Rihanna Shows Off Her "Battleship" Bikini Body and New Revolver Tattoo

Over the Labor Day weekend, Rihanna, decked in a gorgeous turquoise-and-black Aztec-printed bikini, was spotted off the coast of Hawaii showing off a toned, curvy body. Also spotted: a shockingly massive tattoo of a revolver covering nearly her entire right thigh.

But is it real? Speculators are saying that the new ink spot is not only a temporary tat, but actually for her debut part in the upcoming film, "Battleship," loosely based on the well-loved board game. In it, the 22-year-old Barbadian singer plays something akin to a weapons specialist. The flick, which is currently in production in the islands, also stars Alexander Skarsgård from True Blood. Directed by Peter Berg, who was also responsible for "Hancock," the film is set to release in 2012.

This is not the first tattoo to be seen on RiRi by any means—the singer has an impressive collection ranging from stars plunging down her back, a music note on her ankle, a Pisces sign behind her right ear, a Sanskrit prayer going down the hip and the word "Shhh" down her index finger, just to name some. Most recently, RiRi branded herself with a "rebelle fleur" (rebel flower in French) tattoo on the left side of her neck.

Although this one is being called out as fake, the ambassador for Culture and Youth in Barbados is known to have a small pistol tattoo on her right side, directly over her right ribs.

"It's powerful. It's protection. At least that's my interpretation of it," says New York City-based tattoo artist, BangBang, who Rihanna flew out to her Los Angeles home to do the pea-size tattoo. Initially, according to BangBang, they'd drawn two guns atop both her shoulders, but figuring the singer's contract with Cover Girl might be jeopardized with the very visible and violent-inducing emblems, opted to place one pistol tattoo near her underarm. "She loved 'em ... but Cover Girl wouldn't have liked it much and they pay the bills," continued BangBang. "[So we] ended up doing it on her ribs."

On September 7, RiRi announced the release of her brand new single, "Only Girl (In The World)." Her fifth album, "Loud" is due out November 2. "The new songs will be "sassy, fun, flirty, energetic," says Rihanna. "I'm just gonna be ME, 'cuz that's what you guys love the most, and that's what makes me feel best! Just being normal, normal for me is LOUD!"

But is it normal for the beautiful Barbadian to arm herself with such a life-size pistol on her body? When it comes to her body, should she be exercising more gun control?

-- Sarah McClure