Alyssa Liu’s DIY ‘Smiley’ Piercing, Style Rings and the Terms of a Comeback

Team USA figure skater alyssa liu has become a focal point not only for her on-ice performances but for the personal style choices that accompany them. The flash of silver fans have noticed in her smile is a frenulum mouth piercing she says she pierced herself, a detail that ties directly into the conditions she set for her return to the sport and the way her choreographer helps shape her public expression.

Alyssa Liu’s DIY ‘smiley’: how she did it and what she shows on the ice

The metallic gleam that appears when she grins is a labial frenulum piercing, often called a "smiley, " which rests in the tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum and hangs over the front teeth. She has had the piercing for just over two years and has described performing the procedure herself, using a piercing needle while a sibling held up her lip.

Her approach is deliberate: she learned piercing as a hobby, chose professional-style supplies rather than improvised tools, and values placement precision. That DIY choice contributes to her broader aesthetic, which shows up during performances and on the podium.

Style as symbolism: hair stripes, autonomy and choreographic partnership

allyssa liu extends personal symbolism beyond jewelry. She has added horizontal platinum blonde stripes to her dark brown hair, treating each stripe like a ring that marks a year of personal and professional growth. The first ring was added in 2023 and she has continued the pattern in subsequent years.

Her stylistic decisions are part of a larger pact she made when returning to competitive skating: she would set conditions for her comeback that protected her autonomy. Those conditions include control over costume and musical choices, the ability to eat and take breaks on her own terms, and the opportunity to present herself honestly through her skating. Her longtime choreographer supports that autonomy and has embraced elements of her look, finding inspiration in the visual details that make her stand out.

Competition status and what’s next

On the competitive front, she entered the latest Olympic short program in third place after a standout performance and already contributed to a team gold earlier in the Games. The women’s free skate on Thursday presents another opportunity to improve her individual standing and contend for a medal.

The interplay between personal expression and elite performance is central to how she approaches the sport now. Her return from an earlier retirement came with conditions meant to preserve her well-being and identity; those terms are visible in small, near-intimate choices like a self-done piercing and deliberate hair markers, as well as in broader creative collaboration with her choreographer.

Recent public remarks and interviews show that these choices are intentional rather than incidental. They provide context for her competitive resurgence and help explain why fans notice not just her technical skill but the personality she brings to each program. The free skate will reveal how those personal details continue to coexist with the pressure of Olympic competition.

Timeline (high level):

• Made Olympic debut as a teenager, then retired and later returned to competition.
• Re-entered competitive skating under conditions that emphasized autonomy and personal expression.
• Added signature hair stripes starting in 2023 and maintained that visual motif each year.
• Has worn a self-administered frenulum piercing for just over two years.
• Entered the current Olympic short program in third place and already contributed to a team gold; the free skate on Thursday is the next chance to change standings.

Details from interviews and public conversations underline an athlete shaping her comeback on her own terms. These stylistic choices are more than ornamentation; they are an extension of how she wants to be seen while competing at the highest level. Upcoming competition sessions will show whether that combination of identity and performance yields further podium results.