Miley Cyrus's Tattoos Are a Collection of Meaningful Moments

Cyrus's left arm has a handful of unique, medium-sized designs. One of the inks is a small, intricate skeleton. There's also a four-line quote tattoo in a delicate cursive font.

Right above her elbow, she also has a pin-up-style cowgirl.

In 2020, Cyrus got a cutout tattoo inspired by "Dance Me to the End of Love," a book that visualizes Leonard Cohen's song of the same name with illustrations by artist Henry Matisse.

In 2019, the singer also got a rock 'n' roll heart with her then-boyfriend Cody Simpson. That ink features a heart with a knife going through it.

In October 2019, Cyrus got a string of ancient symbols on her forearm from tattooist Dr. Woo. The caption reads, "Ancient symbols found on rock walls with some woo twist."

Below that design is the word "be."

Shortly after her divorce from Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus debuted a rose tattoo on the back of her left arm via Instagram. She shared a black-and-white video of the rose with the caption, "When asked if what you say and do is done with purest intentions and only LOVE inside the heart?"

Cyrus later shared a second video with the caption, "Every. Rose. Has. Its. Thorn."

Cyrus's first tattoo ever was the phrase "just breathe" on her rib cage in December 2009, which was reportedly done as a tribute to her close friend Vanessa, who died of cystic fibrosis, and both of her grandfathers, who died of lung cancer.

The "just breathe" tattoo is joined by a moving image dedicated to her late dog, Floyd, who passed away in April 2014, and a naked woman standing in a body of water.

On her right forearm sits a portrait of Cyrus's pit bull, Mary Jane. Above that is the phrase, "love yer brain" and a heart that's made up of the word "Elvis" for the famous singer.

Below that closer to her wrist is an anchor tattoo that she got done in Brazil in May 2011 by the artist Fabio Satori.

After writing a song about her blowfish, Pablow, following its death in 2015, she went to famed celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo to get a piece of ink in its memory.

Right above her Pablow tattoo sits a portrait of her beloved Shetland sheepdog, Emu, whom she adopted two months after the unexpected passing of her Alaskan klee kai, Floyd.

Around that same area is a crescent moon and the Happy Hippie Foundation logo, her nonprofit organization.

Back in 2012, Cyrus and her then-boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth, got coordinating tattoos on their left arms of quotes from Theodore Roosevelt.

The singer had hers done in July of that year and chose an excerpt from the former president's legendary "Citizenship in a Republic" speech: "So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

A few months later, Hemsworth picked a line from the same speech that reads, "If he fails, at least fails while daring greatly," which many assume is missing a "he." Oops.

In addition to an animal tooth, Roman numerals, an anatomically correct heart, and the words "I'm in your corner" with Johnny Cash's signature, Cyrus's right arm is home to a portrait of her grandmother.

She also has a horn tattoo on her upper inner arm.

In 2014, Cyrus and her best friend, Cheyne Thomas, gave each other matching smiley-face tattoos.

Danielle Jackson was a former assistant editor for PS Beauty.

Jessica Harrington (she/her) is the senior editor of PS Beauty, where she oversees coverage around makeup, skin care, hair, tattoos, and more. With more than nine years of industry experience, she has interviewed countless celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends, and swatched more lipsticks than she can count. Prior to PS, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and The Zoe Report.