Lucy Bronze, England’s stalwart defender, has become an unexpected tattoo icon following her decisive penalty in the Lionesses’ intense Euro 2025 quarter-final victory over Sweden. Since that electrifying moment, Honey Studio in London has seen a surge of fans lining up to ink her triumphant pose—number two shirt, fists raised in pure celebration.
Grace Mills, a hand poke tattoo artist at the studio, has already etched half a dozen Lucy Bronze designs since that unforgettable match. She anticipates even more in the coming week, regardless of the outcome of England’s highly anticipated final clash against reigning world champions Spain in Basel. “My books are filling up quickly,” Mills said. “There’s just so much passion around this team.”
For Mills, the connection between football and tattoos goes beyond the surface. She believes that the spirit of women’s football naturally lends itself to personal expression and community identity. “Football, especially women’s football, really celebrates community and individuality,” she said. “Tattoos are a beautiful way people express both.”
A dedicated football fan herself, Mills has previously created designs celebrating Arsenal’s women’s Champions League win and England’s historic triumph at the 2022 Euros. Her approach emphasizes personalization—allowing fans to choose from simple, subtle, or more feminine designs while still paying tribute to their sporting heroes.
Her Euro 2025 creations are part of a collaboration with the Lionesses and the creative agency This Fan Girl, a partnership that merges sports fandom with bold personal storytelling. For many, getting a tattoo isn’t just a souvenir of a thrilling tournament—it’s a deeply emotional expression of pride and identity.
The popularity of football-inspired tattoos isn’t new, but the current buzz around the Lionesses has taken it to another level. A recent example from the men’s tournament last year saw an England supporter making headlines after getting a premature “Euro 2024 Winners” tattoo—only for England to lose to Spain in the final. Still, the trend endures, driven by fans who wear their hearts on their sleeves—literally.
Whether England lifts the trophy on Sunday or not, Lucy Bronze and the Lionesses have already left a permanent mark on their fans—and some of those marks are in ink.
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