{"id":1778796,"date":"2026-02-18T14:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1778796"},"modified":"2026-02-18T14:02:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:02:00","slug":"who-gets-a-fictional-fandom-tattoo-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1778796","title":{"rendered":"Who gets a fictional fandom tattoo in 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1040\/0-375-1040-693\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436544.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/beauty\/article\/69571\/1\/what-makes-people-get-a-fictional-fandom-tattoo-heated-rivalry-twilight\" data-article-id=\"69571\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-portrait-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img has-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"0.8\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"625017400_18056227754664656_3414492651044117605_n\" class=\"img\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1080\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436544.jpg\" width=\"1080\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"inner\"><span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of @big_____car <span class=\"nowrap\">tattoo artist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-18T14:02:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"18 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"18\">18,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - beauty\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\">Beauty<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty-feature\">Beauty Feature<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\">Beauty<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty-feature\">Beauty Feature<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>Who gets a fictional fandom tattoo <span class=\"nowrap\">in 2026?<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>From Heated Rivalry jersey numbers to Divergent faction logos, fans have long taken their devotion to fictional worlds to new heights \u2013 but how does that permanence look in a culture obsessed <span class=\"nowrap\">with ephemerality?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-02-18T14:02:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"18 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"18\">18,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-02-18T14:02:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"18 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"18\">18,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/TiarnaMeehan\">Tiarna<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/film-tv\/article\/69412\/1\/unpacking-the-heated-rivalry-discourse-gay-sex-fetishisation-lgbtq\"><em><span>Heated Rivalry<\/span><\/em><\/a><span> fever has taken over. <\/span><span>Since its release last November, the Crave show \u2013 which tells the slow-burn love story of two male athletes navigating the machismo of professional sports \u2013 has become an international sensation, catapulting its leads into stardom and sparking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/the-heated-rivalry-fandom-is-tearing-itself-apart\/\">full blown obsession<\/a><\/span><span> among viewers. While much of the passion plays out online \u2013 in reaction videos, fan edits and memes \u2013 some fans have taken their devotion into the physical realm. A growing number of Heated Rivalry-inspired tattoos are beginning to appear, with tattoo shops posting dedicated flash sheets featuring offshoot quotes, hockey gear and even hotel room numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>After watching <em data-start=\"147\" data-end=\"163\">Heated Rivalry<\/em>, Erica, who is based in California, booked in with an artist doing a guest spot at Voulez-Vous Tattoo Studio in Long Beach. She chose a design featuring two vintage motel keychains numbered 1410 and 1221 \u2013 a reference to the show \u2013 alongside the quotes \u201cI might open\u201d and \u201cI might knock\u201d. \u201cHeated Rivalry and the love story it tells means so much to me because, as a queer person, we have so many movies and TV shows that end in tragedy. We don\u2019t get a lot of queer media with a happy ending \u2013 and this one truly does,\u201d she says of the motivation behind her tattoo. Erica filmed her trip to the studio and posted the video on TikTok, where it quickly racked up more than 350,000 views, with the comments filling up with people sharing their own Heated Rivalry-inspired ink.<\/p>\n<p><span>While these tattoos may be the latest manifestation of fandom hype, they\u2019re far from the first. Across pop culture, fictional fandoms have long found ways to anchor their obsessions in something more permanent. Take the \u2018Bookish Tumblr\u2019 era trifecta of <em data-start=\"375\" data-end=\"393\">The Hunger Games<\/em>, <em data-start=\"395\" data-end=\"406\">Divergent<\/em> and <em data-start=\"411\" data-end=\"428\">The Maze Runner<\/em>, which saw medallions, arrows and faction symbols inked across fans\u2019 bodies. Or <em data-start=\"509\" data-end=\"519\">Twilight<\/em> designs \u2013 like those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DUG8MrAARpi\/?img_index=1\">by tattoo artist big car<\/a> \u2013 that devotees continue to get years after the franchise\u2019s peak, including alt-pop artist Julia Wolf, who has a <em data-start=\"679\" data-end=\"689\">Twilight<\/em>-inspired hand tattoo.