Speculation surrounding Louis Tomlinson’s romantic life has intensified following a social media post from reality star Zara McDermott. On Thursday, McDermott, known from Love Island, shared a photo of her breakfast in Malibu, but it was a small tattoo in the frame that caught attention—one recognized as belonging to the former One Direction star.
Sources close to Zara have confirmed that her relationship with Louis is in its early stages. After her breakup with Sam Thompson in December, she is said to have gone on a series of low-key dates with the “Headlines” singer.
While Louis originally appeared with a clean-cut image during his time on The X Factor, he has since embraced body art, covering himself in meaningful tattoos. Many of these inkings are linked to his experiences with One Direction and hold personal significance.
Among his more discreet tattoos are two located on his ankles. One features a small screw, which he got along with his former bandmates (excluding Niall Horan) to symbolize their tight bond. The other ankle displays the phrase “The Rogue” across both ankles, which Louis has explained is the name of the band he was in before joining One Direction.
Louis has also developed a nearly complete sleeve on one arm. This collection includes a bomb, a stick figure, quotation marks, a paper airplane, a compass, a horseshoe, a cup of tea, and the word “Oops”—which he chose after disliking a previous line inked on his arm. Other additions to the sleeve include tally marks, symbolizing his time with bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and the late Liam Payne.
Further detailing his life journey, Louis has tattoos of a camera, the Earth, matchsticks, a knot, spiderweb, Pac-Man, a game of noughts and crosses, his signature smiley face, and “Bus 1,” which also references his boy band days. One of these tattoos, a small cross above the noughts and crosses, appears in Zara’s Instagram Story—fueling rumors of the couple spending time together in Malibu.
On his forearm, Louis sports a large fish and, above it, a striking stag. He previously stated there was no special meaning behind the stag, saying, “Wanted something big for my arm, that’s why I got it.” He also has a heart above the stag, which was a cover-up of what he called “a really bad tattoo.”
Louis’ left arm is similarly adorned with elaborate designs. A band of playing cards wraps around his wrist, a tattoo he got while in Los Angeles. A skull and crossbones sits at the bottom of his arm, and one of his most eye-catching tattoos is a large dagger. The dagger is complemented by the lyrics “Given a chance,” which Louis described as personally meaningful.
Across his chest, Louis has several tattoos with personal ties. Written along his collarbones is the phrase, “It is what it is,” although he has never publicly explained its significance. On his chest, the number “78” is inked—a tribute to his late grandparents’ house number, as revealed by his mother, Johannah.
Another number tattooed on Louis is “28,” found across his fingers. This number holds sentimental value due to his childhood affection for Doncaster Rovers. During a charity football match for the South Yorkshire club, he wore a jersey bearing the number 28. The number has also appeared on his in-ear monitors and in the set design of his “Back To You” music video.
Perhaps one of Louis’ most unique and rarely-seen tattoos is on his backside—a penguin. The singer described this tattoo as humorous, admitting, “Just at times, I’m not going to lie, I can’t help but be a bit of a show-off. That was one of them moments, just to be funny and then I have to live with it.”
Louis Tomlinson’s extensive collection of tattoos paints a vivid picture of his life, from his musical journey and childhood memories to playful moments. The recent appearance of one of these tattoos in Zara McDermott’s post has not only confirmed their budding romance to fans but also reignited public fascination with the stories etched into his skin.
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