Figure skating gold medalist and fashion icon Alysa Liu had fans gagged at the 2026 ESPYs on July 15, walking the carpet in a gorgeous chocolate brown Louis Vuitton dress. And along with her next-level, low-back gown, fans also got a look at her lower-back tattoo. Liu is known for her eye-catching fashion choices — including her signature smiley piercing and halo hairstyle — and her tattoo clearly continues the trend of bold, stylish looks. But what does her lower-back tattoo mean?
Lower-back tattoos were trending in the late 90s and early 2000s, but they quickly became negatively stereotyped. This harsh criticism led to the derogatory term “tramp stamp.” In the 2020s, Liu and other Gen Z women have unashamedly brought lower-back tattoos back into the limelight, and I, for one, am pumped about what this means for women.
Before the ESPYs ceremony, Liu posed in the Louis Vuitton number that almost revealed the lower back tattoo in its entirety. She made sure to pose with her back to the cameras, looked over her shoulder, and simply radiated girl boss energy. She also wore a dual-sided black cross necklace to highlight the look, which hung perfectly at the front like a choker and landed just above her tattoo in the back. Her updo also drew attention to her back and her tattoo, ensuring they were not even partially hidden by her hair.
In a video with Teen Vogue, Liu said she got her lower-back tattoo at 18 as her first with her best friend, who also designed it. The tattoo is a symmetrical design in a cybersigilism style, an emerging tattoo style among Gen Z that mixes futuristic designs with ancient-looking sigils. The details within these markings, though — which reveal designs relevant to both Liu and her best friend — are where its depth lies. Some of these details include bat wings and a rose, but the infinity symbols are what I find most heartwarming. Liu told Teen Vogue that the infinity symbols in the tattoo represent both of their birthdays, since they were both born in August. That just screams twin flames.
Considering Liu’s apparent fondness for body modification through her multiple faux face jewelry pieces and iconic tattoo, fans have been wondering whether a second tattoo may be coming soon. With how meaningful her first tattoo was at just 18 years old, she’s set a high bar for what’s next. In the meantime, I need to go ask my best friend if she can draw tattoos.