I feel good, I feel confident and I put it all out there,” the 20-year-old said Thursday after winning America’s first gold medal in the Winter Olympics’ women’s free skating event since 2002.
But before becoming a champion, Liu had already given herself a crown of sorts, sporting a captivating hairstyle known as “halo hair” to make her podium intentions clear.
Her iteration of the style features horizontal brunette stripes interrupted by milk-tea-colored rings, with bright blonde transitional lines.
“Revived halos, who dis?” Liu captioned an Instagram post last month that she showed off her refreshed tree ring hairstyle.
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“OMG SO GOOD,” commented fellow US figure skater Bradie Tennell, with a fire emoji.
Liu’s hairstylist Kelsey Miller also gave the skater her flowers when sharing various images on Instagram of the “angel halos,” describing her client as “an inspiration.”
“I hope the world never lets you down or tries to take your sparkle away from you!” Miller said, adding that she “can’t wait to see those halos spin on the ice tonight.”
Alysa Liu competes during the Women Single Skating Figure Skating, Day 13 of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Thursday. Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States, silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, and bronze medalist Ami Nakai of Japan, celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony on Thursday. James Lang/Imagn Images/Reuters
Miller said in an Instagram reel on Wednesday that she was “shocked” after receiving a request from Liu, who wanted her gingery tree rings turned a milk tea color, which is closer to platinum blonde.
“Usually, I do it like a gingery color, but I was like, I want something different. Like, I want it lighter,” Liu told NBC in January, adding that she ended up at the salon in St. Louis, Missouri, because she couldn’t get it as light as she desired with her usual DIY approach.
Starting the style in 2023, Liu said she adds a stripe every year, which is why she now parades three rings in her hair.
“So, it’s going to be like this for a year and then next year, wintertime, like end of December, I do another ring,” Liu added.
Meaning, soon enough, she could have the five rings symbolic of the Olympic Games.
Liu’s “smiley” piercing is visible as she bites her gold medal. Amanda Perobelli/Reuters
Yet, wait for her to grin and another striking ring-shape is very clear – but this gem is in her mouth.
Hanging over the skater’s front teeth, Liu has what’s known as the “smiley” piercing, which goes through her frenulum, the thin tissue between the upper lip and gum, and is visible when she smiles.
The self-belief that drove her to be a champion on ice is no better highlighted than in her dauntless piercing experience.
Liu told TMJ4 News that she got the piercing about two years ago, saying it was painless. “I did it myself,” she said, adding her sister helped and held up her lip.
And Liu is not only Olympian showcasing individuality and expression during the Winter Games.
Olympic rings are displayed on the nails of silver medalist China’s Eileen Gu as she holds her skis after the women’s freestyle skiing slopestyle finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, February 9. Lindsey Wasson/AP
The Olympic rings logo can be seen on the right hand of Denmark’s Jasmin Holtermann during the curling women’s round robin between Denmark and Japan during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
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