Santo Pietro, has definitely chosen a path that surprises most people. It isn't TV hosting. It isn't acting. Honestly, it’s about as far from the glitz of a soundstage as you can get, though it requires just as much precision.
What Does Vanna White’s Daughter Do for a Living?
Gigi Santo Pietro is a professional tattoo artist.
Yeah, you read that right. The daughter of the woman who wears formal gowns for a living spends her days in a studio in Los Angeles, specifically at Lincoln Tattoo Company in Venice, California. She isn't just "dabbling" either. She’s a legitimate, highly trained artist who has turned skin into her permanent canvas.
Vanna actually admitted she was a bit skeptical at first. She's been open about it in interviews, telling People that she once asked, "Gigi, why tattooing?"
The answer she got changed her mind immediately. Gigi told her mom that her art stays on someone’s body for the rest of their lives. That’s a heavy responsibility, and once Vanna realized the depth of that commitment, she became her daughter’s biggest cheerleader. She’s even talked about getting a matching heart tattoo from Gigi. That’s a pretty big stamp of approval from a TV legend.
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From NYU to the Tattoo Machine
Gigi didn't just wake up and decide to pick up a needle. Her background is actually steeped in formal arts education. She attended the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (NYU), where she studied photography and imaging.
While she was in New York, she was very much the "city girl" her mom described. She was into poetry, writing, and graphic design. But somewhere along the line, the lure of photography shifted. She moved back to the West Coast and pivoted.
Tattooing is a notoriously difficult industry to break into if you want to be taken seriously. You usually have to undergo a grueling apprenticeship, cleaning shops and drawing for hours before you ever touch a client. Gigi put in that work. On her social media, she’s talked about how the craft "keeps her up at night" because she wants to provide the best possible results for her clients.
The Family Dynamic and Hollywood "Success"
It's refreshing, kinda. In an era where "nepo babies" are constantly trying to launch mediocre pop careers or landing lead roles in movies because of their last names, Gigi is just... working. She’s at the shop. She’s drawing Pan the Goat or houses on fire (real examples of her work, by the way).
Her brother, Nikko, followed a similar non-Hollywood path for a while. He studied agriculture and was super into sustainable farming and even ran a sourdough bakery for a bit. He eventually pivoted to real estate, working for Mauricio Umansky’s firm, The Agency.
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Basically, Vanna’s kids aren't looking for the spotlight.
- Gigi: Professional Tattoo Artist at Lincoln Tattoo Company.
- Education: NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
- Style: Fine line, intricate black and grey, and custom illustrative work.
Why This Career Matters
There’s a misconception that celebrity children are just trust fund kids with no direction. Gigi’s career choice actually highlights a shift in how we view "success." She has a massive legacy she could have leaned on, but instead, she chose a technical, manual trade that requires thousands of hours of practice.
Vanna has mentioned that she’s incredibly proud of how confident Gigi has to be. In tattooing, you can't hit "undo." You can't edit out a mistake. It’s a high-stakes environment that requires a level of grit that doesn't usually come with a Hollywood upbringing.
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What You Can Learn from Gigi's Path
If you’re looking at Gigi’s life and wondering what the takeaway is, it’s probably about the value of a "pivot." You can go to a top-tier university for one thing (photography) and realize your passion lies elsewhere (ink).
If you're interested in following a similar path or just want to support her work, here is the deal:
- Check the Portfolio: Most tattoo artists, including Gigi, keep their portfolios on Instagram. Look for @gigisantopietro to see her latest designs.
- Understand the Industry: If you're thinking about a career change like she did, remember that formal art training (like her NYU degree) is a massive asset in the tattoo world. It's not just about drawing; it's about composition, lighting, and anatomy.
- Respect the Craft: Tattooing is a service industry. It's about the client's vision as much as the artist's skill.
Gigi Santo Pietro is a great example of someone who took the resources they were given and used them to build something entirely their own. She isn't "Vanna White's daughter" when she's in that shop; she's an artist with a needle and a client who trusts her. That’s a legacy that has nothing to do with turning letters and everything to do with talent.
If you’re ever in Venice, California, and looking for some high-quality ink, you might just find yourself sitting in the chair of one of the most interesting "celebrity kids" in the business. Just don't expect her to talk about Wheel of Fortune the whole time—she’s got work to do.
To see more about her current projects, you can look up the Lincoln Tattoo Company’s resident artist list to see if her books are currently open for new clients.