Alysa Liu teeth: American figure skating star opens up about the reason behind her smiley piercing at 2026 Winter Olympics

When Alysa Liu stepped onto the ice at the 2026 Winter Olympics, many fans noticed something small but bright before they even focused on her jumps. It was not a spin and not a step, but a tiny piece of silver resting on her two front teeth when she smiled. Soon, people online were searching for “Alysa Liu teeth.” The 20-year-old American figure skater has a frenulum piercing, often called a “smiley.” It sits inside the upper lip and shows only when she grins. Liu helped Team USA win gold in the team event on February 8. Then on February 17, she placed third in the women’s short program, putting herself in a strong position before the free skate. As cameras zoomed in during both moments, that small flash of metal caught attention again. Alysa Liu has spoken openly about it. She said she pierced it herself more than two years ago. That detail made fans even more curious.

Alysa Liu teeth: She explains her ‘smiley’ piercing and how it became part of her Olympic image

The piercing sits in the thin strip of tissue that connects the upper lip to the gums. When Alysa Liu smiles wide, the silver curved jewelry rests lightly over her front two teeth. One close-up view during the Olympic broadcast clearly showed its arrow-shaped ends.Speaking about how it happened, Liu shared the full story in her own words. “I used a mirror and a piercing needle,” she said. “My sister held my lip up and I just put it through.” She explained that she did it a little over two years ago.That simple decision has now become part of how fans recognize her. During the team event gold medal ceremony on February 8, cameras focused on her joyful reaction. Days later, on February 17, after her short program placed her third overall, the piercing was visible again as she smiled at her scores.Her choreographer, Massimo Scali, also noticed it right away. He once shared that the piercing stood out to him when he first saw it and even made him think about getting one himself.The “smiley” is not her only bold style choice. Liu also wears light blonde stripes in her hair. She has compared the pattern to tree rings and said she adds to the design each year. At age 20, after stepping away from the sport and then returning, she has said she feels more control over her music, outfits, and performance style.Now, after finishing third in the short program on February 17, Alysa Liu is set to skate in the women’s free program on February 19. Judges will combine both scores to decide final placements. Until then, talk about “Alysa Liu teeth” continues to trend, showing how even the smallest detail can help fans feel closer to an athlete beyond jumps and medals.