Tattoo Tributes: A Closer Look at Paris Jackson, Miley Cyrus and More Stars' Meaningful Ink

These stars use their own brand of self-expression to pay tribute to loved ones

By Greg Safarian Jul 11, 2016 11:06 PMTags
Prince Jackson, Paris Jackson, TattoosInstagram

Ink is in—and in Hollywood, the messages can be quite inspirational.

Tattoos have long been the go-to accessory for celebrities who want to pay tribute to people (or animals), or causes near and dear to their hearts.

We compiled a list of stars' most poignant permanent accessories and unearthed the stories behind them all. 

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1. Paris Jackson               

Since her father, Michael Jackson, passed in 2009, Paris has faced internal struggles that sometimes follow the unexpected death of a loved one. However, things have been looking up for the 18-year-old star. The teenager takes to Instagram to speak her mind and defend her actions. She explained why tattoos bring her solace, writing on social media, "The craftsmanship of tattoos will always be a controversy. Some people like them, some people absolutely hate them. I appreciate art, I always have, especially when that art means something to me."

Just recently, she added a red "Bad" to join the varying tattoos on her body. With a nod to her father's song "Bad," Jackson posted a photo of the hand tattoo on social media. She tagged a number of dearly departed artists in her caption, saying, "right hand finally finished!! i f--king love you @dermagraphink @vanhalen @prince @michaeljackson @davidbowie" 

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2. Miley Cyrus

While Miley's tattoo of Vegemite seems trivial at first glance, there may be more to this vegetable yeast paste than meets the eye. This snack is a favorite of fiancé Liam Hemsworth. We believe that Miley is beckoning to Liam's adoration of the Australian food paste. And if so, what a savory way to remember your man!

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3. Chloë Grace Moretz

Family is always first for Chloë. The Neighbors 2 star lost her grandmother in 2014 and to commemorate her passing, Moretz got a tattoo of her grandmother's name while she was visiting New York with boyfriend Brooklyn. The tattoo reads "Janette Duke" in cursive and is positioned on the star's back.

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4. Hailey Baldwin & Ireland Baldwin

Cousins who tattoo together, stick together. Both Hailey and Ireland paid tribute to their fathers' surnames by tattooing "Baldwin" on their fingers.

Their finger of choice? The middle finger. We bet these Baldwin beauties are very careful when showing off their tattoo. 

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5. Justin Bieber

What is J.B. doing with a big G on his arm? No, it's not an ex's initial. In fact, this tattoo pays homage to Bieber's friend Georgia. At just a few months old, Georgia was diagnosed with a serious brain condition known as lissencephaly. 

Beiber knows of Georgia through his friends, pastor Chad Veach and his wife Julia. Not coincidentally, Selena Gomez and Hailey Baldwin also tattooed Gs on their bodies.

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Justin Bieber's Many Tattoos
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6. Lea Michele

Grieving Cory Monteith's death in 2013, the Glee star explained on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, "There is an empowerment that comes with grief—at some point you find it."

Michele channeled that empowerment into a permanent representation of the number five that emblazoned Monteith's football jersey on the show. 

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7. Ariel Winter

The now 18-year-old Modern Family star, who is on her way to college, couldn't enter adulthood without marking her appreciation for the unforgettable people in her life. 

"My second and most special tattoo, the initials of five of the most important beings in my life: my nieces and nephew," Winters wrote on Instagram. "Their initials are on my ribcage, on the side where my heart is. They are my inspiration, and my reason for living. Love these babies more than anything and proud to have their initials forever on my body." 

Ariel easily wins the coolest aunt of the year award with her new ink.

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Franziska Krug/Getty Images

8. Emma Stone

Mother and daughter, always standing united together. Unbeknownst to many, The Help actress' mother, Krista, is a breast cancer survivor. To celebrate being cancer-free, Emma and her mother both got matching blackbird feet tattoos on the inside of their wrists. 

The two also appeared in a Revlon campaign promoting breast cancer awareness back in 2012. 

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Guess the Celebrity Tattoo!