Alysa Liu’s Bold Style Steals the Spotlight: From Self-Pierced ‘Smiley’ to Growing Halo Hair at Milano Cortina 2026
A Skater Owning Every Detail of Her Olympic Journey
At 20 years old and in her second Olympic appearance, Team USA’s Alysa Liu is no longer just competing—she’s fully expressing herself on the ice and off. During the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, viewers worldwide have noticed two striking elements of her personal style: a gleaming “smiley” frenulum piercing on her upper gums and an evolving halo hair design that grows like tree rings. Both choices reflect Liu’s complete creative control and confidence as she chases the podium in women’s singles skating after contributing to the U.S. team gold earlier in the Games.
The shiny detail on her teeth is not a gem or grill—it’s a self-pierced frenulum piercing, commonly called a “smiley.” Liu did it herself, with her sister simply holding her lip while she looked in the mirror and pushed the needle through. “I had my sister hold up my lip and I was looking in the mirror and I had my piercing needle and yeah, just put it through,” she explained casually to reporters. The piercing has become a signature, especially visible when she flashes her trademark bright smile after strong performances.
Her hair tells an even more intentional story. Liu sports a halo design inspired by tree growth rings, adding a new layer each year. “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 said in January. “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.” The evolving halo symbolizes her personal growth, maturity, and the passage of time as she matures into one of the sport’s brightest stars.
Liu’s willingness to embrace bold, self-directed style choices mirrors her evolution as a skater. No longer the young prodigy under intense scrutiny, she’s now a young woman skating on her own terms—confident, creative, and unapologetically herself. Whether it’s the piercing she gave herself or the halo she continues to build, every detail is deliberate. As she competes in the women’s singles event, Alysa Liu isn’t just chasing medals—she’s showing the world what it looks like to grow into your own power, one ring and one smile at a time.