Celebrity gossip columns discuss Cole’s latest tattoo

It was revealed this week that X Factor judge and pop princess Cheryl Cole has once again hit the celebrity news headlines thanks to her choice of body art. It seems the singer spent 11 hours in a tattooist’s chair being inked up with her latest piece - a 13-inch butterfly-style design.

According to The Mirror, Cole used the National Television Awards on Wednesday to show off her latest acquisition and sources have suggested it is symbolic of her freedom,following her high profile divorce from footballer Ashley Cole.

The newspaper cited friends of the star as saying they had been told the tattoo was “deeply personal” and that the final design took some weeks to create. “It has a strong symbolic meaning and signifies a fresh start and my new independence,” she is claimed to have said. "The sitting itself was pretty painful but I was determined to get it done in one hit. I didn't cry once!"

However, Cheryl is not the only famous person to grace the celebrity gossip columns thanks to their range of tattoos. In fact this type of bodily enhancement has been associated with rock n’ roll for generations – but some have taken the meaning behind the ink to extremes.

For example, hip hop wild boy Eminem took inspiration from his troubled long-term relationship with ex-wife and mother of his young child Kim. In addition to having ‘Rot in Pieces’ with a tombstone bearing her name, the artist also known as Marshall Mathers more recently had a tattoo that proclaims his love for her. He also carries the names of his Uncle Ronnie and close friend Proof – both of whom died leaving a fairly well documented hole in his life. The name of his rap band D-12 adorns Eminem’s forearms as well as a number dedicated to his daughter Haillie Jade.

One inked celebrity who wears her inspirations quite literally on her sleeve of course is Transformer’s star Megan Fox. However, in addition to a portrait of her heroine Marilyn Monroe, Fox also carries a piece of scripture that goes around the side of her body. The poem reads: “Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music”, but while many have speculated on what it means, there has been even more discussion about who actually wrote it. Some have said it is the translated work of an 18th century Jewish mystic, while others have attributed it to US comedian George Carlin.