How Many Tattoos Does Shawn Mendes Have?
Canadian singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes has developed quite the following. One of the things fans love to watch is his ever-growing collection of tattoos. Just how much ink has the star accumulated, and what does his art mean to him?
Six seconds to fame
Mendes is one of the modern stars who can attribute his rise to fame to social media sites — specifically Vine, the now-defunct six-second video-sharing app. He was only 14 when he started uploading clips of himself singing.
His cover of Justin Bieber’s song “As Long As You Love Me” got a stunning 10,000 likes the first day it was online. Soon his singing and large fan base caught the eye of Andrew Gertler, a manager who contacted Mendes and offered to represent him.
The singer soon signed with Island Records, and at 15 years old he released his first single, “Life of the Party.” It clocked in at number 24 on the Billboard Top 100, making him the youngest artist to have a debut song on the Top 25.
Mendes has gone on to release seven albums, selling 10 million copies, and multiple world tours, both as an opening act and a headliner. He’s also dabbled in modeling, appearing in a Calvin Klein underwear campaign.
Shawn’s growing collection of tattoos
Fans are adamant that something that enhances his natural good looks is his assortment of artistic ink. According to Page Six, Mendes has a total of nine tattoos.
His first foray into body art was with an image of a guitar, formed by the outline of trees, the skyline of his native city of Toronto, and the sound waves of his parents’ voices, saying “I love you.” This thoughtful tattoo was just the beginning, but does all his art hold that same level of meaning for him?
What his tattoos mean to him
Many of his tattoos refer to his family and his music, but it’s clear that they all hold meaning for him. The guitar that started it all obviously touches on his love for music, his roots, and his parents.
He followed that one up with a tiny elephant on his finger. His mom, who got a matching elephant, loves the animal.
Next, he polled his fans for ideas for his next tattoo. The result was a sparrow on his hand, said to be the symbol of sailors who travel great distances.
Then came a small number “8” on his finger, which is thought to represent both his birthday, August 8, and his favorite number.
Mendes hasn’t commented on the meaning of the next tattoo he got, the image of a meditating stick figure, but he has mentioned that he and his girlfriend Camila Cabello are big believers in meditation. After that, he added an image on his arm of light bulb that is filled with blue flowers, to commemorate his “Illuminate” tour.
The next ink included input from a fan. Someone Photoshopped a butterfly tattoo, filled with flowers, on his arm. Mendes liked the look so much that he made it happen.
His last two tattoos return to the theme of family, this time honoring his 16-year-old sister, Aaliyah. First, he had the letter “A” inked behind his right ear. Then just last month he had her full name, Aaliyah Maria, written in a flowing script just under his collarbone.
It’s a good guess that Mendes isn’t done adding to his tattoos. Fans can’t wait to see what comes next, but if the past is any indication, it will be as heartfelt as it is artistic.
