'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Rihanna’s tattoos hold different meanings and are representative of different stages in the singer’s life. She has a love for tattoos, as evidenced by the over twenty inked drawings on her body. The nine-time Grammy Award winner reportedly got her first tattoos in 2006, and since then, has continued to use her body as a canvas for creative expression.
Celebrity tattoo artist, Keith Scott “Bang Bang” McCurdy, has also been responsible for many of her most popular tattoos. Naturally, the meaning behind her body art is the subject of speculations by fans. From the falcon tattoo on her ankle to the goddess Isis tattoo on her upper belly, this article explores some of her best tattoos and their meanings.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the opinion of the writer and is ranked in no particular order.
Trending
Rihanna's tattoos and their meanings
The goddess Isis tattoo on her upper belly
- The Falcon tattoo on her right ankle
- A gun tattoo underneath her arm
- The quote, “Never a Failure, Always a Lesson” underneath her collarbone
- Henna style tattoo on her hand
- The cascade of stars on the back of her neck
- Roman Numerals (XI-IV-LXXXVI) on her shoulder
1) The goddess Isis tattoo on her upper belly
The singer got an image of the Egyptian goddess, Isis, tattooed on her body in 2012. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Rihanna’s tattoo pays homage to her grandmother who passed in July 2012 from cancer. The singer posted a photo of the tattoo and captioned it:
“Goddess Isis – Complete Woman – Model for future generations – #GRANGRANDOLLY – always in and on my heart #1love”
2) The Falcon tattoo on her right ankle
In June 2012, Bang Bang inked an image of a falcon in the shape of a handgun on the right ankle of the Barbadian singer. This tattoo covered up the musician’s earlier tattoo of music notes. Rihanna’s tattoo was explained by the singer herself on X (formerly Twitter):
''Falcon: a light that shines in the darkness! Never close their eyes during sleep."
3) A gun tattoo underneath her arm
The 33-year-old singer had a gun tattooed underneath her arm by her long-time tattoo artiste, Bang Bang. The tattoo artist shared with Stylecaster in 2013, how Rihanna’s tattoo came to be. He said:
"The gun, actually, started two years earlier. She was in the shop to get a tattoo on her forearm; she didn't know what she wanted, she just knew she wanted a tattoo. I was like, "Get that gun!"
4) The quote,“Never a Failure, Always a Lesson” underneath her collarbone
The Fenty mogul had the quote, “Never a Failure, Always a Lesson,” tattooed just underneath her collarbone in June 2009. In an interview with Stylecaster, the tattoo artist, Bang Bang, explained the meaning of the tattoos, he said:
"I asked her why she wanted that and she said, ‘It’s kind of my motto in life for everything.’ Instead of considering things to be mistakes, considering them lessons."
5) Henna style tattoo on her hand
The Diamond crooner completed the Henna style tattoo on her hand in 2013. The singer incorporated the Maori tribe design near her thumb, that she got in 2008, and chevron lines to create an abstract design inspired by Indian Henna art. In 2008, she explained to reporters at the UNICEF’s annual Snowflake Lighting Ceremony in New York’s Grand Army Plazaher, the reason for the Maori tribe design:
“It’s tribal. It represents strength and love….It’s their traditional way of tattooing. I always wanted [one]. It hurt like hell!"
6) The cascade of stars on the back of her neck
The stars on Rihanna’s neck are some of her most popular tattoos. She got the tattoos in 2008. The tattoos where started by a tattoo artist in LA and finished by her favorite artist, Bang Bang.
The meaning behind the tattoos were never revealed although it is known that the singer got the tattoo to match with her then boyfriend, Chris Brown.
7) Roman Numerals (XI-IV-LXXXVI) on her shoulder
In 2008, the nine-time Grammy Award winner tattooed the date XI-IV-LXXXVI (11-4-86), on her shoulder. The date signifies her best friend and assistant’s (Melisa) birthday.
Her best friend also tattooed Rihanna’s birth date on herself as well. Rihanna's tattoo is a friendship tattoo and signifies the close friendship between the two women.
8) The Shhh tattoo on her fingers
In 2008, Rihanna got the word “shhh” tattooed on her fingers. The tattoo was done in a way that it would be revealed when the singer raises her hand to shush someone.
This Rihanna's tattoo is one of the most popular inkings on the singer’s body. Celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Lily Allen and Cher Lloyd also sport the same tattoos. Rihanna hasn't disclosed the meaning behind the tattoo.
Other Rihanna's tattoos include a Pisces symbol tattoo at the back of her neck, a Sanskrit prayer on her hip, a crown on her leg and Egyptian Queen Nefertiti on her side.
