Tattoos are a creative form of expression that people get for various reasons. For most, getting inked is a therapeutic or spiritual process and a way of expressing profoundly deeper messages. Other folks simply want portraits of loved ones or those dearest to them, including pets, inked on their skin.
It isn't any different for celebrities like Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Aaron Carter, and Amber Rose, who have multiple tattoos on their bodies, including a few eye-brow-raising ones. That brings us to this list of famous names who have plastered the faces of past flames, treasured loved ones, or respected figures tattooed on their bodies.
Selena Gomez Plastered On Justin's Wrist
Justin Beiber is a man who loves his ink, and it all started after he celebrated his 16th birthday. He now has about 60 tattoos covering both arms, legs, and entire torso. In 2021, while promoting "Justice," his sixth studio album, he revealed that his hands are off-limits when it comes to getting inked.
In 2014, when still loved-up with Selena Gomez, he inked her name on his neck. Bieber further got a portrait of Gomez plastered on his wrist, and since ending their on-again and off-again relationship for good, he's attempted to alter how it looks over the years. Recent photos make it look like an angel tattoo, but fans will forever remember its origins.
Perrie Edwards On Zayn Malik's Bicep
In 2013, when Zayn Malik was gearing up to walk down the aisle, he got a tattoo to show his commitment to Perrie Edwards. He had a cartoon-like portrait in Edwards' likeness inked on his bicep. Following their split in 2015, Malik covered up the tattoo.
He has a reported 60 plus tattoos and counting, and in October 2021, he showcased new ones he'd gotten on his arm and neck. That includes red stripes added to the piece on his neck as well as a red one on his left arm. He also has his daughter's name inked in Arabic script on his wrist. Malik and Gigi Hadid welcomed their daughter Khai in 2020.
Gigi Hadid's Eyes on Zayn Malik's Chest
Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik were first linked together in 2015. Three years into their relationship, she shared a video of her beau dancing, and hawk-eyed fans were quick to spot the ink on his chest. He had her eyes tattooed smack in the middle of his chest.
Fast forward to 2020, when they welcomed their daughter Khai, fans noticed her name tattooed on Malik's wrist. Hadid later got a matching tattoo of their daughter's name. In late 2021, multiple sources told People that Hadid and Malik decided to go separate ways. A family friend added that they continue co-parenting their daughter harmoniously.
Marilyn Monroe On Megan Fox's Arm
During a 2011 interview with Amica, an Italian magazine, Megan Fox revealed that she was having her Marilyn Monroe tattoo lasered off. The "Transformers" star explained that she previously empathized with the late Monroe and decided to get the tattoo as a tribute to her. She later changed her views and explained that she was removing her ink because it represented a "negative character."
On top of that, Fox told the same publication that being a huge Brittney Spears fan, she got a navel piercing at the age of 16. Four years later, she thought the piercing was tacky and removed it. Fox continues showcasing her talents, as seen in the 2021 movie "Night Teeth."
David Bowie On Lady Gaga's Side
Lady Gaga delivered an outstanding performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards in ode to the late David Bowie. Before taking to the stage, she decided to commemorate Bowie in a more permanent way. Gaga, who recently starred in Ridley Scott's 2021 biographical drama "House of Gucci," documented the process of getting inked through Snapchat videos.
She picked the image of Bowie from his "Aladdin Sane" album., adding to her 20-plus tattoos. Before 2011, Gaga strictly got inked on the left side of her body, saying that it was a way of honoring her father's request to stay "slightly normal" on one side.
Nicki Minaj On Safaree's Arm
Safaree Samuels literally wore his heart on his sleeves when he got a giant colored portrait of Nicki Minaj's face inked on his arm. He took it further and got two more tattoos of Minaj, with her name plastered on one peck and her face on the other. When the former flames parted ways, Samuels took drastic measures, or so it seemed, to completely erase her existence from his life.
He decided to have the ink on his arm laser removed, got a rose to cover one on his peck, and a locket to conceal the other. Samuels, just like Minaj, eventually moved on, and he welcomed his second child with Erica Mena in mid-2021.
Robert Kardashian On Rob Kardashian's Arm
Rob Kardashian got a tribute tattoo to keep the memory of his late father alive. He got a life-like drawing of his father inked on his arm. In 2020, the "Dancing with the Stars" runner-up showed off the updated work he had done on the tattoo. The touch-ups included light beams and billowing clouds.
While Rob appeared on episodes of "Keeping up with the Kardashians" in 2020/2021, he's maintained a relatively low profile since parting ways with Blac Chyna in 2017. In November 2021, he shared adorable snaps taken with Dream, the daughter he shares with Chyna, during her Barbie-themed birthday party.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Pete Davidson's Shoulder
Pete Davidson knew that getting a girlfriend's face inked on his body only set him up for worse heartbreaks. After learning his lesson one too many times, he decided to go with inks of women who wouldn't break his heart, starting with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the Supreme Court. Most people think that one of his politically-inclined "Saturday Night Live" sketches inspired to get the Ginsburg tattoo.
