How Alysa Liu’s 2026 Met Gala Gown Symbolized Her Olympic Figure Skating Legacy
The 20-year-old figure skater made her Met Gala debut in a gown inspired by her own Olympic journey.
Just a few months after leaving her mark on the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, figure skater Alysa Liu made a lasting impression at the 2026 Met Gala in a stunning look that celebrated her elite athleticism.
On May 4, the 20-year-old Olympic gold medalist attended the Met Gala for the first time, and to say she dressed to impress is an understatement. Liu wore a gorgeous custom-made Louis Vuitton gown, and, of course, sported the same striped hairstyle and trademark smile that millions fell in love with during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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Alysa Liu's dazzling red Met Gala gown celebrated ice skating and her athleticism
Staying true to the 2026 Met Gala's dress code of "Fashion is Art" (and its overall theme, "Costume Art"), Liu's look was brought to life by her stylist, Katie Qian. It also symbolizes Liu's career in figure skating, where she routinely pushes her body to the limit with every twist, jump, and axel.
"We thought these themes were perfect because Alysa represents the intersection of both," Qian said in a conversation with Vogue. "She is an elite athlete who uses her body every day in training and performance, and she is also a true artist when developing her programs."
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As it turns out, the main inspiration for the custom gown was Liu's actual silhouette!
"We wanted Louis Vuitton to help us elegantly reference vascularity, cell structure, and muscle tissue, which are reflected in the red hue as well as the detailed ruffles," Qian explained. "It also happens to emulate how ice is carved when figure skating! The dress perfectly frames the feet and accentuates the curves, and we are thrilled with how it turned out."
Alysa Liu crushed it for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, winning two gold medals
Liu walked away from the 2026 Winter Olympics as a two-time gold medalist, winning the Women's Singles event outright, as well as the Team Event.
During a March post-Olympics appearance on Watch What Happens Live, host Andy Cohen asked her about the secret behind her success — and Liu didn't disappoint with her refreshingly honest answer. "I mean, I love making mistakes," Liu said with a smile. "I love falling. I also love landing and doing really well, so I feel like no matter what the outcome was, I was gonna be cool with it."
"And as you were skating, were you thinking, 'I got this?'" Cohen asked as a follow up.
"Oh, absolutely," she admitted.
Now a few months after her Olympics victory, Liu is celebrating "the most incredible and surreal experience" of attending the Met Gala. In an Instagram post on May 4, Liu said she's "beyond grateful for the opportunity to collaborate alongside a passionate group of creatives that help me feel like my best self."
