Bell’amore

When she was 17, Jenna Jacobsen got this Italian phrase scribed down her ribs, which she said means ‘beautiful love’ in English.

After losing someone close to her and spending time in the hospital for multiple surgeries, the sophomore Spanish major felt compelled to get inked at Tatts by Zapp in Stillwater, Minn., to memorialize her thoughts. Jacobsen said its hidden location made it feel more personal.

‘I wanted a reminder for every day that you’re beautiful, you’re loved,’ she said. ‘It’s a nice surprise in the morning.’

Two open hearts and strength in cursive

Similar to her other ink, this tattoo on her ankle isn’t easily spotted. This past summer, Jacobsen designed her second tattoo herself.

Her mother went to Tatts by Zapp with Jacobsen and left with her own first tattoo, an eternity symbol on her shoulder to symbolize the ‘eternal love of their bond.’

Jacobsen smiled and recalled how her grandmother heard about her mother’s tattoo and commented, ‘That’s permanent, you know?’

Her mother replied: ‘Yes, I know.’

-Compiled by Colleen Bidwill, asst. feature editor, cbidwill@syr.edu

Published on March 26, 2012 at 12:00 pm