Ariana Grande is a true romantic at heart. Her extensive music collection and newest album, Petal, prove it. She’s open with her feelings, and she shows it physically through the tattoos on her body. Her latest ink says everything without needing many words: “I do love you.”

The pop star revealed this new tattoo during the first of her 10-night Eternal Sunshine tour in London—her first UK concert since 2019. The script tattoo, reading “I do love you,” sits right on her collarbone. It’s thought to match a tattoo belonging to Ricky Álvarez, the dancer, photographer, and former boyfriend she recently got back together with. His tattoo is in a more 3D style but is placed in a similar spot on his chest.

Photo: X (@buzzingpop)
Photo: Instagram (@rickyalvarez)

Álvarez, who was a backup dancer on Grande’s Honeymoon tour, dated the singer from 2015 to 2016. He’s mentioned, along with her other exes Big Sean, Mac Miller, and Pete Davidson, in her 2019 hit “thank u, next”: “wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh.” Over the past few months, rumors grew that they had rekindled their romance. In June, Álvarez was seen at Grande’s birthday concert in Austin, Texas. The pair were also spotted holding hands in New York City and started commenting on each other’s social media posts. During a recent show in Brooklyn, Grande changed the lyrics of “thank u, next” to: “Wrote some songs about Ricky, we always find our way back.”

Ariana performs on stage with Ricky in Milan, May 2015.
Photo: Getty Images

Ricky and Ariana attend a Spotify event in Los Angeles together as a couple in February 2016.
Photo: Getty Images

Grande and Álvarez made their relationship Instagram-official this week, seemingly confirming their reunion with a photo dump that included several mirror selfies of them embracing. One slide also showed a close-up of a page with “I do love you” written in blue ink—a hint of what was to come.

Grande has up to 75 documented tattoos, starting with a small heart above her toe when she was 18. Across her body, she has a mix of delicate, fine-line pieces and bolder designs: a large image of Chihiro from Spirited Away on her forearm, the album title R.E.M. behind her ear, and H2GKMO (short for “Honest to God, Keep Moving”) on her hand. Several tattoos honor important people in her life, including a “for good” tattoo referencing Wicked, which she shares with Cynthia Erivo, and an “E” for Erivo’s character Elphaba.

Beyond body art, beauty and glamour play a huge role in Ariana Grande’s storytelling, both personally and as a pop star. During her two-hour show, her glam team, Michael Anthony and Alyx Liu, join her onstage.

“This show, and everything that I do, would be incomplete without them,” Grande previously told Vogue in an exclusive interview. “Makeup and hair are such an enormous piece of storytelling, for both music and acting. [I wanted them to be a part of the show] because my art is nothing without theirs.” After three years as a blonde for Wicked, Grande returned to a honey brunette shade late last year, just in time for the tour. Throughout the show, she’s also brought back her famous signature high ponytail, which Liu alternates between a scrunchied ballerina bun and long, loose styles.

Last night, Grande changed the lyrics in “thank u, next” once again: “Wrote some songs about Ricky, we don’t talk about that.” Still, debuting a tattoo that grazes the collarbone on one of the world’s biggest stages, in front of around 20,000 people, is quite a bold statement.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Ariana Grandes new tattoo and its hidden reference written in a natural conversational tone

General Questions

1 Wait Ariana got a new tattoo What is it
She got a small tattoo on her hand Its a tiny stylized lightning bolt

2 Why is a lightning bolt a big deal Isnt that just a normal tattoo
Normally yes But this one is special because its a direct nod to her Wicked character Glinda In the musical Glinda is often associated with bubbles and sparkle but the lightning bolt is a specific callback to a lyric in the song Popular

3 Whats the notsohidden reference everyone is talking about
In Popular Glinda sings the line And when you smile its like a flash of lightning The tattoo is a literal permanent reminder of that lyric

4 Does she have other Wicked tattoos
Yes She has a few Most notably she has Glinda tattooed on her collarbone The a is in parentheses to represent both her character and her real name The lightning bolt is just the newest addition to her Wicked collection

Details The Design

5 Where exactly is the tattoo placed
Its on the side of her left hand right below her pinky finger Its pretty small and delicate

6 Is it a real tattoo or just temporary
It appears to be a real permanent tattoo She showed it off in a recent Instagram story and in a behindthescenes video

7 Why did she choose a lightning bolt instead of like a bubble or a crown
Because of the lyric Its a clever subtle way to reference the song without being too onthenose A bubble would be the obvious choice but the lightning bolt is a deeper cut for true fans who know the lyrics

8 Did she get it with anyone else
No it seems like she got this one solo Her other