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"instagram-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-instagram\" data-script-depends=\"instagram-embeds\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>An emotional connection to a show\u2019s plot or characters is just one reason someone might get a fandom tattoo. Another is the sense of belonging that fandoms provide, offering community and social identity that can be difficult to find elsewhere. Especially during periods of social unrest or personal uncertainty, it can feel instinctual to band together with others who share your interests, escape the pressures of everyday life, and find comfort in something collective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It\u2019s a motivation tattoo artists have come to recognise. \u201cFandoms can affect your personality a lot and help you express yourself,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/corpse__kids\/\"><span>Rome-based tattoo artist Mark<\/span><\/a><span>, who has a few fandom tattoos of his own. \u201cI think this type of tattoo is a way of saying, \u2018This is a part of me and I\u2019m proud of it.\u2019\u201d He integrates fandom references into his designs through abstract or nostalgic approaches, often blending them with existing styles. His previous work includes a <\/span><em><span>Monster High<\/span><\/em><span> and My Chemical Romance hybrid, and a crossover of <\/span><em><span>Adventure Time <\/span><\/em><span>and <\/span><em><span>Berserk<\/span><\/em><span>. \u201cI think a lot of people want to capture their journey as a tattoo: how they changed, what they think. Fandoms can play a huge part in this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Changing tastes, however, can give someone pause when they are thinking about a fandom-based tattoo. \u201cI got a TARDIS tattoo as my first tattoo in 2018,\u201d says writer Molly Marsh. \u201cI\u2019d always been worried about getting tattoos because my tastes and interests changed so frequently, but I\u2019d been a huge <\/span><em><span>Doctor Who<\/span><\/em><span> fan since I was nine, and it was the thing I was most confident I\u2019d always love.\u201d Even if that did change, Molly felt the TARDIS would still serve as a reminder of her childhood. Now, six years and several more tattoos later \u2013 including a <\/span><em><span>Back to the Future<\/span><\/em><span> one \u2013 her only regret is the placement of the tattoo. \u201cI am still in the fandom and have loads of mates I\u2019ve met through being a <\/span><em><span>Doctor Who<\/span><\/em><span> fan, even if it\u2019s not at the centre of my life like it was in 2018,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7593799125158645023\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p>This isn\u2019t always the case, as Kirsty, also a writer, has discovered. Many fandoms have had to grapple with the uncomfortable reality that the people behind the shows or books they love don\u2019t always embody their morals or beliefs \u2013 take the <em data-start=\"361\" data-end=\"387\">Buffy the Vampire Slayer<\/em> fandom\u2019s reckoning with Joss Whedon, or fans of Neil Gaiman\u2019s work. Kirsty has several tattoos inspired by things she loves \u2013 or once loved \u2013 including a <em data-start=\"543\" data-end=\"562\">Lord of the Rings<\/em> piece and a sleeve of <em data-start=\"585\" data-end=\"599\">Harry Potter<\/em> tattoos dating back 15 years. Since she got the sleeve, author JK Rowling\u2019s comments about the trans community have prompted many fans to reconsider, remove or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\/article\/49549\/1\/this-illustrator-is-offering-trans-people-free-harry-potter-tattoo-coverups\"><span>cover up their <\/span><em><span>Harry Potter<\/span><\/em><span> tattoos<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI don\u2019t regret my Harry Potter tattoo collection, but as I\u2019ve aged and watched the hurt caused by the words and actions of its author I can\u2019t help but feel that while inwardly it reflects my love for the safe, welcoming space Hogwarts became for me during a childhood fraught with difficulties and pain, outwardly it\u2019s more complex,\u201d she shares. \u201cI believe trans women are women, trans youth need to be protected, and my feelings about the Wizarding World are now muddied by this misalignment, given the very real harm I believe anti-trans rhetoric causes to our society.\u201d Kirsty now plans to get the faded sleeve tattooed over with something new. \u201cI\u2019m not ashamed of the relationship I had with the universe\u2026 but I\u2019ve grown and changed, and it plays a different role in my existence today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content has-tweet\" data-embed-type=\"media-twitter\" data-script-depends=\"twitter-widgets\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">choose your fighter <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hw0pC2DygY\">pic.twitter.com\/hw0pC2DygY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; dre (@hudfein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hudfein\/status\/2015281353844048126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>It\u2019s perhaps for reasons like this that people online can give mixed reactions to the fandom tattoos of others. While Erica says that responses to her <\/span><em><span>Heated Rivalry<\/span><\/em><span> tattoo have been overwhelmingly positive in person, on her TikTok video, the comments have been more varied. \u201cOf course, some people ask why I\u2019d do this with the show only being out for a few months,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if people realise fandom tattoos have been a thing for decades. People just get tattoos of things they like!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This scepticism reflects a broader cultural hesitation toward permanence in an era dominated by rapidly shifting trends and online \u201cmoments\u201d. People move on faster now, and the ephemerality of social media has conditioned audiences to expect that any allegiance to a fandom will soon give way to the next wave of hype. But fictional fandom tattoos aren\u2019t necessarily striving for timelessness; their value lies in the way they age, carrying a reminder of a particular moment and the feelings that came with it. That\u2019s not to say every fandom holds up \u2013 but, thankfully, there\u2019s always a cover-up around the corner if needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. 