If there were ever a place to take a fashion risk, it’s on the American Music Awards 2026 red carpet. Alysa Liu did just that. On May 25, the Olympic Gold medalist (and Teen Vogue cover star) stepped out with a spiky silver bridge piercing on full display.
Presenting the award for Best Rock/Alternative Artist, Liu leaned into the rock-and-roll aesthetic wearing a custom Chrome Hearts outfit accessorized with layers upon layers of silver jewelry. Complementing the edgy look of the piercing framing either side of her nose, Liu had silver embellishments on her manicure to resemble piercings.
Liu isn’t a stranger to unique piercings. The 20-year-old is best known for her “smiley,” or frenulum, piercing that can be seen dangling from the inside of her upper lip when she smiles. While we don’t have confirmation that Liu’s bridge piercing is permanent—two days ago, she posted photos on Instagram sans nose jewelry—she is not the first Gen Z star to rock a bridge piercing.
North West was spotted rocking faux face piercings on TikTok earlier this year. Like Liu, statement hair and sparkling silver studs framing her nose were key details of her punk rock-inspired look. KATSEYE's Megan also sported a fake bridge piercing at the group's Wango Tango performance last year. Faux piercings can easily be recreated at home with face gems and are a great option for those who might not be able to commit to such a massive facial alteration.
Whether or not Liu’s new bridge piercing is real or not, one thing’s certain: triangle of death piercings are everywhere in 2026—and it’s a perfect new era for bold beauty lovers who want to go beyond your typical stacked earrings.
