Miley Cyrus' Most Meaningful Tattoos Explained
Everyone knows who Miley Cyrus is. Whether you grew up with her as "Hannah Montana," have been shocked by her out-of-this-world scandals, grooved to her new rocking tracks, or all of the above. Cyrus has been in the media for over a decade with her number one hits and star-studded relationships. It seems as though fans know almost everything there is to know about Miley Cyrus. One thing you may not know, however, is how many tattoos she has.
In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in December 2020, it was revealed that she has 74 tattoos — a number that even shocked her when Kimmel announced it. In true Hannah Montana fashion, she looked at her camera in shock, saying "Huh?"
But it's true. The singer and songwriter currently has dozens of tattoos all over her body. Some of them are big, but most of them are small, and she has them everywhere. But within the sea of 74 tattoos, there are a few that fans argue are the most meaningful.
Miley Cyrus' first tattoo has a lot of meaning behind it
Cyrus's first tattoo is on the left side of her rib cage and consists of the words "Just Breathe" written her mother's handwriting. She actually got this tattoo at only 17 years old, and the meaning behind it is absolutely beautiful. The tattoo is dedicated to a few people in her life who passed away (via Steal Her Style). Cyrus chose the meaningful tattoo in honor of her friend, Vanessa, who died in 2007 of cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs. It's also dedicated to her grandfathers who both died of lung cancer.
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, she went on to discuss the meaning behind the placement and words. "It reminds me not to take things for granted," she said. "I mean breathing –- that was something none of them could do, the most basic thing. And I put it near my heart, because that is where they will always be."
A lot of her tattoos are for her pets
In 2014, Miley Cyrus paid a loving tribute to her dog, Floyd, who was killed in a coyote attack. Cyrus honored his memory with a gorgeous tattoo on her side, as did two of her closest friends, Wayne Coyne and Katy Weaver. The tattoo consists of a cartoon drawing of Floyd, with a speech bubble saying "With a little help from my fwends," a line based on the Beatles song "With a Little Help from My Friends" (via Steal Her Style).
Cyrus loved Floyd dearly, and his death was a shock to everyone, so it makes sense that she would want to get a tattoo to forever remember him. Cyrus' heartbreak was evident on social media. "I know I don't mean it but I wish he would've taken me with him, this is unbearable. What am I gonna do without him?" she tweeted after the death of her beloved pup.
Along with the tattoo of her dog, Cyrus has tattoos dedicated to her old fish, Pablow, and her two other dogs, Emu and Mary Jane (via Body Art Guru).
She has a lot dedicated to her family and inspirations
The Cyrus family is known to get tattoos dedicated to one another. Like her sister, Noah Cyrus (who has quite a few tattoos of her own), Miley Cyrus has the words "Mom" and "Dad" inked on her, obviously dedicated to her loving parents (via Body Art Guru). Almost everyone in her family has a small heart tattoo on their hands, with Miley having hers on her pinky, updating it later with a galaxy inside of the heart outline (via Steal Her Style).
On her right arm is a portrait of her grandma, or "Mammie," that she got in 2013 from celebrity tattoo artist, Kat Von D. When she got the tattoo, she posted a sassy reason behind it saying, "Because I am her favorite & she is mine,"
Along with that, Cyrus has two handwritten notes tattooed on her. The first one is dedicated to her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, and the tattoo consists of a handwritten note from Johnny Cash. It reads, "I'm in your corner, Johnny Cash" and she got it from a note the singer gave her when she was little. Cash is one of her and her father's musical inspirations. The second note is from none other than Yoko Ono, reading "I'm proud of u Yoko."