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class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"DAZED -32\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/670-37-1957-1302\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436669.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Evanie Frausto\u2019s Showpony pushes the boundaries of body wigs<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\/article\/69494\/1\/perfume-clubs-cure-urban-loneliness-young-people-social-new-york-london-lisbon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Perfume clubs\" 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href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\/article\/69505\/1\/in-2026-women-are-going-bald-tiktok-shaving-head-buzzcut\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bugonia, 2025 (Film Still)\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-1-1152-766\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/5\/1435589.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">In 2026, women are going bald<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline\" data-newsletter hidden>\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/film-tv\/article\/69412\/1\/unpacking-the-heated-rivalry-discourse-gay-sex-fetishisation-lgbtq\"><em><span>Heated Rivalry<\/span><\/em><\/a><span> fever has taken over. <\/span><span>Since its release last November, the Crave show \u2013 which tells the slow-burn love story of two male athletes navigating the machismo of professional sports \u2013 has become an international sensation, catapulting its leads into stardom and sparking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/the-heated-rivalry-fandom-is-tearing-itself-apart\/\">full blown obsession<\/a><\/span><span> among viewers. While much of the passion plays out online \u2013 in reaction videos, fan edits and memes \u2013 some fans have taken their devotion into the physical realm. A growing number of Heated Rivalry-inspired tattoos are beginning to appear, with tattoo shops posting dedicated flash sheets featuring offshoot quotes, hockey gear and even hotel room numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>After watching <em data-start=\"147\" data-end=\"163\">Heated Rivalry<\/em>, Erica, who is based in California, booked in with an artist doing a guest spot at Voulez-Vous Tattoo Studio in Long Beach. She chose a design featuring two vintage motel keychains numbered 1410 and 1221 \u2013 a reference to the show \u2013 alongside the quotes \u201cI might open\u201d and \u201cI might knock\u201d. \u201cHeated Rivalry and the love story it tells means so much to me because, as a queer person, we have so many movies and TV shows that end in tragedy. We don\u2019t get a lot of queer media with a happy ending \u2013 and this one truly does,\u201d she says of the motivation behind her tattoo. Erica filmed her trip to the studio and posted the video on TikTok, where it quickly racked up more than 350,000 views, with the comments filling up with people sharing their own Heated Rivalry-inspired ink.<\/p>\n<p><span>While these tattoos may be the latest manifestation of fandom hype, they\u2019re far from the first. Across pop culture, fictional fandoms have long found ways to anchor their obsessions in something more permanent. Take the \u2018Bookish Tumblr\u2019 era trifecta of <em data-start=\"375\" data-end=\"393\">The Hunger Games<\/em>, <em data-start=\"395\" data-end=\"406\">Divergent<\/em> and <em data-start=\"411\" data-end=\"428\">The Maze Runner<\/em>, which saw medallions, arrows and faction symbols inked across fans\u2019 bodies. Or <em data-start=\"509\" data-end=\"519\">Twilight<\/em> designs \u2013 like those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DUG8MrAARpi\/?img_index=1\">by tattoo artist big car<\/a> \u2013 that devotees continue to get years after the franchise\u2019s peak, including alt-pop artist Julia Wolf, who has a <em data-start=\"679\" data-end=\"689\">Twilight<\/em>-inspired hand tattoo.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"instagram-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-instagram\" data-script-depends=\"instagram-embeds\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>An emotional connection to a show\u2019s plot or characters is just one reason someone might get a fandom tattoo. Another is the sense of belonging that fandoms provide, offering community and social identity that can be difficult to find elsewhere. Especially during periods of social unrest or personal uncertainty, it can feel instinctual to band together with others who share your interests, escape the pressures of everyday life, and find comfort in something collective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It\u2019s a motivation tattoo artists have come to recognise. \u201cFandoms can affect your personality a lot and help you express yourself,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/corpse__kids\/\"><span>Rome-based tattoo artist Mark<\/span><\/a><span>, who has a few fandom tattoos of his own. \u201cI think this type of tattoo is a way of saying, \u2018This is a part of me and I\u2019m proud of it.\u2019\u201d He integrates fandom references into his designs through abstract or nostalgic approaches, often blending them with existing styles. His previous work includes a <\/span><em><span>Monster High<\/span><\/em><span> and My Chemical Romance hybrid, and a crossover of <\/span><em><span>Adventure Time <\/span><\/em><span>and <\/span><em><span>Berserk<\/span><\/em><span>. \u201cI think a lot of people want to capture their journey as a tattoo: how they changed, what they think. Fandoms can play a huge part in this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Changing tastes, however, can give someone pause when they are thinking about a fandom-based tattoo. \u201cI got a TARDIS tattoo as my first tattoo in 2018,\u201d says writer Molly Marsh. \u201cI\u2019d always been worried about getting tattoos because my tastes and interests changed so frequently, but I\u2019d been a huge <\/span><em><span>Doctor Who<\/span><\/em><span> fan since I was nine, and it was the thing I was most confident I\u2019d always love.