Beauty
A Guide To Ariana Grande's Most Iconic Tattoos
And the stories behind them.
Petite pop princess and creative mastermind behind galactic-inspired r.e.m. beauty — I’m talking about the one and only Ariana Grande, of course — is a total icon and living legend on every level. From mile-long ponytails of the past to her more recent inclination towards bold, ’60s-inspired glam, Grande has proven to be a trendsetting force of nature who is no stranger to mastering a signature look … especially when it comes to her ever-growing, eclectic collection of over 50 tattoos.
What started out as a single tattooed heart on her toe during the time she starred on Nickelodeon mainstay, Victorious, has turned into a scrapbook-style patchwork of fond memories, beloved characters in film and television, as well as the most meaningful words and sentiments to the powerhouse vocalist herself. While she’s been somewhat more private about her personal life lately, her most loyal fans know the inside scoop on what her unique ink truly means to her.
The singer has everything from realistic butterflies and memorable cartoon characters from the ’90s, to tiny meaningful bumble bees and to the word “BBQ Grill” (IYKYK). Here is an ultimate guide to Ariana Grande’s most-loved tattoos as well as the stories behind them, in no particular order.
3Sun, Moon, & Stars
In recent years, Grande has built a friendship with NY-based ink master, Mira Mariah (otherwise known as Girl Knew York), who is known for her expertly outlined and carefully detailed tattoos. The sun, moon, and stars on the back of her hand has quickly become one of the pop star’s most memorable pieces.
4Remember Manchester
As an emotional tribute to the tragedy that took place in Manchester during Grande’s Dangerous Woman Tour, the pop star tattooed a delicate bumble bee behind her ear in honor of the precious lives lost. The worker bee is a symbol of the U.K. city in which the concert took place, representing the hard-working nature of the people who live there.
6Laurel Leaves
Subtly mirroring music video stills from one of my all time favorite songs, God Is A Woman — remember the epic lavender bath scene? — Grande is adorned with whimsical leaves à la Girl Knew York, sensually snaking across her ribs, hands, and wrists.
9Toulouse
Arguably the leader of Grande’s dog pack, Toulouse is comically “human,” as Ari confesses, and has been featured on the cover of Vogue (yes, really), in Coach campaigns, and on nighttime talk shows with the mogul herself. His name takes up some serious real estate on her nearly fully-covered hand, curving delicately below her fingers.
11The Infamous BBQ Grill
No Ariana Grande tattoo list would be complete without mentioning the headline-making BBQ Grill. Intending to ink “7 Rings” in Japanese Kanji after the empowering thank u, next era smash hit, she accidentally missed a character or two, tattooing the phrase “BBQ Grill” on her palm. Since then, the controversial ink has been corrected, faded, and covered up.
12The Truman Show
An outspoken super-fan of Jim Carrey, Grande has tattooed an iconic quote from one of the actor’s most-loved films — The Truman Show. It reads, “In case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!” The text is upside down on her shoulder, of course.
14H2GKMO
A friendship tattoo and inside joke amongst her closest pals, the acronym H2GKMO tattooed on her right hand stands for “honest to God knock me out.” Fans got a rare inside peek into the story behind the tatt on the first episode episode of her YouTube docu-series, The Dangerous Woman Diaries.
16Myron
A dog lover through and through, the tiny Myron tattoo on Grande’s ankle honors her sweet pit bull mix, formerly owned by Mac Miller.
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