All of Demi Lovato’s tattoos and their meanings
Demi Lovato has been through a lot since starting their career at 7 years old.
The Disney star-turned-pop star, 29, got their first tattoo when they were just 16, but had to hide it due to their squeaky-clean image.
Throughout the years, the “Confident” singer has become more outspoken about their struggles with mental health, substance abuse, sexuality and more — and added plenty of tattoos to remind them of what’s really important in life and commemorate ups and downs, including their 2020 engagement — and subsequent breakup — with Max Ehrich.
Below, see all of Lovato’s many tattoos and learn more about their meanings.
“love” and “fear”
After updating their pronouns to include both “she/her” and the non-binary “they/them,” the singer said she was embracing “duality” with new tattoos on both shoulders; one says “love,” the other “fear.”
“300”
Underneath a portrait of her grandmother, Lovato added the number 300. Neither she nor Dr. Woo, the star’s go-to artist, explained the piece’s meaning.
“choose love”
Lovato showed support for Ukraine amid the country’s war with Russia by teaming up with non-profit Choose Love to auction off time in the studio, with proceeds going toward relief efforts. They took a more permanent stand with this matching tattoo in a Gothic gradient font.
Spider
Shortly after completing a stint in rehab at the end of 2021, Lovato marked the new year with a new tattoo on their skull.
“It was Grandmother Spider who taught us many things,” the “Skyscraper” singer wrote in one of their posts unveiling the spider ink.
“She taught us about pottery and weaving. She taught us about fire and light and dark. She taught us that we are all connected on the web – each one of us having our place in the world.”
“Infinite Universe” lyrics
Lovato paid homage to a song that they said represented their 28th year: “Infinite Universe” by Beautiful Chorus. They tapped celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo to ink the lyrics “Love will live forever in the infinite universe” on the top of their hand, surrounded by celestial imagery including stars, a planet and a crescent moon.
Butterfly
While recording their album “Dancing With the Devil,” Lovato inked a large butterfly on their neck. Though they haven’t shared its meaning, the singer captioned an Instagram photo of the ink with telling words that were later revealed to be lyrics from a song entitled “Melon Cake”: “Dear little me, I’m sorry that it took so long but baby your [sic] free.”
Fallen angel
Shortly after performing at the Grammys and singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl as part of their musical comeback, Demi revealed they had gotten a large back tattoo of an angel being saved by the Holy Trinity.
“I told [tattoo artist Alex Aureo] about my life and where I was at in that moment and we created a combination on images that best symbolized the spiritual awakening I was having,” they wrote. “Having a fallen angel being lifted by 3, pure, angelic doves (the Holy trinity) as her inner light is being guided by a higher consciousness, and the disintegration of her dark wings was representing the darkness I was shedding.”
“survivor”
Celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo is responsible for Demi’s “survivor” neck tattoo, which they had done in December 2019 as a reminder of their resilience.
“T”
When their friend Tommy Trussell died after a struggle with substance abuse, Lovato — as well as some of the model’s other close friends — honored him with “T” tattoos.
“me”
Lovato called this tattoo on their engagement ring finger a “forever reminder” that they’re first and foremost committed to themself.
Their grandmother’s portrait
“This is for you Mimaw,” Demi wrote of this forearm portrait of their grandmother shortly after she passed away in May 2019. “You at 26 on my arm while I’m 26, and forever. I love you more.” Their go-to tattoo artist Dr. Woo is responsible for the ink, which the singer called the “most meaningful” in their collection.
Rose
To celebrate six months of sobriety after their overdose, Demi inked this flower on the inside of their pointer finger.
“free”
In 2018, shortly after they announced they had relapsed with their song “Sober,” Demi had the word “free” inked on their right pinky. Several of their friends and team members got matching tattoos while on the Tell Me You Love Me tour with Lovato, as a show of support.
Lion’s head
One of Demi’s boldest tattoos is this large lion’s head on the back of their hand, which artist Bang Bang inked in 2017. It’s a nod to their Leo astrological sign, as well as their song “Lionheart.”
“you make me beautiful” + dreamcatcher
What started out as lyrics from the Bethany Dillon song “Beautiful” has turned into a large design on Lovato’s ribs. They first inked just the words — which they said are a tribute to their faith and God’s creation — when they was just 16 years old. They later added the artwork around it in two stages, first adding a pair of feathers and then a dreamcatcher in 2016.
