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“Trashy things”: The “Tramp Stamp” Tattoo Is Back And Its New Location Makes Some Blush
Woman with tramp stamp tattoo on hip wearing striped swimsuit, holding hand and walking along the beach shoreline.

“Trashy things”: The “Tramp Stamp” Tattoo Is Back And Its New Location Makes Some Blush

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The tattoo style that was famous among stars and fans alike in the late ’90s and 2000s—better known as the tramp stampis back, compliments of Cardi B and Dakota Johnson, among others. And, it’s not quite the same.

A 2004 SNL sketch heralded the trend’s departure when it mockingly recommended “Turlington’s Lower Back Tattoo Remover,” and it has been out of fashion for nearly two decades, even though it was flaunted by the likes of Britney Spears, Aaliyah, and Christina Ricci, as well as other notable stars. 

Highlights
  • Once flaunted by Britney Spears and Aaliyah, the “tramp stamp” is staging a comeback.
  • A 2004 SNL sketch is credited with turning public opinion against the lower-back tattoo trend.
  • Today’s stars like Cardi B and Halsey are reclaiming the look, but placing it in far more intimate areas.

The new fad, also seen on Olivia Wilde and Halsey, favors locations below the belt line, in intimate areas that in another generation would have remained hidden. 

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    Women are having their husbands’ names tatted on their butts

    Cardi B squats outdoors showing colorful tramp stamp tattoo and floral body art, wearing green bikini and high heels.

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    Image credits: iamcardib

    Social media is on the front lines of the trend. A TikTok account called Tuff Tattoos underscored the sentiment when the author, a well-groomed woman, showed off an ink design reaching from below her shorts and down her thigh.

    The video calls out the perception of females with tattoos on their behinds as being “trashy,” with one fan saying: “I always laugh at people when they make comments about my [peach emoji] tattoo.”

    In another video, three “besties” can be seen defying the age-old warning against the tattooing of partners’ names.

    Person taking a mirror selfie in a leather jacket and cropped top, showing a visible tramp stamp tattoo trend.

    Image credits: iamhalsey

    The end result: their husbands’ names inked onto their backsides.

    The new “tramp stamp” is worn way below the waistline

    These trends, if not initiated by them, have since been embraced by some of showbiz’s most popular names.

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    Rapper Cardi B, for example, sports a massive floral piece that covers most of her back before diving below her bikini line, casting a bright swathe of red on her left hip and down her thigh.

    Person wearing black lingerie and sheer stockings showing a tramp stamp tattoo on the upper buttocks in a dark setting.

    Image credits: iamhalsey

    Without Me songstress, Halsey, has also dabbled in the trend, albeit rather conservatively, opting instead for a relatively small-fonted “Hopeless” on her left butt cheek. 

    The ink is located below her waistline and out of sight when wearing conventional clothing. Be that as it may, the chart topper was sure to show it off on Instagram in a transparent lacey skirt.

    Men are also diving into the trend

    Woman with blue hair wearing a striped swimsuit showing a tramp stamp tattoo on her lower back at the beach.

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    Image credits: halsey/DonsLens

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    The trend is not limited to women. Lizzie McGuire star, Hillary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma joined the ranks when he had his wife’s name tattooed on his left butt cheek.

    He indicated that he is well aware of the ramifications of such a move when he captioned the picture: 

    “Good luck winning a fight with your wife when her name’s tattooed on your butt cheek.”

    Close-up of a floral tramp stamp tattoo on a lower back near denim jeans and a cropped sweater.

    Image credits: curated_lifestyle

    “Tramp stamp,” came the age-old moniker in response.   

    “Did you lose a BET? To Hilary and if so what was it? I just hope you don’t have to get REMOVED or cover up,” wrote another, probing for a backstory.

    “THAT WAS MY IDEA FOR MY WIFE’S NAME!” wrote one commenter, proving that Koma was not the only male so inclined.

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    Close-up of a woman with curly hair wearing a black top and gold chain necklace showcasing the tramp stamp tattoo trend.

    Image credits: officialmelb

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    The ink work seemed to create expectations among other women, one of whom summed up the sentiment when she tagged her significant other and said:

    “I need you to tattoo my name on your butt ASAP.”

