During her “21 Candles” MTV special on November 23, 2013, Miley Cyrus reiterated a point she originally made during a 2008 TRL interview – that she is “freakishly afraid of needles.” This comes as a bit of a surprise to us, considering the singer has 22 tattoos scattered across her body already and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. Which brings us to our next point. During that same TRL interview, the then tattoo-free Miley responded to a fan’s question about what she would get if she ever got inked, by saying: “I am, like, freakishly afraid of needles; I hate them so badly. They could be like ‘This is going to give you 400 years to live,’ and I wouldn’t do it. I’m like way too scared.” So no tattoos for Miley…like, ever. Interesting.
Truth be told, Miley Cyrus has amassed quite a collection of tattoos since December 2009, when she had the phrase “Just Breathe” inked on her ribcage in honor of her grandfathers, both of whom passed away from lung cancer, and a young fan of Miley’s who suffered from cystic fibrosis. Her most recent tattoo – a large portrait of her grandmother on the inside of her arm – proves that, not only is Miley just getting started on her tattoo collection, but she is also becoming more and more comfortable with larger, more visible ink. So why suffer through 22 painful tattoo sessions if she is so afraid of needles? Well, according to Miley, it’s all about comfort. “When I go to the doctor they look at me like I’m insane, because I try to kick them away from me. I just don’t like shots, and the doctor’s office is just cold, it’s much cozier in a tattoo parlor.”
Now that she’s coming clean, Miley also says she was lying during the 2008 interview on TRL when she said she was too scared to get inked. “I always knew I was going to get tattoos,” she said during the MTV special. But it’s what she thought would be her first tattoo that is the most interesting thing. “So, I don’t know if I could [get a tattoo], but if I would, my dad wants me to get a buffalo on the back of my neck,” Miley revealed to her fan on TRL, “because – actually, I have no idea why, but he wants me to have a buffalo. So if I did anything, I guess I would do it for my parents.” The pop star has yet to get a buffalo tattoo – sorry Dad! – but judging by Miley Cyrus’ tattoos so far, many of which pay tribute to her Cherokee background, a big buffalo on the back of her neck may not be too far behind!
