Ariana Grande doesn't just play a character; she basically becomes them. When it was announced she’d be playing Glinda in the Wicked movies, fans knew her skin was about to become a canvas for Oz. Honestly, she’s already got over 60 tattoos, but the ones she’s picked up during this production are different. They feel heavier, more permanent in a way that goes beyond just aesthetics.
You’ve probably seen the blurry pap shots or the quick flashes of ink in her R.E.M. Beauty tutorials. Some look like "prison tattoos"—that's what the internet calls them anyway—because they’re thin, slightly faded, and scattered. But if you look closer, there is a literal map of her time in Oz on her hands.
The Glinda Tattoo You Might Have Missed
One of the most significant ariana grande wicked tattoos is the one on the back of her right hand. It’s not just a generic witch or a movie still. It’s actually a nostalgic nod to the original source material. Specifically, it’s an illustration of Glinda from the 1900 L. Frank Baum book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, originally drawn by W.W. Denslow.
Ariana told Allure she waited "forever" to fill up that specific spot on her hand. She wanted the right thing. This version of Glinda is the "saintly" witch in a classic throne-like setting. It’s a far cry from the bubble-popping, pink-wearing version most people know from Broadway, and that’s why it matters. It shows she did the homework. She isn't just a fan of the musical; she’s a fan of the legacy.
Matching Ink with Cynthia Erivo
The bond between Ariana and Cynthia Erivo (who plays Elphaba) is, frankly, intense. They’ve spent years together on set in London, and they have the matching scars—well, ink—to prove it.
💡 You might also like: Birth Date of Pope Francis: Why Dec 17 Still Matters for the Church
The most famous one is the "For Good" tattoo. They both got this on their palms on April 24, 2023. If you’re a theater kid, you’re already crying. "For Good" is the emotional peak of the show where the two witches admit they are "changed for the better" because they knew each other. Ariana has hers in the center of her right palm, while Cynthia’s is on her left. When they hold hands, the tattoos touch. It’s almost too much.
They also have:
- The Poppies: Long-stemmed poppy flowers on the sides of their hands. It’s a reference to the infamous poppy field that puts Dorothy to sleep.
- The Initials: They allegedly have each other’s character initials ("E" for Elphaba and "G" for Glinda) tattooed with little hearts.
- The Secret "WGE" Ink: In an interview with Noovie, they revealed they have matching "WGE" tattoos. Ariana wouldn’t say where it is, calling it "TMI," but it stands for something deeply personal to their friendship.
Why Do They Look So Faded?
People love to complain on Reddit about how her hand tattoos look "messy." Here is the reality: hand and finger tattoos are a nightmare to maintain. The skin there sheds faster than almost anywhere else on the body.
Ariana clearly leans into that "hand-poked" aesthetic. She isn't looking for bold, traditional American tattoos with thick black outlines. She likes the ethereal, dainty, almost-not-there look. Even if they fade into gray smudges, to her, they represent a specific moment in time. Director Jon M. Chu actually joked that they were "hardcore" for getting so many tattoos before the movie even finished filming. He tried to tell them to wait, but they went and did it anyway by day three of rehearsals.
📖 Related: Kanye West Black Head Mask: Why Ye Stopped Showing His Face
The Emotional Toll of the "Wicked" Era
It’s been a wild few years for Ariana. Between a divorce, a new relationship with co-star Ethan Slater, and the massive pressure of a $300 million movie franchise, these tattoos act like anchors.
The "For Good" ink wasn't just about the song. Ariana mentioned in a 2023 Instagram post that this year was one of the most "transformative" and "challenging" of her life. She felt misunderstood. When you’re at the center of a global tabloid firestorm, having a permanent reminder of a "soul sister" like Cynthia on your palm is probably one of the few things that keeps you grounded.
What's Next for the Collection?
The Wicked journey isn't over yet. With Wicked: For Good (Part Two) hitting theaters in late 2025, there is a high chance we haven't seen the last of the Oz-themed ink.
If you're thinking about getting your own Wicked-inspired tattoo, take a page out of Ari's book:
👉 See also: Nicole Kidman with bangs: Why the actress just brought back her most iconic look
- Look at the source material. Don't just go for the movie poster; look at the 1900 original illustrations for something unique.
- Placement is everything. If you get a palm tattoo like the "For Good" design, be prepared for it to fade significantly within six months.
- Meaning over perfection. Most of Ariana's tattoos wouldn't win a technical award, but they tell a story.
You can track the evolution of her hand art by watching her recent press tour interviews—just look for the tiny black lines peeking out from under her Glinda-pink sleeves. They tell a story of a girl who finally got to play her dream role and refused to let the memory of it fade, even if the ink eventually does.
To keep up with the latest additions to her collection, you can check out the high-res photos from the 2026 Golden Globes, where her "power ponytail" finally showed off the neck and ear tattoos she had to hide under makeup for two years of filming.
Next Step: Compare the Denslow original drawings to Ariana's hand tattoo to see how closely the artist replicated the 1900 Glinda.