Photo courtesy of @teamusa on Instagram
While the weather may be warming up slightly at the University of Connecticut, the 2026 Winter Olympics are in full swing in Italy. The Olympics are iconic every time they are held, producing countless memes and launching the idolization of athletes. But this time, they seem to be more eventful than in recent years — and I don’t mean sporting events.
From statement nails, alternative fashion and personal confessions, the Winter Olympics are putting on quite the show. In today’s issue of Trendsetter, I will discuss some common themes I have noticed at this year’s games, which are still ongoing.
Despite the United States not ranking number one for number of medals won — Norway is currently first and Canada second — a handful of athletes representing the country are gaining popularity and media presence.
“The Blade Angels,” comprised of Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito, have stolen the Olympic spotlight. You made have heard the phrase already, but they are “alt, gay and from New Jersey,” and unapologetically themselves. Similar to the themes of award season (from the previous issue), boldness is in.
The three women are figure skaters on Team USA. Glenn and Liu won gold medals in the team event. Liu is currently in third place for the singles category.
Also known as the “Babes of Glory,” the trio’s friendship has taken the internet by storm. Glenn is the first openly queer woman on a U.S. Olympic singles figure skating team, according to an article published by USA Today on Feb. 17. Liu is known for her striped dyed hair and smiley piercing, and Levito is, well, from New Jersey and has her own spunk.
The trio of figure skaters provides non-conventional representation, in many respects, for the sport. Female figure skaters have famously been held to strict public image standards, something that the former skater Tonya Harding struggled with in the 1990s.
More so than ever, women have been at the center stage of professional sports. Popular female athletes, like “The Blade Angels” are helping to promote their sport not only through their talent, but also through persona and uniqueness. Many are coining a personality or look — just think of “Bayou Barbie,” now “Chi Barbie” Angel Reese from the WNBA.
Other than dyed hair, nails and manicures have surprisingly been a topic in the Olympics. Stefania Constantini, alongside Amos Mosaner, won Italy a bronze in the mixed doubles curling event. Constantini refused to cut down her long nails and explained that if they were any longer, they would impact her performance, according to an article published by The New York Times on Feb. 12. She serves as a reminder that modern femininity and athletics can co-exist.
Amber Glenn, a member of ‘The Blade Angels,’ a group of three figure skaters on the US women’s team. The three have performed incredibly well at the Olympics, gaining lots of popularity online.
Photo courtesy of @teamusa on Instagram.
While many athletes are living in their truths publicly today, I chose to highlight a few female athletes that are expressing themselves the way they choose during this year’s Winter Olympics. Although each of these women are all successful athletes, they each have their own personal styles that they were unwilling to mask to appeal to the public. This trend is likely to gain popularity and gain traction for all athletes, not just female ones.
Check out the next issue to see if boldness continues to carry into 2026 or if people begin to crawl back into their shells — or maybe a completely new theme will dominate the culture.