AceShowbiz - Alysa Liu, the double Olympic gold medalist, captivated audiences at the 2026 Figure Skating Exhibition Gala by performing a stunning routine set to the remix of "Stateside" by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson. The event took place on the evening of February 21 and featured over 40 Olympic figure skaters celebrating the sport’s achievements.

The exhibition gala serves as a traditional closing ceremony for the Olympic figure skating program, offering fans a chance to see their favorite athletes in a more relaxed, celebratory atmosphere. For this special occasion, Liu chose a track from PinkPantheress’s "Fancy Some More?" remix album, which includes the updated "Stateside" featuring Zara Larsson. This project accompanies the Mercury-nominated "Fancy That."

Earlier in the season, Liu publicly expressed her admiration for PinkPantheress, naming her as a favorite artist during the Winter Olympics. The connection between the skater and the musician deepened when a reporter shared a personal video message from PinkPantheress to Liu. In the message, PinkPantheress said, "Alysa, lots of love, thank you so much for supporting me. I hope that you have a really good show. You are so inspiring and when I was younger I was obsessed with figure skaters so you are literally living my dream. Thank you so much for the love."

Liu reiterated that PinkPantheress is her favorite artist and confirmed that if she participated in the Olympic Gala, she would skate to "Stateside."

The performance was met with enthusiasm on social media, including a tweet from PinkPantheress herself, who wrote: "Ugh she's so fabbbb." Fans quickly hailed the song as a highlight of the event and praised the synergy between the music and Liu’s elegant skating.

In addition to this heartfelt musical and athletic collaboration, the 2026 Winter Olympics featured diverse and unexpected moments. Notably, a metal singer from Italy earned a skiing medal, highlighting the variety of talent across disciplines.

Meanwhile, PinkPantheress has made significant waves in the music industry beyond the Olympics. Her song "Illegal" was named NME’s best song of 2025, praised for its concise, high-energy style and clever storytelling. Critics noted the song’s appeal, highlighting its infectious beat and memorable cultural references.

When interviewed by NME about the widespread success of "Illegal," PinkPantheress modestly attributed its popularity to TikTok trends and the timeless nature of its sample, stating, "I don't know if it's anything too deep, other than having a [TikTok] trend for it helped and also the sample is quite timeless. I think the power of the beat itself is what people really like about it."

Despite being nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Pop Recording, the track did not win, losing to Lady Gaga’s "Abracadabra." However, PinkPantheress continues to garner industry recognition, with nominations for Artist of the Year and Best Dance Act at the upcoming BRIT Awards.

Looking ahead, PinkPantheress is preparing for a busy summer festival circuit. Her scheduled appearances include performances at All Points East alongside Lorde and at the Open’er Festival in Poland.