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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Mary Norkol

From Tinder to tattoo artist and Kazakhstan to Chicago

Tinder Sam Smith Kazakhstan Chicago
Askhat Kobekpaev and Kate Herrington married in 2017 after meeting on Tinder. She inspired him to become a tattoo artist. (Provided)

Without Tinder, maybe Ashkat Kobekpaev still would be working office jobs in Kazakhstan. Instead, he’s a tattoo artist in Chicago whose clientele has included singer Sam Smith.

Kobekpaev downloaded the dating app after hearing about it on the Showtime TV series “Shameless,” set on the South Side, while living in his native Kazakhstan in 2016.

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