Maura Higgins’ tattoos include a fine star trail across her upper back, a small Rihanna-inspired star on her neck and a red pair of lips. She has also said she regrets several older pieces and would like them removed. Her comments are unusually candid: not every tattoo has remained a favorite.
Maura Higgins’ back tattoo and the star trail
At the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Higgins wore a black-and-white gown with an open back, showing a narrow trail of fine black stars along her upper back and neck. The marks are spaced apart, so the design stays light rather than becoming a solid band.
The photographs show the star pattern, but Higgins hasn’t explained its meaning in the sources covering the look. It’s best described as a vertical arrangement that follows the line of her back; assigning a story to each star would be guesswork.
A red-carpet moment
The red-carpet photo shows how an open-back dress can bring the star trail into view without making it compete with the gown, jewelry or hair. The older star on Higgins’ neck is a separate tattoo; the reporting doesn’t say the two designs were planned as one set.
The Rihanna copy she wishes she had skipped
In a 2026 interview with Interview Magazine, Higgins said she copied Rihanna’s neck star and now wants it removed. She called the choice impulsive and said she still loves Rihanna. She had also considered copying Rihanna’s finger tattoo, but decided it wouldn’t suit her.
Her comments draw a useful line between influence and duplication: a design that works for someone else may not feel right on your own body. The neck is also visible in many photos and everyday settings, which makes it worth taking time over.
The BAFTA red-carpet image is contextual; it doesn’t provide a clear close-up of the neck tattoo. Higgins’ account is the source for the Rihanna connection and her regret.
The red lips on her bum
Higgins’ small red lips tattoo was noticed in Love Island coverage in 2019. Reports described it as parted lips on her buttock. The bright color and private placement make it playful, but the sources don’t give it a deeper meaning.
The pink-gown photo below is contextual rather than close evidence of the tattoo. The lips are known from earlier coverage and appear only when clothing or camera angle reveals them.
Her ankle, hip, and the pieces she wants gone
In the same 2026 interview, Higgins said she wants all her tattoos removed, calling them “terrible tattoos” from when I was young. She named the ankle piece as the one she most wants gone, partly because it hurt the most. She has put off removal because she worries it will hurt.
She also mentioned a hip tattoo, but hasn’t provided a reliable description of either design. The event photo below is contextual and doesn’t establish what those pieces look like.
Why the placement changes the whole mood
The same small star can feel different on the neck than along the back. The red lips stay private until a swimsuit or camera angle reveals them, while an ankle tattoo is easy to cover but, in Higgins’ account, was painful to get. Visibility, clothing and comfort all affect how a piece fits into daily life.
Those are useful questions to settle before choosing a location: how often you want the design seen, whether collars or shoes will rub it, and whether you’re comfortable with it in work or formal settings. Placement is part of the decision, not a detail to add later.
Her television chapter
Higgins became widely known through Love Island, where swimwear and evening looks sometimes revealed the red lips tattoo. Later, appearances on The Traitors and red carpets brought different views of the back and neck stars. The styling changed; the photos still don’t explain every tattoo.
Her willingness to say she regrets some designs is part of the story, too. A tattoo doesn’t have to remain a carefully curated favorite just because it’s visible in a photograph.
What to take from Maura Higgins’ collection
Higgins’ tattoos are a mix of fine stars, a cheeky red design and older pieces she’d rather remove. If you’re drawing inspiration from them, borrow the simplicity or placement, not the exact Rihanna copy. Give yourself time to decide whether a reference still feels like yours, and be honest about what remains unknown from photos.