Unveiling the Artistic Story Behind Each Ink
Selena Gomez, the multi-talented and celebrated artist, has graced the world with her melodious voice and acting prowess. Getting her start on Barney & Friends as a child, Gomez became a Disney star during her teens, starring in the hit series Wizards of Waverly Place before going on to feature in a string of Hollywood movies including Spring Breakers, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, and The Dead Don’t Die.
As well as acting, Gomez has released six albums—three with her band Scene as a teen and three solo records in her 20s—and toured the world. However, beyond her vocal range and on-screen charisma, she also uses her body as a canvas to express herself artistically. With a collection of Selena Gomez tattoos that have sparked intrigue and fascination among her fans, Gomez’s body art reflects her personal growth, struggles, and triumphs.
In this captivating exploration of Selena Gomez’s tattoos, we delve into the stories behind each design, revealing the hidden meanings and inspirations that have shaped her inked identity. From dainty symbols etched on her wrists to larger, more intricate pieces adorning her body, each tattoo holds a unique significance that resonates with her experiences and emotions.
Moreover, we’ll explore the influence of her tattoos on her advocacy for mental health awareness and her commitment to self-expression. As Gomez continues to be a role model for her fans, her tattoos serve as a powerful symbol of embracing one’s individuality and staying true to oneself. Some tattoos serve as poignant reminders of life lessons learned, while others pay tribute to cherished relationships and moments in her life.
Join us as we immerse ourselves in the world of Selena Gomez’s tattoos, celebrating the beauty and artistry behind each piece while gaining insight into the profound impact these intricate designs have had on her life and artistic journey.
1. Music Note Tattoo
The first tattoo Selena Gomez ever got was a small musical note on her right-hand way back in 2012. As the tattoo is tiny and nobody was quite sure what it was, Gomez revealed all when she chatted with Access Hollywood at a pre-Oscars party.
“It’s a music note,” she explained. “Everybody thought that it was a heart for some reason, but music is a big influence in my life.”
“I was named after a singer (Selena Quintanilla-Perez), I’m a singer, and a lot of other personal reasons,” Gomez continued. “So, that’s what I got.” Makes perfect sense.
2. “LXXVI” Tattoo
Not long after getting her first ink, Selena Gomez got her second tattoo. On the back of her neck, she has the Roman numeral “LXXVI,” which stands for 1976. Gomez has never come out directly and talked about the tattoo, but 1976 is the year her mother, Mandy Teefey, was born, so most fans believe it is a tribute to her.
Gomez visited New York tattooist Keith Scott “Bang Bang” McCurdy, who was more than happy to ink the Only Murders in the Building star.
3. “G” Tattoo
While she does have several large tattoos, the majority of Selena Gomez’s ink is small designs or phrases. One of these is the letter “G” which you can see on the left side of her neck, just under her ear. The tattoo is the first letter of her younger sister Grace and a tribute to her, something Gomez revealed in an interview with Refinery29.
In that same conversation, she also talked about her first tattoo, the musical note, explaining that she “wanted something small to test the waters” and is “now (I’m) addicted.”
4. “X31” Tattoo
Another tiny tattoo, this design is of the letter “X” alongside the numbers “3” and “1.” Located on her upper left thigh, an article by Refinery29 pointed out that the tattoo is meant to signify a friend who she meet eight years before getting the ink.
5. Prayer Hands Tattoo
Made famous by Drake, the image of praying hands has been around for centuries. Selena Gomez is obviously a fan of the image as she got the praying hands with a rosary tattooed on her left thigh.
Celebrity tattooist Bang Bang was once again responsible for the tattoo that Gomez first revealed on Instagram on November 24, 2019.
6. “God Who Strengthens Me” Tattoo
Down her right thigh, Selena Gomez has the phrase “God Who Strengthens Me.” This is another tattoo she got in 2012 but kept hidden for almost a year, something she told Ryan Seacrest during a 2013 radio interview. She explained that the sentence is inspired by her favorite Bible passage, Philippians 4:13, which is, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
7. “Sunshine” Tattoo
Selena Gomez got the word “Sunshine” tattooed on the right side of her foot in 2016. She has never spoken about the ink work, but it was included as part of a temporary sticker pack fans could buy during her “Revival” tour. The sticker pack included all seven of her tattoos and allowed fans to see what they would look like with Gomez’s ink.
