This zig-zag line on Hayley Williams’ left wrist resembles two teeth with a gap in the middle. She got the tattoo in May 2017 to celebrate the release of Paramore’s album After Laughter.
Hayley’s gap-toothed smile became a symbol of the band during the After Laughter album cycle because their single “Fake Happy” features the lines “If I smile with my teeth / Bet you believe me /If I smile with my teeth / I think I believe me.” The song is about Hayley trying to appear happy despite her inner turmoil.
She took a particular liking to one fan’s cartoon-style drawing of the band where she appears to be faking a smile. She started spamming her instagram profile in March 2017 with various croppings of the drawing showing just her face and just her teeth. It was her way of teasing about the song, which hadn’t been released yet. Fans went went wild with the “Awkward Hayley” drawing, turning it into a meme. The band even put the two-toothed smile on their stage trunk during Tour One.
Love that sunglasses impacted you/paramore so much that you got a tattoo! What's the fav pair you own? @yelyahwilliams pic.twitter.com/CmztxViWUp
— Paramore (@Pmore_Source) May 20, 2017
@yelyahwilliams what is your new tattoo? I love you? pic.twitter.com/KsyWfi9vGw
— M A N I A (@martinaaviera) May 19, 2017
@yelyahwilliams that a new tattoo on the wrist gal ??? pic.twitter.com/56n1I2Z0Mv
— sam ? (@Samanthahayley) August 4, 2017
@yelyahwilliams NEW TATTOO? pic.twitter.com/MJE2IFVTMr
— ??LaCroixpapi☃ (@PaigeTEF) July 23, 2017
@yelyahwilliams pls explain your new tattoo ☺️ pic.twitter.com/SrZfIslJSB
— tanya from Paramore (@paracrazygirls) May 21, 2017
the original Paramore fan art that inspired the “Awkward Hayley” meme:
close-up of the teeth as posted by Hayley on instagram:
the smile on Paramore’s stage box:
new pic of @yelyahwilliams with the paramore/fake happy/smile meme box pic.twitter.com/nS6CGT25vr
— Hayley Fact (@HayleyFact) June 15, 2017
Celebrity: Hayley Williams
Subject:Tooth
Placement:Wrist
Style:Minimalist
posted by Linda on January 21, 2018