\u201d Even if that did change, Molly felt the TARDIS would still serve as a reminder of her childhood. Now, six years and several more tattoos later \u2013 including a <\/span><em><span>Back to the Future<\/span><\/em><span> one \u2013 her only regret is the placement of the tattoo. \u201cI am still in the fandom and have loads of mates I\u2019ve met through being a <\/span><em><span>Doctor Who<\/span><\/em><span> fan, even if it\u2019s not at the centre of my life like it was in 2018,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-tiktok\" data-id=\"7593799125158645023\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p>This isn\u2019t always the case, as Kirsty, also a writer, has discovered. Many fandoms have had to grapple with the uncomfortable reality that the people behind the shows or books they love don\u2019t always embody their morals or beliefs \u2013 take the <em data-start=\"361\" data-end=\"387\">Buffy the Vampire Slayer<\/em> fandom\u2019s reckoning with Joss Whedon, or fans of Neil Gaiman\u2019s work. Kirsty has several tattoos inspired by things she loves \u2013 or once loved \u2013 including a <em data-start=\"543\" data-end=\"562\">Lord of the Rings<\/em> piece and a sleeve of <em data-start=\"585\" data-end=\"599\">Harry Potter<\/em> tattoos dating back 15 years. Since she got the sleeve, author JK Rowling\u2019s comments about the trans community have prompted many fans to reconsider, remove or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\/article\/49549\/1\/this-illustrator-is-offering-trans-people-free-harry-potter-tattoo-coverups\"><span>cover up their <\/span><em><span>Harry Potter<\/span><\/em><span> tattoos<\/span><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI don\u2019t regret my Harry Potter tattoo collection, but as I\u2019ve aged and watched the hurt caused by the words and actions of its author I can\u2019t help but feel that while inwardly it reflects my love for the safe, welcoming space Hogwarts became for me during a childhood fraught with difficulties and pain, outwardly it\u2019s more complex,\u201d she shares. \u201cI believe trans women are women, trans youth need to be protected, and my feelings about the Wizarding World are now muddied by this misalignment, given the very real harm I believe anti-trans rhetoric causes to our society.\u201d Kirsty now plans to get the faded sleeve tattooed over with something new. \u201cI\u2019m not ashamed of the relationship I had with the universe\u2026 but I\u2019ve grown and changed, and it plays a different role in my existence today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content has-tweet\" data-embed-type=\"media-twitter\" data-script-depends=\"twitter-widgets\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">choose your fighter <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hw0pC2DygY\">pic.twitter.com\/hw0pC2DygY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; dre (@hudfein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hudfein\/status\/2015281353844048126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>It\u2019s perhaps for reasons like this that people online can give mixed reactions to the fandom tattoos of others. While Erica says that responses to her <\/span><em><span>Heated Rivalry<\/span><\/em><span> tattoo have been overwhelmingly positive in person, on her TikTok video, the comments have been more varied. \u201cOf course, some people ask why I\u2019d do this with the show only being out for a few months,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if people realise fandom tattoos have been a thing for decades. People just get tattoos of things they like!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This scepticism reflects a broader cultural hesitation toward permanence in an era dominated by rapidly shifting trends and online \u201cmoments\u201d. People move on faster now, and the ephemerality of social media has conditioned audiences to expect that any allegiance to a fandom will soon give way to the next wave of hype. But fictional fandom tattoos aren\u2019t necessarily striving for timelessness; their value lies in the way they age, carrying a reminder of a particular moment and the feelings that came with it. That\u2019s not to say every fandom holds up \u2013 but, thankfully, there\u2019s always a cover-up around the corner if needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/beauty\/article\/69571\/1\/what-makes-people-get-a-fictional-fandom-tattoo-heated-rivalry-twilight&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1040\/0-375-1040-693\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436544.jpg&#8221;] Courtesy of @big_____car tattoo artist February\u00a0 18,\u00a0 2026 Beauty \/ Beauty Feature Beauty \/ Beauty Feature Who gets a fictional fandom tattoo in 2026? From Heated Rivalry jersey numbers to Divergent faction logos, fans have long taken their devotion to fictional worlds to new heights \u2013 but how does that permanence look [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1778796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1778796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1778796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1778796\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1778796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1778796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1778796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}