Everything You Need to Know About Each of Selena Gomez's Tattoos

At 24, Selena is just like every other 20-something who experiments with tattoos: starting off small (with a tiny one on her wrist) and working her way up to a whooping eight pieces of ink. The chart-topping singer now proudly showcases her tattoos — choosing hairstyles, red carpet looks, and swimsuits that put the spotlight on them — and openly discussing the special meaning behind each. Whether the ink was in honor of a family member or a phrase meant to motivate, they're all reflective of Selena's unique personal style. Read ahead to find out more about them.

01
Music Note on Her Wrist
Getty | Andreas Rentz

Music Note on Her Wrist

Selena's very first tattoo was a musical note on her right wrist — she says this one is special because she writes music with her right hand.

02
Sunshine on Her Foot
Getty | Frederick M. Brown

Sunshine on Her Foot

Selena's right foot ink spells out "Sunshine" and honors a tradition she had with her grandmother. When Selena was little, her grandma would tuck her in and sing "You Are My Sunshine."

03
G Behind Her Ear
Getty | David Livingston

G Behind Her Ear

The lowercase "G" behind Selena's left ear represents her little sister, Gracie.

04
Roman Numerals on the Back of Her Neck
Getty

Roman Numerals on the Back of Her Neck

One of Selena's less seen but equally important tattoos is the ink of her mom's birthdate in Roman numerals on the back of her neck.

05
Love Yourself First on Her Ribs
Getty | Jason Merritt

Love Yourself First on Her Ribs

Along the right side of her back, curving into her side, Selena has the phrase "Love yourself first" written in Arabic.

06

A Biblical Verse on Her Hips

Selena is open about how close she is to her faith, and the tattoo on her right hip is just another example. Taken from Philippians 4:13, the ink reads, "God who strengthens me."

07

The Om Sign on Her Hips

While the art on her right hip is more noticeable, the one on her left hip is just as meaningful. Selena has the "Om" sign, symbolizing a search for mindfulness.

08

A Semicolon on Her Wrist

Selena's most recent tattoo is a semicolon on her left wrist in honor of Project Semicolon, a mental health awareness movement. Like many others who have gotten a semicolon tattooed, Selena got hers because it indicates a pause in a sentence instead of an end — and when it comes to mental health, that means reminding yourself that your life is worth the breath. The tattoo has a particularly special meaning because it came on the heels of her success with 13 Reasons Why.