How much interest can Alysa Liu revive in figure skating in the US?

[Diana Delafield]

For what it's worth, there's a middle-aged adult roller skater I follow on FB, Benjamine Lester, who posted a clip today of himself working on his axel/loop combination, with a new arm position. He said he was trying to learn "the arm position Alysa Liu used". So a bit of crossover influence showing there

 

[Skating91]

I'm not sure Liu will resonate with the public past this season unless she brings something new to her skating. She'll always have her fans, but something that goes viral, something that people want to sit down and watch. She had the same programs for two seasons although partly out of her control with one of those programs, but for someone who sees figure skating as a form of artistic expression rather than a sporting competition, there is relatively little risk taking in her art. Even her exhibition performance basically had the same dance choreography as her free skate.

To really make an impression on the wider audience with her skating over the coming she has create new memorable programs with unique elements, show us some more depth as an artist. Although I wouldn't blame her for persisting with Donna Summer for a third season the judges aren't going to lower the score.

 

[TallyT]

This is an interesting post, Doris. And it highlights something I've really never considered, and that is interest in the sport vs monetized interest in the sport.

I have been a consistent fan for over 50 years. But I don't think I've spent $100 total on skating in that timeframe. A few skate rentals and stuff like that, but no money spent attending competitions (although I'd love to - geography is not my friend), buying tickets to shows, traveling to events. I suppose NBC and YouTube can thank me for increased viewer numbers which must be good for ad revenue somehow, but that's really about all.

For all my longstanding fandom and moral support of skating and skaters, anyone who buys a ticket to SOI has done more monetarily to support skating than I have in 50 years. And I'm glad they are doing so.

Witness me still sulking because they took 4CC away from Sydney...

I buy merchandise and magazines (with extortionate international postage, the things we do for fandom) does that count? Because it occurs to me that that merchandise is where a lot of Alysa's new fans - if they stick around/spend money after the first flush of post-Olys enthusiasm - will be shelling out.

 

[Mathman]

The 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Instagram Accounts of February 2026​

#1 Alysa Liu
#5 Ilia Malinin
#8 Lindsey Vonn

A little sideways comment. Is it a promising sign for U.S. skating fans that Ilia Malinin also received a big boost? He didn't win a gold medal, and there are other U.S. athletes in other sports who did, so it must be something more than just the momentary Olympic bump. Ilia has handled his disappointment with class and humility, and it has paid off in terms of likability and public affection.

Maybe figure skating in general has more untapped potential than we thought..

 

[TallyT]

A little sideways comment. Is it a promising sign for U.S. skating fans that Ilia Malinin also received a big boost?

Thing is, did his boost come before the Olympics (when he was being hyped to the moon and back) or after? After all once people for whatever reason do click to follow, inertia so often means that they don't unclick for a long time after the buzz and interest has faded so I don't really see these figures as meaning much in the long run unless they are still seriously going up as time passes.

It will of course be another golden thread in Alysa's current state of being able to reap rewards, which is good.

 

[Anna K.]

The repetition does not appear to have hurt his popularity.

Are you sure? I mean, have you asked anyone outside of *his* boymon fan bubble?

Rrrrright, we need no OT no more so back to Alysa. And Alysa is now in the league where it is not only a question about how entertaining her skating is. It is also a question about how entertaining she is as a celebrity.

I personally find her deliciously entertaining in this genre. Oh, but I'm not a typical or regular celebrity follower. So, how can I even judge?... I'll better add a video for you to judge :



This is a Vanity Fair video about Alysa getting ready for the party (ft Maddie Chock). Normally, I do not click such content. This time, I did and I don't regret it. A share of healthy laughter, a share of youthful energy, a share of beauty - that's exactly what I needed with my coffee to start a good day!

 

[Magill]

A little sideways comment. Is it a promising sign for U.S. skating fans that Ilia Malinin also received a big boost?

Thing is, did his boost come before the Olympics (when he was being hyped to the moon and back) or after?

I suspect the Oly-time boost might have come mostly between the team event when he was promoted as the saviour of US team gold (despite losing the SP to Yuma and a questionable FS) and the free skate disaster in the individual comp. Did his numbers went much up after that? I don't know but I guess the casual fan attention moved mostly to Alysa then.

 

[Mathman]

I do have to say that I am not seeing any downside to all this. I agree with @Anna K above. Come what may, thanks for the ride, Alysa Liu!

If we see only a momentary spike of interest, fading in time -- well, still, something is better than nothing. If Stars on Ice has a successful 2026 tour -- good for them. A nice payday for a few skaters, and maybe some new attendees will like the show and come back next year. Win-win.

 

[kiimnu]

boymon fan

Could you elaborate on the term?

 

[4everchan]

Yes. That's where the "boymom fans" term comes from. The loyalty is based on how the young men needs to be protected from the injustice of the world against them, and how their hard work needs to be appreciated, and how the fans "know better" how to support their careers to become bigger stars. See the Heated Rivalry guys.

Just to point out and off-topic ..Heated Rivalry fans are very varied... There are boymom fans for sure... but the gay men who like them (like me) are not at all interesting in protecting them and nurturing them etc.... I can only speak for myself but I just find it cool that they came from nothing to instant fandom with a gay hockey series on a small Canadian budget ....

So go Hudson and Connor.

BTW. Hudson has reached 4 million followers since November (he and Connor started with pretty much a blank slate) and Connor is at 3.9 millions.

And to link it back to topic.. here's a case where their popularity didn't come from the olympics but instead, led them to the Olympics as they were both asked to carry the torch.