    Some see the comeback as a power move for women

    Young woman standing outside Hotel Chelsea holding a New London Pharmacy bag, representing tramp stamp tattoo trend revival.

    Image credits: oliviawilde

    The media has since officiated the growing trend. The Los Angeles-based KTLA 5reported three months ago that “Gen Z is bringing back the lower back tattoo.”

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    “Tattoo artists say it’s coming back in a big way and it’s actually a power move for women,” the outlet reported.

    Two women in bikinis at the beach, one showing a tramp stamp tattoo on her lower back, highlighting tattoo trend revival.

    Image credits: oliviawilde

    But according to anchor Andy Riesmeyer, it is about more than just s*x appeal, and one woman claimed “getting a lower back tattoo allows women to reclaim a negative stereotype.”  

    But not everybody agrees

    “Empowerment is having the restraint to not do trashy things like getting tats,” wrote one person in response to a rerun posted on YouTube.

    Small tramp stamp tattoo of a red chili pepper with the word spicy on the lower back of a person.

    Image credits: rubenaguayo_ink

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    “As a woman… this is dumb,” wrote another. “If I want to get a tramp stamp I will but nothing about it speaks empowerment to me.”

    One user even went as far as calling for the outlet to be deported.

    Some people see the trend’s evolution as even worse

    Screenshot of a social media comment saying No just no, reacting to the tramp stamp tattoo trend comeback.

    Comment stating it was bad before and even worse now, expressing a negative opinion, with reaction icons.

    Comment about the tramp stamp tattoo trend, referencing pop culture and humor in a casual online discussion.

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    Comment by Beth Byrd Case expressing dislike for thong straps worn above pants with laughing emoji.

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    Text message from Dallas Morris saying he managed to steer away from losing a bet about the tramp stamp tattoo trend.

    Comment by Zoe Johnson asking if low rise jeans are coming back, displayed in a light blue chat bubble.

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    Comment by Janine M. Jastrzebski expressing relief about not having to hike up bathing suits to cover a tramp stamp tattoo.

    Comment from Alli Della joking about ultra low rise jeans to show off tramp stamp tattoos, highlighting the tattoo trend comeback.

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    Comment from Holly Hansen mentioning almost having the OG tramp stamp tattoo removed in a social media post.

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    Social media post about tramp stamp tattoo trend making a comeback among celebrities like Cardi B.

    Comment by Brooke Mayne stating low rise jeans returning equals tramp stamp tattoos making a comeback trend.

    Social media post by Chelsea Mattera commenting on elder millennials relating to the tramp stamp tattoo trend revival.

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    Comment from Joanne Love mentioning having a tribal tramp stamp tattoo in the mid-90s and now regretting it in her 50s.

    Screenshot of a social media comment about not needing laser removal, related to the tramp stamp tattoo trend comeback.

    Text message from Staci Galla reading Some trends should stay in the vault with our MySpace passwords referencing tramp stamp tattoo trend.

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    Dave Malyon

    Dave Malyon

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    Read more »

    A writer with a journey spanning hard news, food, and culture, with bylines in The Epoch Times, NTD, Dented Armour, Tasting Table, and Mashed. At Bored Panda the focus has pivoted to entertainment, tracking celebrity newsmakers, Hollywood drama, and viral stories while vying to give more substance and less surface.

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    Dave Malyon

    Dave Malyon

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    A writer with a journey spanning hard news, food, and culture, with bylines in The Epoch Times, NTD, Dented Armour, Tasting Table, and Mashed. At Bored Panda the focus has pivoted to entertainment, tracking celebrity newsmakers, Hollywood drama, and viral stories while vying to give more substance and less surface.

    What do you think ?
    The Other Guest
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't a "tramp stamp" specifically a tattoo on the lower back? And who gives a tinker's cuss where someone decides to get a tattoo?

    J. Maxx
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    None of these photos are of "tramp stamps".

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Two or three people doing it doesn't mean it's "back". It means they're a couple of muppets, that's all.

    Load More Comments
    The Other Guest
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't a "tramp stamp" specifically a tattoo on the lower back? And who gives a tinker's cuss where someone decides to get a tattoo?

    J. Maxx
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    None of these photos are of "tramp stamps".

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    4 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Two or three people doing it doesn't mean it's "back". It means they're a couple of muppets, that's all.

    Load More Comments
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