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Alysa Liu’s winning grin became a viral moment at the Milan Cortina Olympics — not just for the gold medal but for a tiny flash of silver above her front teeth. Viewers quickly wondered what they had seen. The accessory is a discreet oral piercing, part of a wider personal style that the 20-year-old champion made her own.
What is a “smiley” and why it shows when she smiles
The jewelry Liu sported is known in body-mod circles as a smiley. Medically, it’s a frenulum piercing that threads through the thin band of tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums.
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Because the ornament sits tucked behind the lip, it remains invisible at rest. It only appears when the wearer grins wide enough to reveal the gumline. That fleeting shimmer is what caught millions of viewers’ attention.
She did it herself: inside Liu’s DIY piercing story
Liu has said she learned to pierce herself during a break from competition. Rather than pay studio fees, she taught the technique at home.
- When: She pierced it more than two years before the Olympics.
- How: Her sister helped hold the lip while Liu used a piercing needle and mirror.
- Pain level: She described the sensation as very mild.
Liu emphasizes she used proper tools, not improvised items like safety pins or piercing guns. She framed the hobby as a practical, hands-on skill she trusted herself to execute well.
Health considerations: healing, cost and dental risks
Smiley piercings are quick to get but require care. Typical costs at a professional studio range from $30 to $100. Healing time usually falls between four and 12 weeks.
Possible complications to watch for
- Gum recession around the pierced area.
- Enamel wear from repeated contact with the jewelry.
- Chipped or cracked teeth over time.
- Infection risk, especially if aftercare is poor.
Experts often caution that DIY piercing increases these risks. Regular dental checkups and careful cleaning are important if someone keeps this style long-term.
The look beyond the piercing: hair, style and identity
The smiley sits within a broader aesthetic Liu favors. Her dark hair features horizontal bleach-blond bands that she likens to tree rings.
Each stripe marks a year and a choice to evolve her signature look rather than strip it away. She’s worked with stylists, including Kelsey Miller, to maintain and brighten the marks for competition season.
Her roots and the road to Olympic gold
Born in Clovis, California, Liu grew up as the eldest of five. Her father left China in the 1990s and is active as a democracy advocate. Her family background has at times drawn intense public attention.
She delivered a career-best score of 226.79 in Milan, earning the gold and marking the first time an American woman won an individual Olympic figure skating title since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Public reaction and cultural buzz
The moment sparked social feeds, with fans and media dissecting both the sport and the style. For many viewers, the brief flash of metal summarized Liu’s blend of athletic achievement and personal expression.
Her pierced smile has become part of how people talk about her: a small, visible sign of the autonomy she’s shown both on and off the ice.