Smiley face
Demi said they decided to tattoo a smiley face on their finger in 2016 “because life’s too short not to tattoo your pinky.”
“Buddy was here”
In 2015, Demi memorialized their dog Buddy, who was killed by coyotes in their backyard. They got the words “Buddy was here” in a font made to look like a child’s handwriting on the inside of their foot. The singer also sold T-shirts with the design during the Future Now tour. In 2019, they updated the tattoo to include a portrait of the dog above the writing.
Roman numerals
After a show in NYC in 2014, Demi stopped by Bang Bang’s studio for a series of Roman numerals honoring the birthdates of their family members. VIII VIII MCMLXII represents August 8, 1962, for their mother Dianna De La Garza; II IV MCMLXXXVIII represents February 4, 1988, for sister Dallas Lovato; XII XXVIII MMI represents December 28, 2001, for half-sister Madison De La Garza; II XIV MCMLXIII represents February 14, 1963, for stepfather Eddie De La Garza; and finally, X XXIII MCMLX represents October 23, 1960, for biological father Patrick Lovato, who died in 2013.
Roses
In April 2015, Demi had a kiss print covered with a grayscale rose, sharing the new ink with the hashtag #kidsdontdodrugs and referencing how much they hated the lips. Lovato later added a second rose and more leaves to fill out the tattoo.
Africa
To commemorate a trip they took to Kenya for their 21st birthday, Lovato inked the outline of Africa on the inside of their arm.
“III”
After their biological father passed away, Demi memorialized him with Roman numerals representing his favorite number. “My father and I didn’t have the most ideal relationship, but at the end of the day he’s still my dad and I grew up with him and he was a wonderful person,” they told “Good Morning America.”
“I’ve dealt with mental illnesses but my father also dealt with mental illness and he wasn’t able to function very well in society.”
In addition to the tattoo, they also set up a scholarship fund in his name to help patients pay for mental illness treatment.
“now I’m a warrior”
On the day they released their fourth album, “Demi,” Lovato inked the phrase “I am a warrior” on their back — lyrics from the closing song. “I have a song on my album called ‘Warrior’ and it’s a very, very meaningful song to me,” they told Jimmy Fallon.
“It’s really heavy, the lyrics, but it’s an inspirational song as well. It’s a negative thing turned positive. I’ve been through a lot and I’m really really honest on this album. And this is a song that was really difficult for me to write, record, and now release. [The tattoo] was kind of like a tribute to releasing the album as well as overcoming some really, really difficult things in my life.”
“faith” + birds
Though they had “faith” tattooed first in 2011, Demi later added 12 birds flying toward their wrist from their elbow to symbolize freedom. Though not a factor in the star’s decision, the number is congruent with the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous; they said it was “meant to be” when they realized the connection. The same design later appeared on the cover of Demi’s book, “Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year.”
“Let go” + “Let God”
Lovato has these words tattooed across both feet, yet another tribute to their faith.
“Rock N Roll”
Perhaps a divergence from their Disney Channel stardom, the pop star has this phrase inked on their middle finger.
“peace”
Some time in 2011, the singer added this word on their finger.
Cross
The bold cross is intentionally placed on the outside of their right hand, so that it’s clearly visible whenever they hold a microphone.
“Stay Strong”
Demi’s signature phrase is tattooed across their wrists as a reminder to avoid self-harm and addiction. They had the message inked in 2011, shortly after entering rehab for the first time.
“It was very symbolic for me to be able to cover [up my scars from cutting] and also replace it with something else that’s permanent so that I’ll never be able to forget the support that I had when I went in [to treatment],” they said at the time.
Lip print
Demi had this lip print tattoo done on a tour bus during Warped Tour by artist Ashley McMullen, and later publicly discussed how much they regretted it, even comparing it to a vagina. After hearing Lovato’s comments, McMullen publicly shamed them for “peeing all over the toilet seat,” “acting like a drunken mess” and skipping out without paying for the ink.
Feather
This tattoo, like the lips on their arm, was apparently a spur-of-the moment decision for Lovato. It was also done in the same location — on the back of a tour bus at Warped Tour — the year before the infamous lips.
