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What Do Rihanna's Tattoos Mean? Here's a Guide

What Do Rihanna's Tattoos Mean? Here's a Quick Guide

Jul 9 2021

If there's anything we know about Rihanna, it's that she's big fan of tattoos and body art. In fact, the singer's most recent piece of ink had the entire internet — or at least those of us who spend way too much time on it — in a frenzy thanks to its slightly awkward undertone. Back in June when she was spotted out in New York City during a date night with her boyfriend A$AP Rocky, fans noticed that her new tattoo, a crown on her left ankle, was actually a cover up for what was previously there: a camouflage shark that she once got with Drake.

According to E! News, Rihanna went to New York City's Bang Bang Tattoo in 2016 to get the shark as a reference to one of her dates with the rapper, during which her took her to an aquarium in Toronto and bought her a toy shark. (He reportedly has the same design on his arm.) While the circumstances surrounding her new tattoo are maybe a bit awkward, she has over a dozen others that are pretty meaningful as well, and they're just as sick.

If you've ever wondered what each of them means, keep reading as we take you through a guide to Rihanna's tattoos.

Image Source: Getty / Epsilon

Rihanna's Collarbone Tattoos

The singer has a tiny cross on the left side of her collarbone, and opposite that, she has the phrase "Never failure, always a lesson," which she once revealed in an interview that she had written backward so that she could read it back to herself in the mirror as motivation.

Rihanna's Falcon and Shark Tattoos

On her right ankle, the singer has a falcon design, and on her left used to be a camouflage shark that she got with Drake back in 2016. The shark was a memento of a toy shark that the rapper once bought her while they were on a date at a Toronto aquarium, but in the years following the end of their relationship, Rihanna had the tattoo covered up.

Rihanna's Crown Tattoo

It's not clear exactly when Rihanna made the decision to cover up the matching tattoo she got with Drake, but when she did, she opted for a crown that wraps halfway around her ankle.

Image Source: Getty / Gotham

Rihanna's Star Tattoo

Rihanna has the outline of a star tattooed on the inside of her ear that's slightly faded over time.

Image Source: Getty / Taylor Hill

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Rihanna's "Rebelle Fleur" Tattoo

In 2010, she also got a tattoo of the French term "rebelle fleur," which translates to "rebel flower."

Image Source: Getty / James Devaney

Rihanna's "1988" Tattoo

On her right ankle, Rihanna has a tattoo of her birth year, 1988.

Image Source: Getty / Taylor Hill

Rihanna's Henna and Maori Tattoos

One of Rihanna's most recognisable tattoos is the one on her right hand, which is a henna-inspired tattoo that she had incorporated into her existing Maori tattoo in 2013. The latter design was a traditional Ta Moko tattoo that was drawn using a chisel, though the henna design, according to E! News, was drawn by tattoo artists Bang Bang McCurdy and Cally-Jo over a period of 12 hours.

Image Source: Getty / Taylor Hill

Rihanna's Finger Tattoos

Rihanna has the word "love" written out in cursive on her left middle finger, and "shhh" on her pointer finger.

Image Source: Getty / Taylor Hill

Rihanna's Constellation Tattoo

The singer has a collection of stars that run down the back of her neck to her shoulder.

Image Source: Getty / Alberto Pizzoli

Rihanna's Roman Numeral Tattoo

On her left shoulder is a Roman numeral tattoo which reads XI IV LXXXVI. The number is the date April 11, 1986, which is the birthday of her best friend, Melissa Forde.

Image Source: Getty / Samir Hussein

Rihanna's Sternum Tattoo

Another one of Rihanna's more popular pieces is her sternum tattoo of the Egyptian goddess Isis, which she got back in 2012 in honour of her late grandmother, Gran Gran Dolly.

Image Source: Getty / Joe Scarnici

Rihanna's Skull Tattoo

On the back of her ankle is a skull with a bow on top. She hasn't revealed the meaning.

Image Source: Getty / C Flanigan

Rihanna's Zodiac Tattoo

In honour of her astrological sign, Rihanna has the symbol for Pisces below her right ear.

Image Source: Getty / Jon Kopaloff

Rihanna's Arabic and Nefertiti Tattoos

On the left side of her ribcage, the singer has an Arabic phrase that translates to "Freedom of God" according to Body Art Guru. Above that is a portrait of the Egyptian queen, Nefertiti.

Image Source: Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris

Rihanna's Hip Tattoo

The singer has a Sanskrit prayer on her right hip that reportedly translates to "forgiveness, honesty, suppression and control."

Rihanna's Gun Tattoo

On the right side of her ribcage is a gun. She explained to Elle UK back in 2013 that she got it as a "symbol of strength" after being abused in 2009 by her ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown.

"Everybody wanted to know what was happening in my life," she said. "Is she a drug addict? No. Is she an alcoholic? No. Is she a victim? No. That's why I got the gun. It was a symbol of strength. I'll never be a victim."

Image Source: Getty / Mark Davis

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