Alysa Liu is Effortlessly Anti-Capitalist

Anyone could take one look at Alysa Liu and assume her political leanings: her uniquely dyed hair doesn’t go well with a red MAGA hat, and her baggy clothes don’t align with a traditional conservative view of femininity. The assumption that Alysa Liu is left-leaning is not at all unfounded: alternative fashion styles like hers have a long history of accompanying movements that challenge societal norms and encourage rebellion. Liu hasn’t explicitly stated her political affiliations beyond a couple of Instagram Stories showing her at anti-war protests. However, I still see her as a clear symbol for anti-fascism and anti-capitalism.

Fascism is a political ideology built on authoritarianism and prioritization of the nation over the individual. This means that values such as individualism and self-expression are discouraged under fascist rule. In a fascist state, there is no room for a pluralistic identity; a citizen’s loyalty must lie with their government. Identifying with multiple labels and communities means that a citizen’s sole responsibility can’t be solely with the needs of their nation. Individual expression is a threat to fascism. 

When Alysa Liu showed up to the Olympics with her striped hair and “smiley” piercing, she wasn’t explicitly making a political statement against fascism and suppression of the individual; she was simply being herself. But by choosing to live by a philosophy of valuing self-expression, as she noted she does in an NBC interview, she directly challenges the suppression of the individual that comes with fascism.

Liu’s unapologetic self-expression is also allowed to flourish, more so than that of many fellow skaters, because she has taken control over her creative process. Liu skated at the 2022 Olympics at the young age of 16, but she was tightly controlled by her father and coaches: she wasn’t allowed to eat or drink what she wanted, let alone have a say in her choreography. She was controlled by people who only wanted her to win, and she became defined solely by her achievements. As a result, she no longer enjoyed skating, so in April 2022, she announced her retirement from the sport to focus on attending school, being with family, and leading a normal life. As a surprise to everyone, especially her coach, she returned to skating in March 2024, this time with full creative control. 

After making this change, she ended up winning the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Being controlled and suppressed by coaches focused on winning and profit ended up being what was holding her back from truly succeeding.

I believe Alysa’s story is an example of the suppressive effects of capitalism: those in charge control the people and force them to work with strict guidelines—certain hours and certain responsibilities that must be done in a certain way. Supposedly, capitalism rewards innovation, but really, it fosters little room to be creative and take risks. If the workers don’t have a stable job, they can’t pay their bills. Alysa Liu, however, represents what could be. What would happen if everyone were allowed to control how they work? What would happen if, instead of the “coaches”—the elites—determining the rules, the “skaters”—the workers—controlled the means of production?

The mindset would switch our focus from the final result—winning or profiting—to the process. Liu has already demonstrated this mindset: “Winning isn’t all that, and neither is losing,” she said in an interview. “It’s just something that happens…what matters is the input and the journey.” 

This is the mindset of someone who was given room to try new things and to fail. Capitalism doesn’t allow its subjects to care about the journey instead of the outcome; it pressures, restricts, and stifles. Alysa Liu gives us a glimpse of what the world could look like without the suppression of capitalism.