8. “Love Yourself First” Tattoo
Another tattoo inked at the famed Bang Bang Tattoo studio by its owner Bang Bang McCurdy, the words “Love Yourself First” are tattooed in Arabic on the upper right side of Selena Gomez’s back. While she hasn’t talked about the tattoo, Bang Bang did in an interview with E! News and revealed all.
“Its meaning translates to ‘Love Yourself,’” he told the news outlet. “Selena already had it written out how she wanted. The tattoo is about 4 inches and didn’t take too long, probably about 30-45 minutes. The longest part is laying it out. We played with it a bit laying it out, until we found the perfect spot.”
As for Gomez’s thoughts on the final piece? “She loved it; she flipped out!” Bang Bang said.
9. Semicolon Tattoo
There’s nothing funnier than going to your local tattoo parlor and getting matching tattoos with your mates. This is exactly what Selena Gomez did in 2017 when she and the stars of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, Alisha Boe and Tommy Dorfman, got semicolon tattoos on their wrists.
Gomez was a producer on the show and while the tattoo bonds the three together, it’s also the logo of the Semicolon Movement, an organization dedicated to increasing the awareness of mental health and suicide prevention around the world. All three are known to be advocates of this organization and have spoken about their own mental health battles.
10. “6/19/17” Tattoo
Selena Gomez fans are undoubtedly aware of the significance of the date “6/19/17.” That was the date Gomez had her kidney transplant. Diagnosed with Lupus during her early 20s, Gomez suffered kidney failure in 2017 and was rushed to hospital. Thankfully actress and friend Francia Raisa (although the two aren’t as close anymore) donated one of her kidneys to help Gomez. She got the tattoo to mark the day she had the operation.
11. “1” Tattoo
Another matching tattoo, both Selena Gomez and her friend Courtney Lopez have the number “1” tattooed on the right side of their torsos. The first glimpse fans had of the tattoo was when Gomez posted a photo of her and Lopez on Instagram showing off their ink.
12. “4”
Selena Gomez and her three closest friends—Courtney Lopez, Ashley Cook, and Raquelle Stevens—got the number “4” tattooed on different parts of their bodies back in 2018. Taking to Instagram to show off the ink, Gomez also provided a caption explaining the meaning of the number “4.”
“#4 because these women have stayed by my side for 7 years,” she wrote in the caption. “4, because you are my 4 for the rest of my life. I love you ladies. You all inspire me to be better, stronger, closer to god and we have lived the most INSANE story together already. Can’t wait for 50 more!!”
13. “Rare” Tattoo
On the left side of her neck, Selena Gomez has the word “Rare” tattooed. This is the name of her third solo album released in 2020. She got the tattoo in the lead-up to the album release, with tattooist Bang Bang once again responsible for the ink.
14. Arrow Tattoo
Selena Gomez and Julia Michaels, another close friend of Gomez, got matching arrow tattoos on their wrists in 2019. If you aren’t aware of who Michaels is, she’s a fellow singer and songwriter who has collaborated with Gomez on several songs, including “Lose You to Love Me” and “Bad Liar.”
The two got tattoos after Gomez performed with Michaels at a concert in Los Angeles, with the two dueting on the track “Anxiety.” They got the ink backstage, with tattooists London Reese and Brad Reis tattooing the duo.
While the arrows appear to be pointing in different directions, when the two are holding hands, the arrows point at each other. How cute.
15. Cross Tattoo
On her left collarbone, Selena Gomez has a tiny cross inked. The tattoo was once again done by Bang Bang who revealed the ink on his Instagram with a video. It’s a rather simple and unintrusive tattoo and one that fits in well with the other designs on her body.
16. “Angel” Tattoo
Selena Gomez and good friend Nicola Peltz, who is married to Brooklyn Beckham, the son of footballing great David, got the word “Angel” tattooed in cursive font on their arms.
17. Rose Tattoo
The largest of all Selena Gomez’s tattoos is the pink rose at the top of her back. Inked by her favorite tattooist, Bang Bang, the rose is under the Roman numerals on her neck. The watercolor rose appears to be dripping down her back and is apparently inspired by actress and model Cara Delevigine.
“It means a couple of different things,” Gomez said on “Live with Kelly and Ryan.” “Me and Cara, one of my best friends—I was maybe 16 when I met her—she calls me Rosebud. So it’s a nickname. And I’ve always wanted a rose and now I got one. And I love it.”
