Inking your body can be frivolous or deeply meaningful. But since almost everyone in the Western world seems to have a tattoo, most are just there to look good. This is certainly the case with celebrities. Given their high profiles and countless photos, fans spend a lot of time deciphering what each design represents.
Most of the time... they just mean nothing...
But that's no the case for Joey King.
The truth is, Joey's tattoos aren't meaningless. In one way or another, each of the designs on her body has a special representation or is straight-up symbolic for the most important people in her life.
After A Terrible Accident, Joey Decided To Honor Her Sister
The gorgeous Kissing Booth and Conjuring star has a couple of tasteful tattoos on her body. Joey's not the type to be overloaded with ink. Not only would that put her in the make-up chair for far longer than she needs to be, but she also just doesn't come across as the type who wants to rock that many tattoos. Having said that, she does have a few fairly noticeable ones, the most dominant being the design featured on her ribcage.
The tattoo depicts the Ursa Major constellation, which is bear-shaped. According to Popsugar, Joey got this to honor her eldest sister, Kelli, after she got into a terrible accident.
Most fans of Joey's know that she's extremely close with her two sisters, especially Hunter. Kelli, on the other hand, remains out of the spotlight, unlike her two actor sisters. But she did make the news in 2016 when she was struck by an 18-wheeler while riding her bike.
"My sister Kelli was in a terrible accident where she was hit by an 18 wheeler semi-truck while bicycling to work yesterday morning,' Joey wrote on Instagram in 2016. "She’s in great hands and is on the road to recovery. I’m just unbelievably grateful that she’s alive. Please keep her in your thoughts."
Obviously, this was incredibly traumatic for Kelli as well as her mom and two sisters. While this hasn't been officially confirmed, many suspect that the Ursa Major tattoo was done to honor Kelli. Not only did Joey get this done shortly after Kelli's horrific accident but it's been documented that Joey refers to Kelli as 'Biggish Bear'.
This same bear tattoo was inked on Kelli King's body as well. So, fans are almost certain that this is the reason.
A Tattoo To Represent Her Love
Joey King's relationship with her Kissing Booth co-star Jacob Elordi has been highly publicized. Her relationship with producer and director Steve Piet, on the other hand, has been pretty much a total secret.
While being interviewed by Howard Stern in 2020, Joey claimed that anyone who followed her Instagram would know that she has been dating Steven (who directed her in The Act) for a few years. But she has never uttered his name publically or given any relationship details. Instead, she lets her photos do the talking. And one set of photos from a trip to Japan seems to reveal the meaning behind the Kanji design on the back of her right arm.
Again, this has never been confirmed, but it does seem to reference her romantic getaway with Steven in Japan in December 2019. After all, she paid famed tattoo artist Doctor Woo to put it on her almost immediately after the trip.
An Assortment Of Little Tattoos To Honor Hunter And Charity
While Joey's Ursa Major and Kanji tattoos are her most prominent, she also has a few more smaller designs that have recently been added. In June 2021, Joey and Hunter King went to a tattoo artist in L.A. named Haney. The two sisters got a total of five tiny tattoos inked onto their bodies.
Joey got a little bandage on the back of her ankle as well as a clasped pair of hands on her hip. Additionally, she got a matching ladybug tattoo with Hunter.
In Haney's Instagram post, she shared a little more information about why Joey and Hunter came in to get tattoos together.
"Last week @hunterking & @joeyking came by! I am a huge huge fan of both; super talented, sweet, and down to earth I must say ♥️ We got a chance to collaborate for a great cause. We decided to make a donation to the @a21 foundation. Hunter & Joey suggested this foundation; which authorizes to secure the freedom of victims and the conviction of human traffickers. Thank you again to Hunter & Joey for coming in and using their platform to make awareness of victims of human trafficking. It was so lovely to meet you both! Thank you again♥️"
While it seems that Joey's tattoos seem to be growing by the day, it's also evident that each one of them holds a unique meaning for her. Although, she clearly loves to keep fans guessing at the details behind the meaning.
