Bay Area Built, Olympic Proven: Alyssa Liu Is Undeniable.

Written By Audree Saluta

Culture, Fashion & Live Events Contributor.

It only took one Olympic Games, two Olympic gold medals and the power of social media to make Alysa Liu famous almost overnight. I can’t speak for everybody, but I didn’t really know Alysa Liu until I watched her skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. And then suddenly, she was everywhere. My TikTok feed turned into an Alysa Liu fan page, and I found myself completely drawn in. What made her rise even more compelling was the fact that she had retired from skating after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, missed it, then came back to skating in 2024 to deliver the most memorable Olympic runs of this generation. She won more than just medals, but she won people.

A huge part of her breakout moment came from her program choices. Alysa skated her short program to Laufey’s “Promise,” an emotional piece that showcased her maturity and artistry on her own terms and creative direction. This program placed her third going into the finals, however, it was her free skate that became instantly iconic. With a high-energy performance to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite,” a 70s disco classic, she earned first place and secured the gold for Team USA in women’s singles. Combined with another performance in the team event, Alysa Liu left Milan with two gold medals and a massive fan base cheering her on through social media. 

What really sets Alysa apart in the competitive figure skating world and pop culture itself, is her personality. She’s unfiltered, grounded, and unmistakably Bay Area-coded. In a sport known for its polish and perfection, she brings something completely different, and in the most positive way. She reps her hometown, Oakland, loudly. She’s funny, real, and doesn’t try to fit in the traditional “figure skater” mold. That authenticity is exactly why people feel connected to her. And honestly, that’s the secret. The fashion world noticed first. She attended Nicolas Ghesquière's Louis Vuitton Fall 2026 show at the Louvre during Paris Fashion Week. The shortly after Louis Vuitton named her a global ambassador. Ghesquière called her "confident, creative, and utterly fearless," adding that she "inspires us all to embrace audacity in every form." She joins a roster that includes Carlos Alcaraz, Victor Wembanyama, and Yuto Horigome — and sits comfortably among them. Add Nike and Sephora to the portfolio and you're looking at one of the most commercially compelling athletes of her generation, at just 20 years old.

Alysia Liu has cracked the code to becoming an overnight sensation: have a story that people can feel, show up as yourself, and let the world catch on. 

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