- Katy Perry has 11 known tattoos so far.
- Most of her body art is placed on her feet and hands.
- From her end-of-tour tattoo tradition to matching ink with her fans, each piece holds a special meaning for the singer.
Katy Perry rose to international pop stardom remarkably early on in her career and has been an undeniable staple in the music industry ever since. With consecutive mega hits under her belt – including “Hot N Cold,” “Roar,” and “I Kissed a Girl” – the singer-songwriter quickly built a solid discography, striking a deft balance between heart-pumping quintessential early-2010s pop anthems and heart-wrenching, powerful breakup ballads. The “American Idol” judge has always been a trailblazer when it comes to her fashion and beauty choices – who can forget her instantly iconic, campy hamburger and chandelier costumes at the 2019 Met Gala? – so it’s no surprise that Perry’s visually stunning tattoo collection is merely an extension of her unique, charismatic personality.
The De Soi cofounder has 11 known tattoos so far, each with a sentimental significance. She has several pieces dedicated to her many musical milestones, including an homage to her incredible headlining stint at the 2015 Super Bowl halftime. Perry also has a long-standing tradition at the end of her tours where she and her crew close out the successful string of shows by getting matching friendship tattoos.
The singer has captured many beautiful and significant moments in her life with meaningful pieces of ink. From her latest piece dedicated to her ardent fanbase to a striking Sanskrit script design, Perry has accumulated an awe-inspiring tattoo collection over the years. Keep scrolling for a closer look at all of Perry’s tattoos and find out what they mean.
Getty / Lester Cohen
Katy Perry's "Miss You" Tattoo With Fans
In May 2019, while promoting her single “Never Really Over” at the YouTube Music Space, the pop star marked her appreciation and mutual admiration for her fan base – popularly known as the KatyCats – by getting some matching ink with them. The fine-line, minimal tattoos, done by Los Angeles tattooist East Iz, feature two outline halves of a heart with the words “Miss” and “You” written inside each. While Perry’s ink, placed on the side of her right hand, reads “Miss,” the ones that fans got include the word “You.”
Getty / Daniel Pockett
Katy Perry's "XLIX" Finger Tattoo
The “Dark Horse” singer added another memorable piece to her body-art collection to celebrate a big career milestone: headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. Perry was tapped to perform at the 49th NFL halftime ceremony in 2015, and needless to say, she set the stage ablaze with a power-packed routine. She got the Roman numeral “XLIX,” which denotes the number 49, inked on the side of her right ring finger. She got the ink right after her set from her long-time tattoo collaborator, Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy.
Getty / Jason Merritt
Katy Perry's Sanskrit Arm Tattoo With Russell Brand
Perry has a Sanskrit script inked vertically on the inside of her right bicep. The phrase reads “अनुगच्छतु प्रवाहं” (Anugacchatu Pravaaham), which translates to “going along with the flow.” The singer got this design sometime in 2010 as a matching piece with her then-husband Russell Brand, who also has an identical ink on his right bicep. The former couple was especially fond of South Asian culture and rituals, so much so that they tied the knot in an elegant Indian ceremony in 2010. So it’s no surprise that they decided to get twin tattoos that pay homage to the ancient language of India.
Getty / D Dipasupil
Katy Perry’s Peppermint-Candy Ankle Tattoo
Perry got a cartoon peppermint candy in red and white ink tattooed on the inside of her right ankle. In keeping with her end-of-tour ink ritual, the “Unconditionally” singer landed on the design following the conclusion of her 2011-2012 California Dreams Tour, which demonstrated her 2010 album “Teenage Dream.” The candy-themed motif popped up in various ways in Perry’s costumes and accessories throughout the many shows.
Getty / George Pimentel
Katy Perry's Strawberry Ankle Tattoo
Perry debuted a colorful smiling strawberry tattoo on the inside of her left ankle in 2009 following the conclusion of her Hello Katy Tour in support of her second studio album, “One of the Boys.” The adorable design is done by Bang Bang in red, green, black, and yellow ink.
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Katy Perry’s Lotus Wrist Tattoo
A gorgeous, minimal outline of a lotus is inked on Perry’s right wrist. Though the singer hasn’t revealed the meaning behind the ink, the flower typically symbolizes inner growth and a fresh start.
Getty / Steve Granitz
Katy Perry's "Jesus" Wrist Tattoo
The first tattoo that the star ever got is on her left wrist and says “Jesus.” She got the ink when she was 18. It’s worth noting that her self-titled debut album, “Katy Hudson,” released in 2001, was a gospel record. However, Perry’s relationship with faith and spirituality goes a long way back. She was raised in a religious household, and though her ideas have evolved as she’s gotten older, she has always believed in a higher power and has been vocal about her faith.
“I do believe in something much bigger than me, and I call that God for me,” she said in a 2018 interview with Insider, adding that God has helped guide her through tough times.
Getty / Jason Merritt
Katy Perry's Cherry-Blossom Ankle Tattoo
Perry has an eye-catching colorful tattoo of cherry blossom on the outside of her right ankle. The singer got inspiration for the ink from traditional Japanese tattoo art, where the flower – aka “Sakura” – symbolizes optimism, love, and the transient nature of life. She got this as a matching design with her then-boyfriend, John Mayer, who has the same piece on his right wrist. The former pair dated on and off between 2012 and 2014, so it’s believed they got the twin ink sometime during their relationship.
