Lea Michele’s tattoos are small and easy to miss in red-carpet photos. Close-ups show script on her feet, wrist, and ribs, along with butterflies, music notes, and a cross. Some designs connect to Broadway and Glee; others are tributes to family and people close to her.
The collection has changed over time. Michele’s earlier foot lettering was later covered by butterflies, and other tributes were added years apart. Looking at the placement and the dates helps distinguish what is current from older tattoo lists.
Lea Michele’s Imagine foot tattoo came from her Glee years
Imagine is written in cursive along the side of Michele’s left foot. She got it with members of the Glee cast. The word refers to the Beatles song and to the period when the cast and show were part of her life.
The lettering is small and follows the curve of the foot. It is visible with sandals or bare feet, but doesn’t dominate the rest of the look.
There was also “Our City, Our Love” lettering on her other foot; that tattoo was later covered by butterflies. Older lists may show both designs, though only one remains visible today.
The word Imagine is a simple piece of script connected to a particular time and group of people. There is no need to add a larger story beyond the song and cast connection Michele has shared.
The My Angel Now rib tattoo adds a family tribute
The words My Angel Now sit below a small cross on Michele’s side. Coverage has connected the phrase to the loss of her grandmother. Michele has also spoken about family being central to her tattoo choices.
The script follows the ribs and is usually covered by everyday clothes. The cross is simple; the words carry most of the message. The photo shows the lettering and placement, while the family connection comes from reporting about its meaning.
The design sits among other tattoos connected to people in Michele’s life, including later tributes to Cory Monteith. It is one of several short phrases and familiar symbols in the collection.
The small music notes tattoo keeps Lea’s stage life close
Two small music notes sit on Michele’s left shoulder, just below the shoulder blade. They can be hard to see in a full-length photo, but fit with her work in Broadway, Glee, and as a solo singer.
The notes are small and can be covered by a strap or hair, depending on the angle. A turned shoulder or close-up makes them easier to spot.
They are a broad reference to music, unlike more specific tattoos such as Imagine and I Believe. The design is simple enough to sit alongside the lettering and tributes elsewhere in the collection.
I Believe is Lea’s Broadway tattoo in a soft teal style
I Believe is written on the inside of Michele’s right wrist in teal-colored script, with fine vine details around the words. The phrase comes from the Broadway musical Spring Awakening, which was part of her early career.
The wrist is visible when she lifts a hand or holds a microphone. The colored lettering is more decorative than the plain script on her foot, while the vines frame the words without taking up much space.
The Spring Awakening connection is the specific reference attached to this tattoo. A photo shows the words and color; any meaning beyond that belongs to Michele unless she has explained it.
If You Say So is Lea’s most personal rib lettering
If You Say So appears along Michele’s ribs beside the words I love you more. The phrases connect to Cory Monteith and the last conversation she has described having with him. She later used If You Say So as the title of a song on her first solo album.
The lettering is fine and mostly hidden by clothing. The rib placement keeps the words out of view in many everyday settings, unlike the wrist tattoo.
The connection to Monteith comes from Michele’s public account and the song, not from the photograph itself. The image shows the words and where they sit; the reported story explains why they matter.
The two lines are longer than most of the other phrases in Michele’s collection, but use the same understated script. The Finn tattoo is another Monteith-related detail. Along with “If You Say So,” it connects memories of him to her personal life and music.