By AMY WEBBER

What pain in the neck? Vanessa Hudgens grinned from ear to ear as LA tattoo artist Bang Bang inked on a butterfly


It was quite literally a pain in the neck, but Vanessa Hudgens didn't let the agony show as she got her first tattoo this week.

Pictures have emerged showing the 22-year-old getting inked by Rihanna's favourite tattoo artist, Bang Bang.

While she first gave a glimpse of her tattoo on Twitter, the final full colour version has now been unveiled.

New York based Bang Bang later said: 'Vanessa told me it was an exhilarating experience. She loves this tattoo and was a dream to work with.'

Clasping what appears to be a beer in one hand, Hudgens grinned as he filled in the outline of the freshly drawn butterfly tattoo.

Vanessa, who split from her High School Musical co-star Zac Efron in December, decided to get a tattoo after a dinner in Manhattan with Australian band The Veronicas and their friend, Ruby Rose.

Model and DJ Ruby, 24, accompanied Hudgens to the tattoo parlour, East Side Ink.


Metamorphose: Hudgens shows of the results of tattoo artist Bang Bang's work


End result: While Vanessa contemplated getting a tattoo on her rib, she settled on a butterfly on her neck


Rose tweeted at the time: ‘Please don’t blame me... But I may have convinced Vanessa Hudgens to get a tattoo... Now. Her first... By Bang Bang.’

Before settling on her neck at the perfect spot for the symbol of her new found independence, Rose revealed that Hudgens was also considering her ribs tweeting: 'Vanessa is deciding between her neck or ribs what do you guys think?’
Hudgens, who is clearly eager to shed her Disney image, has already been a busy year.

She has been spotted at numerous catwalk shows at New York Fashion Week where she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Kanye West and Olivia Palermo.


New York state of mind: The star, pictured today, is in the city for Fashion Week


source: dailymail