In 2020, Davidson revealed that he's been on a tattoo removal journey, and as per People Magazine, all his 70-plus tats should be gone by the time he turns 30. "The King of Staten Island" star explained that some of his past questionable choices need to be physically removed.
Dolly Parton On Tess Holliday's Shoulder
Born Ryann Maegen Hoven, Tess Holliday is a fierce plus-size model, make-up artist, and blogger. While she serves as an inspiration to many across the world, she equally has a list of women who motivate her. She has some of their faces inked on her body. A portrait of country crooner Dolly Parton occupies the skin around her right shoulder.
Next to Parton's tattoo, she has a portrait of the late Harris "Divine" Glenn Milstead, and vaudevillian star Mae West's face is inked on her right forearm. Through her Instagram account, Holliday explained that the tattoos helped her face the insecurities she had about her arms head-on.
Sophie Turner On Joe's Left Wrist And Neck
With a reported 30 tattoos, Joe Jonas is the most-inked out of the three Jonas Brothers. In 2018, he shared a photo of a tattoo that appears to be a line-drawing of a woman, and fans thought that perhaps Sophie Turner served as the inspiration. He also has an "S" tattooed on his left wrist/
In 2020, he got a keyhole tattoo on the back of his neck, and it's as clear as day that it's dedicated to his wife. The daughter they welcomed that same year is yet to make her debut as part of his extensive ink work. Meanwhile, the family is setting into the $11M Miami mansion they purchased in late 2021.
Wiz Khalifa On Amber Rose's Arm
Amber Rose is a woman who loves getting inked, and that's why she was quick to get her former husband's face tattooed on her arm. After divorcing Wiz Khalifa in 2017, she covered it up with another man's face. A well-known Guns N' Roses fan, it isn't surprising that she chose a portrait of Slash to replace her ex-husband's face.
Rose isn't close to done when it comes to her body art journey, and she faced criticism early in 2020 because of her newest ink. Fans didn't have the kindest things to say about her forehead tattoo, which is dedicated to her sons, Slash and Sebastian.
Rihanna On Aaron Carter's Face
Aaron Carter knows how to grab attention for sure, and in 2019, the internet couldn't stop talking about his face tattoo. He filmed the process of getting a huge rendition of Rihanna as Medusa, inspired by her 2013 GQ cover, tattooed on the side of his face. It wasn't his first time getting inked or a huge tattoo for that matter, but it was his very first face tat.
As per what he told Entertainment Tonight, he got the portrait because he considered Medusa, his protector. Carter had a change of heart and considered lasering it off but instead had it fixed in 2020. He darkened it and also got his girlfriend's name Melanie added to his face.
Ryan Gosling On Ryan Cabrera's Calf
We learn new things every day, and one such lesson is that tattoo roulette is a concept that actually exists. Well, Ryan Cabrera isn't a stranger to it because his friend ended up choosing his eye-catching leg tattoo while playing the game at the Las Vegas-based Hyde Bellagio in 2013.
The curious game essentially involves blindfolding each other and randomly picking the other person's next ink design. That's how Cabrera ended up with Ryan Gosling inked on his calf. He liked how the tattoo artist went for a portrait style and described his Gosling ink art as the "Bentley of tattoos."
Michael Jackson On Prince Jackson's Foot
The late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, lives on through his loved ones and the endless lists of hits he produced. His eldest son, Prince Jackson, decided to immortalize him with tribute tattoos, and he has one incredibly beautiful piece inked on his right calf. It's a recognizable portrait of his dad's signature look, which includes a red shirt, black suit, suspenders, and a matching fedora.
His sister Paris had the word "Applehead" tattooed on her foot, and it's a term of endearment that she used to call her late dad. The siblings also have matching Yin and Yang tattoos.
David Bowie On Ireland Baldwin's Shoulder
Just like Lady Gaga, Ireland Baldwin has a tribute tattoo inspired by David Bowie's iconic cover for the album "Aladdin Sane." She isn't a stranger to tattoos and has 24 inked on her skin. Her body art collection includes a lotus, rose, scorpion, mandala, skeleton, and various writings. Ireland also has several girl portraits, and fans thought the one she got in 2021 resembled one of her famous peers.
After debuting the tattoo on an Instagram post, many people pointed out that it resembled Kendall Jenner. Ireland cleared it up with an Instagram Story explaining that it was based on an illustration done in the '60s.
