- Sam Smith has a tattoo collection that boasts 35+ tattoos.
- Most designs are scattered across their arms and back, with a few inked on their limbs.
- Many tattoos have a deeper meaning, including designs that celebrate their non-binary gender identity.
Sam Smith has had quite a start to 2023. Their sultry pop anthem, “Unholy” featuring Kim Petras, has already been certified a chart-topping single, earning both artists their first Billboard Hot 100 number one and a Grammy nod. The singer-songwriter is also gearing up to release their much-awaited fourth studio album, “Gloria,” due on Jan. 27. Even despite Smith’s busy schedule over the years, the artist has managed to accumulate an enviable collection of tattoos that are just as remarkable as their music and serve as an extension of their vibrant personality.
Smith has shared the inspiration fueling their ever-growing love for body art while recently speaking with SiriusXM. “I think I have over, like, 35 now. It’s weird because I never, like, aimed to be a tattooed person, but they’re like little stamps wherever I go places. They’ve started to get more and more and more, and I’m gonna be filled,” they said.
Though they have a whopping 35+ tattoos to their name already, they certainly don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “When I’m 70, I think I’ll get one on my face. Through my life, I’m just gonna fill up, and when I hit my 70th birthday, I’ll get something here, probably something small,” they said while sweeping their cheek. “And then 80th will be like, ‘Whoa!'”
While we count down the days till we can blast their highly-anticipated record “Gloria” on repeat, take a closer look at their extensive tattoo collection ahead, as well as what each one means.
Getty / NBC
Sam Smith’s Hand Tattoos
Sam Smith’s Index Finger Tattoos
Smith has a bunch of tiny tattoos on their hands. On the side of their left index finger, they have the symbol of the Roman goddess Venus that represents the female sex. They also have complementary ink of the symbol of the Roman god Mars, depicting the male sex. The latter is located in the exact same location but on their right index finger. The musician got the pair of tattoos when they were 17. The meaningful design might be in honor of their gender fluidity. “I feel just as much woman as I am man,” they told The Sunday Times in 2017.
They also have what appears to be another set of matching finger tattoos on both their index fingers. The tiny ink resembles the Eiffel Tower. However, the right-hand tattoo is speculated to covertly include the letter “B,” which Smith reportedly got during their relationship with the “13 Reasons Why” actor, Brandon Flynn. The pair dated for nearly nine months between 2017-2018.
Sam Smith’s Ring Finger Tattoo
Smith got an equal sign tattooed on their left ring finger, which expresses their passion and advocacy for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. “The equality sign on my wedding finger. This ones pretty self explanatory. It shows my views on gay marriage and equality for all x,” they offered in a now-deleted Instagram post.
Two horizontal parallel lines are also placed on their right ring finger, which, according to Smith, is “inspired by one of the oldest tattoos ever found on a mummified body that was found buried alone in the ice.”
Sam Smith’s Middle Finger Tattoos
They also have an upward-pointing arrowhead on top of their right middle finger and a downward-pointing arrowhead on their left middle finger.
Sam Smith’s Left Pinky Finger Tattoo
A tiny star in black ink sits on their left pinky finger, which appears to be a new addition, spotted during their Jan 19 guest appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Sam Smith’s Other Hand Tattoos
Other than this, they also have an eye-catching symmetrical ink on the back of their left hand, with another beautiful design inked on the backside of their right hand.
Getty / Paras Griffin
Sam Smith’s Anchor Tattoo
Smith has an anchor inked at the center of the neck, above their collarbones. They offered the meaning behind their tattoo, which they claimed to be their favorite when chatting with SiriusXM. “I’ve got my little anchor on my neck, which I love, which symbolizes me and my beautiful fans and my singing and stuff like that, so I love that.”
Getty / Paras Griffin
Sam Smith’s Flower and Heart Tattoo
Smith has an intricate artwork of a rose blossoming out of a heart that sits on the inside of their right forearm, which they said in an interview is an ode to a poet they love, Emma Bunton.
Getty / Kevin Winter
Sam Smith’s “TPH-50HR” Tattoo
The Grammy-winning singer has a script tattoo reading “TPH-50HR” inked at their nape. Though it may appear a cryptic code at first, the abbreviation of this ink is a sweet homage to Smith’s childhood home. The initials stand for “The Pink House – 50 Heydon House,” which is the address to the house where they grew up with two siblings and parents.
Sam Smith’s Puffer Fish Tattoo
Among the latest additions to their ever-growing tattoo collection is a puffer fish design that sits on their left forearm. When host Jennifer Hudson asked them the inspiration behind permanently inking a fish onto their skin, they jokingly replied, “I don’t know, honestly.” They further went into their “reckless” tattoo selection process. “I’m quite reckless. I like, just, on the day of, ‘let’s go for it; just do it,’ because I’ve got so many bad ones that I just don’t care anymore.”
Getty / Tasos Katopodis
Sam Smith’s “Honesty” Tattoo
The word “Honesty” is inked on the backside of Smith’s left arm, near their elbow. They shared the poignant meaning behind the piece in a now-deleted Instagram post, saying that it serves as a reminder for them to continue to remain honest in their artistry. “This is what I promise to be in my music. It’s what I live by. In the words of @mariamena_official ‘Honesty is my God,'” they captioned the post at the time.
Getty / Denise Truscello
Sam Smith’s “Alone” and Duck Tattoos
On the back of their right arm, they got the word “Alone” tattooed during the same trip to the parlor when they got the “Honesty” ink. They later added a duck design on top of the word. During their November 2022 appearance on the “Jennifer Hudson Show,” the “Pray” singer opened up about the ink and their feelings about it through the lens of hindsight. “When I was, like, a very emotional, like, late teens, I got the word “Alone” on my arm. How embarrassing is that?” they said when asked what’s their least favorite tattoo. When the audience aw-ed in response to their answer, they quickly added, “No, it’s okay. I’m fine. But I’m a weirdo for getting that. I got a duck on top of that; the duck isn’t alone.”
Getty / Kevin Winter
Sam Smith’s "??" Tattoo
Smith has the word “XYZ” on the inside of their right forearm. They have not shared the meaning behind this design.