Bravo !

 

[noskates]

Back to SOI - until recently I went every year since it began. Moving away from California kind of put a dent in my attendance. It even became a problem when the arena in San Jose started hosting the show on Mother's Day. I'm guessing that was the only date available between basketball and concerts. My family wasn't happy but I prevailed. I also bought tickets for one M&G and met Patrick Chan (which I have chronicled here some years past) Polina Edmunds (who missed her high school prom because of skating in the show so came to the M&G in her prom dress) and Ashley Wagner. All three spent a great deal of time with us, answered questions, took pictures, etc. While they were not the 3 I wished had been in the M&G, you don't get to choose and don't know who you're meeting until you show up. SOI has always been a good showcase for figure skating and I know many people who go whether they're tried and true figure skating fans or not. It's also a good family outing - or was until the prices got so ridiculous. I bought my St.Louis tickets as soon as they went on sale. Since that time, and since the Olympics, the prices have gone up exponentially and the show is still very nearly sold out. Who do you think they're going to see?

 

[kiimnu]

Yes. That's where the "boymom fans" term comes from. The loyalty is based on how the young men needs to be protected from the injustice of the world against them, and how their hard work needs to be appreciated, and how the fans "know better" how to support their careers to become bigger stars. See - the KPOP boy groups. See - the Heated Rivalry guys. See - Timothee Chalamet.

Too much internalized and unconscious envy from this particular type of fans to do the same for the young women unfortunately. Especially when the women gets more beautiful (as they get older) and more successful and more attractive to men. It's not uncommon to see these kind of fans being the first ones pitting the successful women against each other, claiming that other less popular women are more deserving to get the attention compared to the more popular women. Uncharitable takes on their character as well, "being mindful about mental health" becomes "privileged and overscored so no need to be nervous about scores" .

But I have been observing at least the WNBA fandom as well - and while they had their issues (especially about how differences in treatment of athletes based on race) - their fans know the importance of proving that people watch Women's Sports (hence the T-Shirt mentioned in the Boston Globes write-up) because the issue there is the comparison with the Men's side of the sport. So there is this need to prove that they have the viewership and support, that the Women's side of the sport is profitable. IDK if that can be translated to support of Women's figure skating (especially since it's more of a global sport compared to WNBA and PWHL), but the confirmation that the fans are turning their heads to figure skating because of Alysa is interesting to me.

It’s disheartening to see outdated terms that carry negative connotations used to describe an entire female fanbase's behavior as a single entity, such as “boymom fans” or “crazy teenage fans” in 2026. I thought we’ve moved past that as a society.

Honestly, if those supposed “boymom fans” have to get envious and jealous of every beautiful and talented woman, then they would never get a second’s peace, considering there are millions and millions of beautiful and talented women around the world, with the premise that women exist merely to satisfy men’s gaze, lolol.

 

[yfan1]

It is not a generalization. It is for a specific group (usually extremists) in a fanbase.

As for male gaze, these fans tend to apply massive female gaze to their object of admiration.

 

[Mathman]

Polina Edmunds (who missed her high school prom because of skating in the show so came to the M&G in her prom dress)...

No reason to waste a good prom dress.

 

[Arigato]

I was waiting for this to happen.

刘美贤 on Instagram: "Some of y’all are about to get real Lucky! #luckycharmspartner To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, 25 people will win a custom Alysa Liu x @luckycharms box with a note from me on the back! �HOW TO ENTER: 🥣 like this post 🍀 make su

810K likes, 59K comments - alysaxliu on March 17, 2026: "Some of y’all are about to get real Lucky! #luckycharmspartner To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, 25 people will win a custom Alysa Liu x @luckycharms box with a note from me on the back! �HOW TO ENTER: 🥣 like this post 🍀 make sure...

www.instagram.com

 

[el henry]

I was waiting for this to happen.

刘美贤 on Instagram: "Some of y’all are about to get real Lucky! #luckycharmspartner To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, 25 people will win a custom Alysa Liu x @luckycharms box with a note from me on the back! �HOW TO ENTER: 🥣 like this post 🍀 make su

810K likes, 59K comments - alysaxliu on March 17, 2026: "Some of y’all are about to get real Lucky! #luckycharmspartner To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, 25 people will win a custom Alysa Liu x @luckycharms box with a note from me on the back! �HOW TO ENTER: 🥣 like this post 🍀 make sure...

www.instagram.com

Now this, and I say this with respect not snark, is great promotion and great PR and a great way for agents to earn their keep.

Far different from applying unwarranted cynicism to Alysa's own words.

 

[dorispulaski]

Great Olympians have ended up on cereal boxes all my life!

Okay drop the mic.

Alysa has been announced the 2026 Olympics superstar by General Mills.



Consider all the Wheaties box Olympic stars, dating back to 1934 ( & other General Mills cereals, like Lucky Charms)

List of athletes on Wheaties boxes - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Only 5 figure skaters made it.

Elvis Stojko

Barbara Ann Scott

Maribel Vincent

Kristi Yamaguchi

Sara Hughes.

 

[dorispulaski]

And this post tells you about how Olympic success can become success for your sport.



Hilary Knight is already impacting professional women's hockey.
Let's hope Madison and Alysa can do the same.

 

[Mathman]

I have this. Not just Wheaties, but Honey Frosted Wheaties.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nRwAAOSwTSdoVXl2/s-l1600.png

I just noticed that the Lucky Charms promo came out just in time for St. Patrick's Day. I hope Alysa dies her hair green next season.

 

[dorispulaski]

A nail artist inspired by Alysa