By SARAH BULL
Front and back: Cheryl Cole appeared to have chosen her black dress specifically with the intention of showing off the huge tattoo across her lower back at the National Television Awards
- She put on a brave face after discovering she is unlikely to be offered a role on American X Factor
- But smiles all round as X Factor takes home Best Talent Show award
She's the nation's sweetheart who delighted fans with a variety of sexy and fashionable outfits during the last series of The X Factor.
But tonight at the National Television Awards, it seemed Cheryl Cole chose her outfit just to show off the huge new tattoo sprawling across her lower back.
Wearing a black Versace dress which looked sleek from the front, but featured a strap design on the back, the inking of a large butterfly and tribal design could clearly be seen.
Cheryl, a huge fan of adding various tattoo designs across her body, seemed eager to display the tattoo, which appeared to be slightly smudged at the bottom.
Inking: The design featured a butterfly and tribal detailing
It is thought Cheryl had the new inking in November, when she was spotted arriving at the X Factor TV studios wearing a cropped jacket which gave fans a glimpse of the design.
Cheryl put on a brave face at the ceremony despite having recently discovered she is likely not to be offered a role on the judging panel of the American X Factor.
The ambitious singer thought she was a certainty for a judge’s chair, but TV bosses across the Atlantic now doubt that she is ‘famous enough’.
It has been reported that the 27-year-old’s rivals for the chair include superstars Rihanna and Katy Perry.
Success: Cheryl joins Simon Cowell and X Factor winner Matt Cardle, as well as host Dermot O'Leary, to collect the talent show award
Cheryl has five other known tattoos - her much-copied hand design, barbed wire around her right upper thigh, a large butterfly design on her back, as well as one on the left side of her bottom and 'Mrs C' on her neck - something she is said to be keen to remove.
Cheryl’s right thigh barbed wire marking first appeared when she started dating her footballer ex-husband Ashley Cole, closely followed by the Polynesian tribal sign that adorns the side of her right hand.
When the star married the Chelsea and England footballer and changed her name from Tweedy to Cole, she quickly took the opportunity to brand the new surname on the back of her neck.
Three's a crowd? Cheryl sits alongside Simon and his fiancée Mezhgan Hussainy at the ceremony
She was then known as Mrs C, according to the tattoo, and has decided to keep it despite breaking up with Ashley.
Then came her first lower back design, which again resembled some kind of tribal marking, but the singer has always been tight lipped on the meanings behind the tattoos.
While performing on stage last year, the singer then shocked fans with another tattoo right on one of her bottom cheeks, which she had previously kept hidden.
And, in October, the vine-inspired design appeared on her upper thigh at her wax museum unveiling.
Matt Cardle - When We Collide (National Television Awards 2011)
Stacey Solomon & Shaun Ryder - National Television Awards 2011
National Television Awards 2011 More Red Carpet
Doctor Who National Television Awards 2011 Intro
source: dailymail