Ariana Grande's Tattoos: A Guide To The 'Thank U, Next' Singer's Body Art
'Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble'
Ariana Grande is an inspiration in many ways.
From her show-stopping red carpet princess gowns (Hello to that Giambattista Valli couture dress at the 2020 Grammys), to the incredible vocal range, ability to be vulnerable in her songwriting, to the consistently honest conversations she has with her fans, there's a reason Grande is one of the most beloved artists on the planet.
Another way in which fans use her for inspiration is body art.
Yes. The 26-year-old's tattoo collection attracts roughly 12,100 internet searches in the UK and 90,500 in the US on a monthly basis, according to our experts.
Over the years, Grande has amassed a sizeable collection of of intricate and personal inkings, so many in fact that if we're honest we're not sure we've covered them all here.
She's even incorporated her love of body ink into her hit song '7 Rings' with the lyric: 'Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble'.
However, fans were perplexed in May 2021 when recent photos of Grande, including of her nuptials to boyfriend Dalton Gomez, some of her tattoos seemed to have disappeared...
Here's a complete guide to Grande's tattoo collection, from the dates to the inspiration to the artist...
Arm - Two butterflies
After first revealing a fine line butterfly tattoo design on her left arm back at the 2020 Grammys (see below), Ariana Grande later displayed off the finished ink on Instagram revealing two stunning new butterfly tattoos fluttering up her left shoulder, which you can see in the picture on the right when Grande performed at the MTV VMAs with Lady Gaga in August 2020.
However, in May 2020, Grande performed with The Weeknd at the iHeartRadio awards (pictured, left) and there was no sign of the butterfly details on her left shoulder...
Similarly, when Grande shared photos of her secret wedding to Gomez which took place on May 15 at her California home, in the photos of Grande in her Vera Wang custom wedding dress, the butterflies are nowhere to be seen either.
Have they been removed? Were they covered by some ultimate full-coverage make-up? Were they ever really there? It's a mystery to fans.
Arm - Butterfly Tattoo
At the 2020 Grammy awards, where Grande performed a medley of her hits, the singer showcased the aforementioned butterfly on her left tricep. It was later assumed this had been developed into the two butterflies design.
Back - Writing
A tattoo Grande added to her collection over the past year or so is this quote from one of her favourite films The Truman Show. A huge fan of Jim Carey - which she's expressed multiple times - Grande had the quote: 'In case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening and goodnight' inscribed on her. However the quote is written from right to left, while her friend Courtney Chipolone got the same tattoo but written the conventional way.
Arm - Eevee
At the start of 2019, Grande added the Pokémon character Eevee to her left bicep.
The beloved animated character doesn't just evolve into one other Pokémon version but several which is perhaps why she chose it, and was added by tattoo artist Kane Navasard.
Arm - Spirited Away Girl
In 2018, Grande debuted one of the largest tattoos she has, of Chichiro a character from Spirited Away. Grande has posted videos of herself watching the anime film and has also explained the female character as having matured from 'an easily-scared girl with a child-like personality to match her age to a hard-working, responsible and brave young girl who has learned to put her fears aside for those she cares for.'
Arm- 'Let's Sing'
Below the butterflies and just above Grande's left inner elbow, the star has some more writing in Japanese inscribed. Responding to a fan on Twitter in 2019, Grande confirmed the translation to be: 'Let's sing' - which is fitting!
Hand - '7 Rings'
One of Grande's most famous tattoos is the one she got on the palm of her left hand last year. Aiming to get '7 Rings' - the name of her hit track - inked on her hand in Japanese, it was reported that the wording actually said was: 'small charcoal grill'. Grande later attempted to get the mishap fixed by speaking to her Japanese tutor.
Hand - H2GKMO
Grande has long said that her favourite phrase to say is 'Honest To God, Knock Me Out'. She loves the phrase so much that she had its acronym inked on her hand.
Hand - Cloud, Venus symbol
On her middle finger, Grande has the venus symbol for women permanently inked.
While dating and subsequently getting engaged to Pete Davidson in 2018, Grande added some tattoos to her collection. Two were on her finger: a cloud, which matched with Davidson and, reportedly, his name....
Hand - Filled heart
After breaking up with Davidson, Grande had her 'Pete' inscription covered with an opaque heart - which she displayed at the 2018 Billboard awards.
Finger - Heart tattoo
Another one of Grande's finger tattoos is in the shape of a heart on her left hand, which would also be her ring finger.
Finger - 'Baby Doll'
On the middle finger of her right hand, Grande has 'Baby Doll' emblazoned.
Finger - Leaf
On her left hand, on the index finger, Grande has a leaf design printed.
Hand - The Moon and Stars
Another drawing Grande added to her body in 2019 was this moon and stars sketch on her left hand, also inked by Mira Mariah.
Hand - Vine leaves
Sharing a selection of photos to Instagram in the summer of 2020, Grande's hand placement meant you could see her decorated hands up close. One addition, noticed by fans was two vine leaves wrapped around her right wrist.
Below the leaves was also an umbrella, potentially a nod to her 2020 collaboration with Lady Gaga, 'Rain On Me'?
Ear - REM Tattoo
At the 2018 Billboard awards, Grande's latest tattoo from behind the ear was on full show. The singer had the initials 'REM' inscribed, which is the title of one of the most popular songs on her Sweetener album.
Ear - The Working Bee Tattoo
After the devastating Manchester bombing in 2017, which saw 22 people die at the Manchester Arena where Grande was performing on her Dangerous Woman tour, the singer and her team got the city's worker bee emblem inked as a permanent tribute.
Ear - Angel wing
In 2019, fans notice Grande had another ear inking, this time an angel wing on the inner cartilage of her ear, according to Insider.
Neck - Crescent moon
Ariana has a range of inkings on the back of her head, including this crescent half moon.
Neck - 'Mille Tendress'
Pictured at the 2015 American Music Awards, Grande's trademark ponytail was swept up into a high bun giving us full view of the tattoo on the back of her neck. The singer has the french phrase 'Mille tendresse' which is translated to 'a thousand tendernesses' inked on the back of her neck.
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