Alysa Liu enchants fans worldwide with her vibrant energy, extraordinary talent, and bold alternative style that sets her apart in competitive figure skating.
The 20-year-old Olympic champion draws attention with her black hair featuring blonde stripes and a subtle silver lip piercing visible only when she smiles.
The DIY Frenulum Piercing
Liu performed her frenulum piercing herself at home a little over two years ago. This piercing sits in the center of her upper gum and rests against her front teeth.
“I pierced it a little over two years ago now,” Liu shared. “I had my sister hold up my lip, and I was looking in the mirror, and I had my piercing needle and then – yeah, I just put it through.”
Signature Blonde Halo Hairstyle
Liu’s distinctive hairstyle includes annual blonde rings she calls “halos,” inspired by tree growth rings.
Three years ago, she considered raccoon stripes but chose a more manageable approach. “I originally actually wanted raccoon stripes three years ago, but I was like, ‘Too much, too long, and it’s going to be hard to upkeep,'” she explained during a January press conference. “Then I thought, I kind of want to be a tree, add a new ring every year, and so I did my second one the next year. It just grows out, and then so this year, I just did the same thing. I’m just gonna keep adding one every time.”
Alternative Fashion Choices
Off the ice, Liu favors masculine streetwear over feminine outfits, reserving the latter for skating. “I love masculine style so much. I feel really comfortable in it. Off the ice, I don’t dress as feminine. To me, that is skating,” she stated.
She occasionally wears skirts but enjoys surprising observers. “I’ll wear skirts, too, but I definitely love a good masculine street style. When I am at public events, and I’m wearing my usual style, people will say, ‘Oh, I thought you were, like, a snowboarder.’ I take it as a compliment. I like throwing people off,” Liu added.
Comeback on Her Own Terms
The two-time gold medalist retired from skating in 2022 and returned in 2024 under strict conditions for her coaches, demanding control over her appearance and routines.
“I made a deal with my coaches: No one tells me what I’m gonna wear. No one tells me how my hair is gonna be. No one’s gonna try to change me. I’m going to pick my own programs and skate the sessions I want to skate,” she declared. “Y’all are my coaches. You guys are going to help me and lead me in training, but I’m structuring it the way I want to.”
The California native vowed to quit if forced to alter her hair, prioritizing authenticity. Her captivating performance at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics solidified her global fanbase.
