Overview
- Known as a frenulum or 'smiley' piercing, the jewelry sits behind the upper lip and shows only when she grins.
- Liu says her sister held up her lip as she pierced it in a mirror during a hiatus when she learned piercing as a hobby.
- She has said she bought sterile supplies and avoided safety pins or piercing guns, citing cost and control over placement.
- Dental experts caution that oral jewelry can lead to enamel wear, chipped teeth, and gum recession, though studio piercings typically heal in weeks.
- Alongside the piercing, Liu’s signature hair features annual platinum-blond 'rings,' as she won Milan gold with a career-best 226.79, the first U.S. women’s individual title in 24 years.