Julia Fox’s tattoos feel like a scrapbook of people, places and ideas she has carried with her. Some show up in red-carpet photos; others only appear when she turns a shoulder, raises a hand or wears a low-backed dress. That variety is part of the appeal. The collection is personal, a little mysterious and tied to the way Fox draws on her own life for art.
Tattoo coverage can shift over time, too. Fox has talked about removing some small pieces, and older photos show ink that can be hard to spot now. This guide sticks to the designs that are clearly documented and marks what remains uncertain. These are the Julia Fox tattoos with the strongest public evidence behind them.
Julia Fox’s back tattoos look like music notation
The most unusual design in Fox’s collection stretches across her upper back. It looks less like a conventional picture and more like a pair of oversized music symbols. The shapes are often described as the f-holes of a cello, violin or viola—the curved openings built into a string instrument’s body. Fox hasn’t given a full public explanation confirming the exact instrument, so that’s best treated as an informed description rather than a direct quote.
Even without a formal explanation, the placement suits Fox. The design is graphic and easy to recognize when her back is exposed. From a distance, the marks can look like abstract wings or elegant black brackets; up close, the string-instrument shape becomes clearer. It may be her boldest large-scale tattoo without being the loudest.
SANCTI SPIRITUS gives her shoulders a striking frame
Fox has “SANCTI SPIRITUS” tattooed across the tops of her shoulders. The Latin phrase means Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, and the placement frames the base of her neck. Its red lettering is easy to pick out in photos. It breaks through the softness of a dress or bare shoulders with a slightly theatrical edge.
The words can be read as spiritual, but Fox hasn’t given them one settled meaning. They might be a religious reference, a private reminder or simply a phrase she liked. What’s clear is how the tattoo works with her clothes: a strapless outfit shows the full line, while a tank top may reveal only part of it.
It’s one of the clearest examples of Fox choosing lettering for impact. The phrase is readable, the color stands out and the placement makes it part of her silhouette instead of a mark hidden underneath her clothes.
The Gianna rib tattoo is her clearest memorial piece
The name “Gianna” appears in script beneath Fox’s left breast and along her ribs. It honors her friend Gianna Valdes, who died in 2019. Fox has described the ink as a tribute, giving it a different emotional quality from the more mysterious designs in her collection. Its purpose isn’t mainly visual; it keeps a particular person close.
Rib tattoos can be painful because the skin sits close to bone and moves with the body. Fox’s design is simple, but its placement makes it feel intimate. Everyday clothes usually cover it, and it appears in carefully framed photos or more revealing outfits. That privacy fits the purpose: a memorial doesn’t need to be visible all the time to matter.
The small script carries a more direct meaning than the larger designs around it. It also shows how Fox’s tattoos move between public image and private memory. The name can be photographed, but the person it honors belongs to Fox’s own history.
Maria and the hand tattoos stay more private
Fox has a script tattoo reading “Maria” on the side of her neck. It shows in profile photos, but the interviews and tattoo roundups that document it don’t clearly explain the name. It’s tempting to guess, since names can carry so much meaning, but the honest answer is that the reference hasn’t been confirmed.
She also has several smaller tattoos on her hands. A capital R has been photographed on her right hand; the left has a cross and another tiny mark that’s difficult to identify in event photos. Fox has talked about older hand designs linked to an ex. Reports from 2021 said she had begun removing a B, a heart and an Aquarius symbol. Those changes are a reminder that even a documented tattoo list captures only one point in time.
Her hand tattoos are where the collection looks most changeable. They’re small enough to cover, alter or remove, and they sit in places that are constantly moving in photos. The neck lettering looks more settled; the hand ink shows her willingness to edit the past.
What Julia Fox’s tattoo collection says about change
Fox is often discussed through fashion, film and performance, but the tattoos add another layer. She seems comfortable with symbols that don’t explain themselves at a glance. A Latin phrase, a friend’s name, a possible instrument shape and small hand marks don’t form one tidy theme; together, they record different eras.
That’s why changes to the tattoos matter, too. Removing an old name or symbol doesn’t mean a moment never happened. It can simply mean the body gets to keep moving. Fox’s style shifts quickly, and her ink seems to follow: some pieces look bold and lasting, while others are quieter, harder to read or already being revised.
The collection feels more like a work in progress than a finished sleeve. Even the uncertain stories leave Fox room to decide what she wants to explain. If a new tattoo appears or an old one fades, the overall picture may keep changing.
Final thoughts on her collection
Fox’s best-known tattoos mix visible statements with private reminders. The SANCTI SPIRITUS lettering across her shoulders is easiest to recognize, while the Gianna rib tattoo has the clearest memorial story. The back design has an artistic, almost musical shape, the Maria neck tattoo leaves a question mark, and the hand pieces show signs of change.
There isn’t one tattoo style that ties everything together. Each design feels connected to a particular chapter; some stay on the skin, while others get edited. That makes Fox’s collection worth revisiting when she shares a new look or talks more about the stories behind it.
For more celebrity tattoo stories, see our guide to Halsey’s tattoos.