Tattoos are supposed to be permanent. We know this. Yet, when you’re nineteen and one half of the world’s most scrutinized "it" couple, the logic of forever tends to get a little blurry. That’s basically how we ended up with the Selena Gomez tattoo on Justin Bieber, a piece of ink that has survived breakups, a marriage, and about a dozen different hair eras.
It’s sitting right there on his left wrist. If you look at any high-res photo of Justin Bieber holding a microphone or adjusting his hat, you’ll see her. Well, a version of her. It’s an angel with long dark hair, modeled almost exactly after a 2012 photoshoot Selena did for Elle magazine.
The awkward truth about that wrist ink
Most people assume he got it lasered off years ago. He didn’t. Honestly, it’s kinda wild when you think about the timeline. He got the tattoo in April 2013, right in the thick of the "Jelena" rollercoaster. By 2016, things were messy.
In a now-famous video with GQ, a shirtless Bieber walked through his various pieces of body art. When he got to the wrist, he didn't dodge it. "This is my ex-girlfriend," he said, pointing to the angel. He then admitted, "I kind of tried to cover her face up with some shading, but people still know."
The shading didn't really do much. It just made the angel look slightly more gothic. You can still see the distinct features that scream Selena.
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Why didn't he just go for a full blackout?
Covering a portrait is a nightmare for a tattoo artist. Portraits use a lot of light shading and specific skin tones. To truly hide Selena's face, Justin would have needed a massive, dark piece—maybe a solid black cuff or a very dense animal head.
Instead, he chose to live with it.
- The Artist: He’s worked with legends like Bang Bang (Keith McCurdy), who is known for precision.
- The Intent: He once told fans on Instagram that he spent over a hundred hours on his body art and wouldn't take back a single one.
- The Reality: Even after marrying Hailey Bieber in 2018, the ink remained.
How Hailey feels about the "Ghost of Selena"
You’ve gotta wonder what it's like for Hailey. Every time they hold hands, she’s looking at his ex-girlfriend's face.
People love to stir up drama here. There was a whole wave of TikTok theories in 2023 and 2025 claiming Hailey "demanded" its removal. But if you actually listen to her, the vibe is different. During her 2022 appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, she talked about the "respect and love" between all parties. She basically said they’ve moved past the drama.
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Still, fans are eagle-eyed. In late 2025, social media went into a tailspin when Justin posted a photo where his forearm looked slightly darker. Some thought it was finally happening—the cover-up.
It wasn't. It was just lighting.
The "S" in the Rose: Fact or Fiction?
There is another rumor that just won't die. Justin has a large rose tattoo on his neck. Some fans are absolutely convinced there is a hidden "S" for Selena in the petals.
Is it there? Probably not. Tattoo artists often hide "Easter eggs" in large pieces, but if you’re trying to move on with your wife, putting your ex’s initial on your throat is a bold move. Most experts suggest it’s just the natural curve of the rose petals. Sometimes a rose is just a rose.
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What this tells us about celebrity "Forever"
The Selena Gomez tattoo on Justin Bieber is more than just a bad decision from his teens. It’s a permanent map of a very specific time in pop culture.
It represents an era where stars didn't just date; they became a singular entity in the eyes of the public. Removing it would be like trying to erase a chapter of a book everyone has already read.
What you can learn from the "Jelena" ink
If you're thinking about getting a portrait of a partner, maybe... don't? Or at least, follow these real-world takeaways:
- Placement is everything. A wrist tattoo is visible 24/7. If you must get a name or face, put it somewhere that a watch or a sleeve can hide during the "shading" phase.
- Laser is an option, but it's not magic. It takes multiple sessions, hurts more than the tattoo, and often leaves a "ghost" image.
- Ownership matters. Justin seems to have embraced his "canvas" as a whole. He views the tattoos as a timeline of his life, mistakes and all.
The tattoo is still there as of 2026. It's faded, sure. It's partially obscured by newer pieces nearby. But the angel remains. It’s a weirdly humanizing detail for one of the biggest stars on the planet—a reminder that even with all the money in the world, some marks stay with you.
If you’re curious about the specific artists who worked on Justin’s sleeves, you should look into the portfolios of Bang Bang and Brian Woo (Doctor Woo). They’ve done most of the heavy lifting on his transformation from "teen idol" to "walking art gallery." Take a close look at the shading on the wrist next time a paparazzi shot drops; you’ll see the history for yourself.