It’s a California license plate. Ass antlers. A slut tag. The bullseye tattoo. Whatever you want to call it, the lower back tat has long been synonymous with a girl who’ll do… well, almost anything. While urban legend has it that tramps stamps originated as a way for pimps to brand their hos, the waistband skimming tattoo has worked its way into the mainstream and become an acceptable form of body art.

Tribals

The most common form of lower back tattoo is the tribal. These designs are inspired by the sun, star, and abstract tribal design from Polynesia and Borneo, and Celtic designs are popular as well. Angelina Jolie and Anna Kournikova have traditional tribals, and Eva Longoria has a Celtic cross emblazoned on her lower back.

Dragons

Dragons are another fave for lower back application, since there are many different styles and the dragon can be arranged on the lower back in many artful ways. Angelina Jolie also has a dragon on her back. (Interesting fact: Jolie has the most tattoos of any other actress on her level - excessive body art at one time was a hindrance to actresses making the big time, but Angelina broke the mold.)

Flowers and Stars

More mundane symbols are also common. Singer Brandy has a lotus flower in the small of her back, while Norah Jones sports a star. Victoria Beckham has five stars - one for each member of her family. Pamela Anderson has a fleur-de-lis type tattoo that extends down her spin onto her lower back.

Wings

Late R&B singer Aaliyah had a dove on her back; Mariah Carey reportedly has a butterfly, and Britney Spears has a fairy tattoo! Eagles’ wings are another common back tat, as are angels’ wings.

Wild Things

Finishing out her impressive array of lower back tats, Angelina Jolie has a large tiger partially covering her tribal and her smaller dragon. Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has a black panther on her lower back.

Text Tats

David Beckham has the name of his son, Brooklyn, tattooed on his lower back. Several prominent rugby players also have lower back tattoos. Lindsay Lohan has the words "La Bella Vita" (Italian for The Good Life).

So - are lower back tattoos no longer taboo? Will we see the phrase ‘tramp stamp’ drift out of common vocabulary? Probably not - the term is firmly fixated in the male vernacular as a comment on how likely a girl is to be promiscuous… in other words, how easy she should be to get in the sack!

However with more men now succumbing to the temptation to get ‘inked’ on the lower back, and Jolie’s ability to maintain a high profile career even with her inordinate amount of body decoration, it’s safe to say the lower back tat is here to stay.

© Copyright RosebudMag.com, 2011