Adriana Lima On DJ Pauly D's Arm
DJ Pauly D shot to fame as one of the cast members of MTV's "Jersey Shore." He joined his former castmate Vinny Guadagnino for the 2020 MTV series "Revenge Prank." His ink work has always been a source of fascination, but not always for the right reasons.
The star tattoo inked on his elbow earned him a spot on Complex Magazine's 2011 list of the worst celebrity tattoos. Following the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Pauly D shared a photo of his latest tattoo, immortalizing a famous Angel on his skin. It turned out that the mysterious beauty was Adriana Lima, and he even tagged her on the post.
Lil Peep On Post Malone's Arm
Post Malone is yet another celebrity who appears to be on a mission to cover every inch of his body with tattoos. Even though he only knew Lil Peep briefly, the Texas-based artist struck the right chords and left him with a lasting impression. Malone described Lil Peep as an incredible guy who was well on his way to changing the culture.
That's why he honored his fallen friend with a portrait of Lil Peep tattooed on his arm. Malone's collection of body art includes 78 tattoos and counting, with at least 14 of them displayed on his face. When he granted GQ an interview in 2020, he admitted that the decision to ink his face came from insecurities about his looks.
Frida Kahlo On Kehlani's Forearm
Kehlani is known for her sultry vocals, releasing an endless list of hits and her tattoos. One of her tats is a colorful portrait of Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican painter. During a 2016 interview with Latina magazine, Kehlani explained that Frida inspired her personality and artistic side.
Yet another star occupies her arm, and it's Lauryn Hill's portrait inspired by the cover of her album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." Her face tattoos are some of the most prominent, including a queen of hearts on her left temple as well as the Spanish phrase "Espíritu Libre," translating to free spirit. Work-wise, Kehlani released "Altar" in late 2021, which is the lead single off of her album "Blue Water Road."
Lil Wayne On Drake's Tricep
Aubrey Drake Graham is a talented actor, rapper, and singer who continues churning hits. That includes his 2021 single "What's Next" off of the "Scary Hours 2" EP. While fans have gone crazy and gotten tattoos of Drake, like in 2011 when a Los Angeles woman inked his name on her forehead, he has his personal share of famous tattoos.
He has a massive tattoo of rapper Lil Wayne on his tricep. After all, he's the man who gave Drake his first major breakthrough by signing him up to Young Money Entertainment in 2009. He also has the Eye of Horus as well as a compass pointing east tattooed around his bicep area.
Sade On Drake's Torso
Drake has a reported 35 tattoos and counting, and several are dedicated to famous folks who inspire him. R&B singer Sade is yet another famous face inked on his body, and he chose his torso as the prime spot for two portraits of "The Sweetest Taboo" crooner. The pair have been longtime friends, and in 2016 she gave him a touching gift for his birthday.
Drake took to Instagram to thank Sade for the framed photo he'd given him for the occasion. Next to the two Sade tattoos, he has the Toronto area code "416" inked on the right side of his torso. A tattoo of an owl clutching a mouse takes up the skin around his chest.
Denzel Washington On Drake's Forearm
Drake's forearm also features a tattoo of award-winning actor Denzel Washington. He chose a portrait of Washington from the 1990 movie "Mo' Better Blues." Speaking to Jimmy Fallon in 2017, Washington described having his face tattooed on Drake as "crazy." The "God's Plan" singer's arm also features a tattoo of his son Adonis.
The same forearm curiously carries a tattoo of a jack o' lantern. On his left forearm, Drake has a controversial portrait of himself waving at the Beatles. He allegedly got the "Abbey Road-themed" tat after surpassing the band's former record for the most top 10 Billboard hits released in a single year.
Rihanna On Drake's Arm
There was a time when Drake and Rihanna were one of music's hottest couples. In 2016, following a romantic date at the aquarium, the pair reportedly took things to the next level by getting matching tattoos. He got his shark tattoo on the arm while Rihanna had hers inked on the ankle.
It's not clear when the two parted ways, and somewhere along the way, Rihanna covered up the tattoo. Unsurprisingly, Drake also has portraits of several women tattooed on his body, and one on his arm resembles his ex. It sparked chatter in 2019 because fans thought that it resembled Rihanna's face.
Aaliyah on Drake's Back
In 2012, Drake unveiled a huge tattoo inked on the back of the late songstress Aaliyah. Despite never meeting her, he openly spoke about the great impact she had on his music and life. Drake also released several singles over the years featuring Aaliyah's vocals. His mother and late grandmother are the other women Drake has tattooed on his body.
Other people who have ink space on his body include his late uncle, father, and at least three unidentified men. His growing tattoo collection also consists of an ode to his 2017 mixtape "More Life," represented as a pink flower with a bee perched at the center.