Alysa Liu, a UCLA student, has become an icon for her talent and “I don’t give a f***” energy. Prior to her recent win, she repeatedly relayed that she did not care about the outcome. She was just happy to be there, genuinely having fun.
She first performed in the Olympics four years ago, figure skating at just 16 years old. As figure skating began to lose its fun for her, she decided to retire. Recently, she made the decision to return to figure skating, finding the fun in it again. And this is apparent, as her smile and fun personality provide her with a cutting-edge at her competitions.
So why are we obsessed with her? Because we see ourselves in her. She embodies Gen Z’s humor and sense of style. She flaunts an alternative hairstyle, being unapologetically herself. Her interviews have responses that we can see ourselves giving. Most importantly, her social media presence gives us a peek into her personal life and likes. Seeing somebody like us win gold at the Olympics makes us believe someone like us can do big things
Even more intriguing for UCLA students is that she attends our very school, studying psychology. Seeing a Bruin do what she does makes us all the more proud to attend UCLA. She inspires us all to pursue our dreams and incorporate fun into even the most stressful moments.