As Fearne Cotton pays tribute to David Bowie, we reveal the reasons behind the most infamous celeb inkings
They're certainly not afraid to make a statement
WHEN it comes to tattoos, celebrities don’t seem to hold back.
From Rita Ora’s huge and intricate inkings, to David Beckham’s staggering collection of 40 tats, they’re often hard to miss.
Fearne Cotton marked her 35th birthday over the weekend with a new ink dedicated to the late David Bowie.
Alongside a snap revealing the lightning bolt marked under her left breast, she wrote: “This picture is entitled ‘Its my birthday and I’ll get a David Bowie tattoo if I want to.'” [sic]
However, the TV presenter isn’t the only celeb to pay homage to someone she admires.
Here, we look at the most famous celebrity tats and the reasons behind them…
Cara Delevingne
Many fans were left dumbfounded when the supermodel got the word ‘BACON…’ tattooed to the sole of her foot.
But Cara cleared things up when she explained: “The tattoo was inspired by my love for bacon, obviously. I think of bacon every five seconds. It’s the meatiness. I love the salt. Bacon is love to me. Bacon will always love me back. It’s unconditional.”
She later dished on the colour too, adding, “It’s bacon coloured—it’s maroon, also. The ‘dot, dot, dot’—it’s an open-ended statement, it’s not a question. It’s just however you want to take it.
Cara has over 20 tattoos, including an intricate lion on her finger and her mum Pandora’s name on her bicep.
David and Victoria Beckham
David Beckham is one of the most tattooed stars out there, with an incredible 40 tats on his body.
Counting his children’s names amongst them, Becks once explained that all of them are dedicated to his loved ones.
“They’re about the important people in my life, who I want to have with me always,” he said.
Last August, the footballer got ’99’ inked to his little finger to mark the year he married Victoria (and also the year his then football team Manchester United won the Treble).
He shared a snap of the tat to Instagram and wrote: “99 was a good year for me.”
Meanwhile, Posh also had a Hebrew neck tattoo, which reads: “I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.”
But over the past couple of years, the ink has been mysteriously fading. Hmm…
Johnny Depp
Some people never learn!
When the actor was engaged to Winona Ryder in the nineties, he got the words ‘Winona forever’ marked on his arm.
Then in 1994, after they had split, Johnny had it changed to ‘Wino forever’ instead.
But he made the same mistake again this year, after splitting up from ex-wife Amber Heard.
During their relationship, the star had her nickname ‘SLIM’ tattooed to his fingers.
But when the split turned nasty, he changed it to ‘SCUM’.
Ouch!
Justin Bieber
In 2012, Selena Gomez’s ex-boyfriend revealed his new owl tattoo on Instagram.
As this was back in the day when Justin wanted his fans to know any news straight from the horse’s mouth, he captioned the snap: “Before the paps get me.”
He also tweeted explaining his motivates behind the new inking, writing, “OWL symbolizes: Wise, Magestic and Powerful. Best tattoo ever [sic].”
Sure.
Cheryl
When she married footballer Ashley Cole, the singer opted to get ‘Mrs. C’ tattooed to the back of her neck as a tribute to him.
Presumably, she was left red faced when the pair went their separate ways – but she never got it removed.
The former X Factor judge also went all out when she chose to spend 15 hours and £12,000 getting some intricate English roses tattooed to her back and derriere.
After posting a snap of the tat to Instagram, many fans were quick to tell Cheryl they didn’t like it. But she later defended herself, saying, “People are entitled to their own opinion. Personally I’ve never really concerned myself with other people’s body parts!”
The reason behind the gigantic ink? Roses are her favourite flower.
She tweeted at the time: “I have personal meaning behind it but English roses are my favourite flowers.”
Miley Cyrus
When the controversial singer lost her beloved dog Floyd after he was attacked by a coyote, she got a tribute to him in the form of a tattoo.
Running alongside a drawing of a dog are the words: “With a little help from my fwends.”
Miley got it done at a house party, while her pals Wayne Coyne and Katy Weaver opted to get identical tattoos done too.
Rita Ora
Yet another star with an impressive selection of almost 30 inks, the singer certainly isn’t afraid of the pain.
In 2014, she revealed a delicate ballerina tattoo on her tricep that’s dedicated to her childhood friend Anda.
After enduring the tat from New York artist Bang Bang, she said on Instagram: “We’re gona be ballerinas when we’re 102!”
Professor Green
Many people believe that the rapper, who’s real name is Stephen Manderson, got the word ‘Lucky’ tattooed to his neck after being stabbed with a broken bottle back in 2010.
However the attack, which took place in Shoreditch nightclub Cargo, happened just days after he got the tattoo.
He later said: “I lifted my arm, attempting to deflect him, but he stabbed me with a jagged half-bottle.
“It pierced the left side of my neck, straight through the ‘Lucky’ tattoo.”
Pro chose to get the tattoo to celebrate a positive new attitude he’d decided to adopt.
Oh, the irony!
Lea Michele
After the Glee actress lost her boyfriend and former co-star Cory Monteith to an overdose in 2013, she got a tattoo in his memory.
She posted a snap of the tiny tat on Instagram and wrote, “And one more… for my Quarterback.. #5”.
The number five was Cory’s character Finn Hudson’s football number in the musical show, which they starred in together.
Adorable.
Angelina Jolie
Yet another Hollywood star to get a tattoo they later regretted, the actress paid tribute to her then-husband Billy Bob Thornton with a tattoo of his name on her left arm.
But after their divorce in 2003, Angelina – who is now married to Brad Pitt – had it removed.
She has since replaced it with the coordinates of her children’s birthplaces instead.
Rather her than us!