Octavia's interest for the beauty field began when she returned home from training as a Emergency Medical Technician (Combat Medic) with the United States Army Reserves. After returning home from boot camp in 1995 she stopped by to see a childhood friend who recently opened a nail salon. Her long time friend knew Octavia had been doing her own acrylic and gel nails since 1984. This childhood asked Octavia to come work with her in her nail salon. In 1996 Octavia attended Milwaukee Area Technical College and earned her Nail Technician diploma and state license. This was the beginning of Octavia marring her love for both the Beauty and Medical fields together. In October 2004 she was formally educated and trained in Cosmetic and Medical Tattooing. In 2013 she received her license as an Esthetician. In 2017 she was educated in Medical and Oncology Esthetics. June of 2018 Octavia received her diploma and state license as an Esthetics Teacher. Better known as Tattoo Tavi, Octavia plans to share her passion and knowledge for all things tattoo through her academy that will open in fall of 2021. The first love of Octavia's life is her three children, fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She is also an ordained minister.