More and more people are deciding to get tattoos. Whether as a simple adornment or with a deep meaning behind it, the ink on the skin is gaining popularity around the world and in all social sectors.
Of course, celebrities are no strangers to this trend. In fact, some have even paid thousands of dollars for their tattoos and have become equally or even more famous than them, leaving very curious (and some very tragic) stories behind them.
Here are 10 of the most famous tattoos in Hollywood and their particular meaning.
Ariana Grande’s bee
Why Did Ariana Grande Choose a Bee Tattoo Behind Her Ear?
Like the vast majority of artists of her generation, Ariana Grande has several tattoos adorning her body. However, there is one in particular that has given much to talk about: a small bee behind her ear.
Ariana got this piece tattooed during the first anniversary of the infamous Manchester bombing, where after a concert of hers was held as part of her Dangerous Woman tour, the Islamic State detonated a bomb that killed 22 people.
Since Victorian times, the bee has been a symbol for the people of Manchester representing the hard work of all the inhabitants, to whom Ariana sought to make a small tribute.
Rihanna’s Goddess Isis
What’s the Story Behind Rihanna’s Goddess Isis Tattoo?
Before becoming pregnant, Rihanna took every occasion to show off her tattoo of the Goddess Isis, which prostrates under her breasts. The drawing is a tribute to her grandmother, who passed away after a tough battle with cancer in 2012. Among the various qualities Isis has been given is that of being “the Mother Goddess,” for her role as protector of her son Horus and the rest of the creatures on the planet, which would be the representation most aligned with Rihanna’s perception of her grandmother, as “the great mother” of her home.
“Goddess Isis – Complete Woman – Role model for future generations – #GRANGRANDOLLY – always in and on my heart,” Rihanna wrote on her social media when she shared her new body art to her thousands of followers.
Selena Gomez and the date her life was saved.
Why Does Selena Gomez Have a Special Date Tattooed on Her Arm?
In 2017, Selena Gomez underwent kidney transplant surgery due to the lupus that affected her for practically her entire life. The surgery ended up saving her life, and to commemorate it, she decided to get this special date tattooed with Francia Raísa, the friend who donated her kidney. There was a time when the two were at odds after Selena declared that the only person close to her in Hollywood was Taylor Swift, a comment that was not to Francia’s liking.
Despite the misunderstanding, the two continue their great friendship and the ink from Gomez’s life-changing moment is still on her arm.
Axl Rose and the “rocket queen”.
Axl Rose’s “Rocket Queen” Tattoo: Who’s the Mystery Woman?
If this tattoo became so popular, it’s because there was a time when Axl Rose couldn’t go two minutes on stage without removing his shirt, exposing the portrait of a woman on his right arm. For several years it was speculated who the woman in the portrait was, and finally, it was discovered that it was Barbi Von Greif, a stripper with whom Axl Rose fell in love in 1986 and who dreamed of having a band called “Rocket Queen”. Barbi never got her career off the ground, but she struck a deep enough chord in Axl’s life to immortalize her face in his skin and write a song titled Rocket Queen, which has become a Guns N’ Roses classic.
“I wrote this song for a girl who had a band called Rocket Queen. She kept me alive for a while. The last part of the song is my message to her, or anyone else who might get something out of it,” Axl Rose said at the time about Barbi.
Kourtney Kardashian’s “I Love You” to Travis Barker
What’s the Secret Message in Kourtney Kardashian’s Tattoo for Travis Barker?
The Blink-182 drummer has his entire body replete with tattoos. Many of them are simply ornamental, others have a deeper meaning, and among these, the “I love you” that his wife Kourtney Kardashian made on his arm stands out. Currently, both are expecting a baby, which was in danger of death along with his mother, but thanks to the work of doctors, both lives were saved and the relationship is stronger than ever.
The message Demi Lovato wrote to herself after the overdose that almost took her life
What’s the Inspiring Story Behind Demi Lovato’s “Survivor” Tattoo?
Demi Lovato has had a very difficult relationship with drugs. In 2018, she overdosed on methamphetamine, heroin and crack, a mixture that nearly killed her. A year later, after an intense rehab, Lovato shared on her networks a photo of a tattoo she had gotten on her neck with the phrase “Survivor,” becoming a celebration of her life.
“I’ve been through a lot and I really see a fighter…. I don’t see a championship winner, but I see a fighter and someone who is going to keep fighting no matter what they throw at her,” Lovato stated after surviving this experience.
Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner and their bond with “Game of Thrones.”
Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner’s “Game of Thrones” Tattoos: What Do They Signify?
Game of Thrones changed the lives of Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner, who during the show, played sisters Arya and Sansa Stark throughout its seven seasons. This sisterhood was maintained even outside the set, and to celebrate it, both got tattoos of the date on which they were chosen to be part of what is now considered one of the most extraordinary series of all time.
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring: What’s the Hidden Meaning Behind the Cast’s Tattoos?
The Lord of the Rings was a phenomenon, marking a before and after in the history of cinema. The acclaimed trilogy also marked the lives of those who starred in it, and so as not to forget this unique experience, Sean Astin (Sam Gamyi), Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Dominic Monaghan (Merry), Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Billy Boyd (Pippin), Sean Bean (Boromir), Orlando Bloom (Legolas) and Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf), tattooed the number 9 in Elvish representing the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring.
It is worth mentioning that John Rhys-Davies, the actor who played the dwarf Gimli, did not want to get a tattoo, so his double did it instead.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his Samoan protective symbol.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Samoan Tattoo: What Does It Symbolize?
This is probably one of the most commonly seen tattoos in Hollywood history. Johnson wanted to represent his Samoan origins in the piece, and at the same time, represent the protection of his family.
“It comes down to three things, which is my family, and protecting my family, and having a very aggressive warrior spirit that you can’t hold back and that I will continue to fight and overcome; that piece is right over my heart,” the actor and wrestler explained to John Cena during an interview.
Angelina Jolie’s Legendary Tiger
Angelina Jolie’s Legendary Tiger Tattoo: What’s the Spiritual Significance?
Angelina Jolie is replete with tattoos, and the vast majority are found on her back. One of the most interesting is located near her left shoulder blade, as it is a Buddhist mantra of protection that recites the following:
“Let your enemies flee far away from you, if you acquire wealth, they will always remain there. Let your beauty resemble that of Apsara. Finally, wherever you decide to go or stay, those around you will protect you and serve you everywhere”.
However, perhaps the one that has achieved the most fame is the one on her lower back and it is an ostentatious Bengal tiger. This tiger was done during a trip to Bangkok with the ancestral “handpoke” technique, which is characterized by using only a bamboo stick and a needle.
Jolie got the tattoo to celebrate getting her Cambodian nationality and it was such a special piece that it was blessed by a local master.