Rihanna has sparked speculation that her latest tattoo is a tribute to boyfriend and rapper Drake. The 28-year-old opted for a shark design with camouflage-pattern detailing, prompting some fans to suggest it is a tribute to a gift she received from the Hotline Bling hitmaker.
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Rihanna has gone for a new tattoo in the design of a shark
The design closely resembles a stuffed toy shark which Rihanna was spotted carrying after she and Drake enjoyed a night out at Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto, with many believing the toy was a gift from the rapper.
To create the striking artwork, which is placed on her left ankle, Rihanna turned to celebrity tattooist Bang Bang. The New York-based artist gave his Instagram followers a first glimpse of Rihanna's tattoo, sharing a black-and-white photo of the Umbrella hitmaker's ankles, as she proudly showed off her new inking in a pair of lace-up shoes.
Rihanna and Drake appeared to confirm their relationship at the VMAs
"Camo shark for my dear friend @badgirlriri," he captioned the close-up snap. "Also… I just found out you can zoom on IG – enjoy :)."
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Although neither Rihanna nor Bang Bang have confirmed that the tattoo is indeed a tribute to Drake, the tattoo artist admitted that the artwork had a "personal" meaning.
"The significance is personal," he told Vanity Fair. "That's really all I can say. I've seen many people guessing the meaning online, but it's not my place to share publicly."
Drake admitted he has "been in love" with Rihanna for years
He added: "I will say, I've made many tattoos for Rihanna and this one was my favourite!"
It's no doubt been an exciting few months for Drake and Rihanna, who have rekindled their romance. The pair confirmed their romance earlier this week at the VMAs, when Drake presented the Diamonds singer with the coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award.
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Introducing Rihanna, he said: "She's someone I've been in love with since I was 22-years-old. She's one of my best friends in the world." The couple then appeared to briefly kiss on stage, sparking a social media frenzy amongst fans.
News of their romance hasn't come as a complete surprise. Earlier this year, a source revealed to E! News that they were definitely an item, saying: "He still loves her and never stopped. Rihanna is the one that's been not wanting to settle down in the past," the insider tells us. "They are having fun spending time with each other. Their music together got them close again."