If you’ve been on the internet at all in the past month, you’re familiar with Alysa Liu. She’s the figure skater everyone is raving about.
In 2019, she became the first American female skater to land a quad in competition and the first to ever land a triple Axel and quadruple Lutz in the same program for women’s singles. Of course, these accomplishments immediately made her a favourite in the judges’ and critics’ eyes.
This year, the Californian skater competed at her second Olympics, following on from Beijing 2022, where she placed 6th…and then retired just two months later at 16 years old.
Feeling trapped and stuck, Liu wanted to experience life away from the sport.
What’s Changed?
However, in 2024, she came back on her own terms: she skates for herself now.
And it’s proven successful for her, considering she is the current season’s world champion and newly crowned Olympic gold medalist, two-time gold medalist at that. Liu won gold in both the individual and team events.
Except this time around, it’s safe to say her popularity has broken containment from the figure skating world.
In fact, her Instagram following grew from 200K to just under eight million followers a week after swiping gold at Milano Cortina. Fans have even uploaded fan art of her programs on social media.
However, she’s drawn attention for more than just her skating world records and viral ‘Stateside’ choreography; her undeniable alternative fashion.
It’s unusual to see skaters with such striking styles. The sport favours strict conservative cultures of femininity and elegance, which create that ‘ice princess’ stereotype.
But Liu prioritises expressing originality over expectation and stereotypes.
With her comeback, she made several conditions with her team.
Now, she skates on her own terms: she picks her own programs, music, costumes, and above all, she has fun. She has reinvented herself and the sport; she has reinvented the ice princess mould.
Liu’s Halo Hair
Just by catching a glimpse of the hair for a second, it’s noticeable right off the bat that’s Alysa Liu. The alternating blonde and brunette raccoon stripes covering her head give it away.
Although there are no rules forbidding dyed hair, historically, natural colours are far more common on the ice to avoid distractions against the sport’s artistry.
But aside from breaking the conventional mould, Liu has a deeper reason for the stripes.
During her retirement, she started a DIY project. It began with one ring at the crown of the head, but she continued the pattern, and now every winter, another stripe is added.
When interviewed by Paralympian Havie Shep, Liu laughed when explaining that she just “wanted to be a tree.”
This year, looking ahead to the Olympics, she wanted to switch things up. Liu’s usual brassy-ginger stripes were swapped out for a cool-blonde tone.
For the change, she went to a professional hairstylist who could execute her exact vision: Kelsey Miller, who works at Thirteenth and Washington in St Louis.
Speaking to The Fader, Miller said what everyone else is thinking.
“Liu proves you can still be graceful and sophisticated and skate while being your true self and rocking your personality,” she explained, “When you watch her skate, she skates so gracefully, and you can truly tell it’s her passion. It’s amazing watching the two worlds collide.”
And her hair has already captivated the attention of fans, with people posting to social media their own interpretations of Liu’s stripes, which, in Miller’s words, allow them also to rock their personality.
Her Makeup
However, Liu isn’t just influencing her fans with her hair, but also with her distinct grunge makeup.
An influx of ‘Alysa Liu eyeliner tutorials has taken over makeup TikTok, with viewers desperate to recreate that distinct smoky wing visible from the stands.
As well as that, viewers took on a search for Liu’s Olympic go-to lip combo after she told herself, ‘Wait, my lipstick’ before stepping on the podium.
FYI, it’s Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil in shade Delight.
The DIY Piercing
After her win at Milano Cortina, you may have noticed a glimmer of silver behind her massive grin when she jumped on that podium. This is her “smiley.”
In short, it’s a piercing that goes through the thin sliver of skin connecting the upper lip to the gum, and according to Liu, she had pierced it herself.
Wanting to experiment away from her abundance of ear piercings, Liu explained to retired figure skater Adam Rippon that four was an aesthetically pleasing number to her, before flipping up her lip, making the hoop visible. ‘Ew disgusting!’ Rippon joked.
And she’s aware that this is unusual for the sport, admitting to TMJ4 News: “You know, someone called my style alternative. And I’d agree with that.”
Her clearly alt-fashion
One condition for Liu’s return was having more creative control. Including what her competition dresses look like.
Working with dress designer Lisa McKinnon, Liu will send over sketches of exactly what she envisions for her programs.
Her dresses are bold and make a statement: some are dark and moody, some are completely covered in sparkles and glitter.
In fact, the dress she wore for her Olympic free skate was entirely gold sequins. She fully manifested that gold medal.
Aside from her competition dresses, she lets her style sneak out during practice through her tights.
Even off the ice, she shows off her style.
On the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, she dressed like a true 90s alt girl. The red plaid skirt-over-jeans combo paired with a black studded belt and black choker says it all.
Liu even made her debut appearance at Paris Fashion Week, sporting an oversized Louis Vuitton jacket and matching denims.
Liu’s Program Music
To a casual viewer of the sport, the following warhorses may come to mind: Swan Lake, Bolero, Romeo & Juliet, Carmen.
They are classics for a reason, of course. They get the crowd going and often help create theatrical programs with the pre-made stories attached to the tracks.
However, Liu experiments with song choices away from the stereotypical. Her program music is essentially her Spotify playlist.
Stepping onto the Olympic ice for her short program, Liu skated to Promise by Icelandic jazz singer Laufey.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Liu reflected on her love for the song, but also how perfectly it reflects her figure skating story. And that emotion translates through to her performance.
Adding on to her Olympic song selections, Donna Summer’s MacArthur Park won her the individual gold, whilst Stateside by PinkPantheress won her the attention of anyone who somehow wasn’t a fan of her before the exhibition gala.
Thanks to Liu, the song entered the charts and became ultra-viral on TikTok. Seriously. That song is the backing track to the For You Page.
She’s also skated to various Gaga tracks, including a medley of Bad Romance and Poker Face, earning her silver at the 2026 U.S championships.
The skating season isn’t over yet, and Liu has already decided on the top five songs she wants to perform to: Fire In My Heart by Escape From New York, Billie Eilish’s Chihiro, Star by Mitski, another PinkPantheress track, Capable Of Love, and lastly, for good measure, an inevitable warhorse: Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.
Her Impact
Alysa Liu’s overall attitude shows that figure skating is more than just a competitive sport.
She doesn’t care about where she places, but rather how much fun she has on the ice.
But ultimately, she shows that you don’t have to sacrifice your individuality and aesthetics to be a successful athlete.
