Ashley Wagner is a three-time U.S. national champion and Olympian, known for her sass both on and off the ice. Her outspoken and unapologetic nature has won over many fans, but has caused some controversy as well. Here's a look at some highlights from Wagner that make her the best thing that has happened to U.S. Figure Skating since Michelle Kwan.
- Her 2012 Nationals Freeskate: This was the moment that launched Ashley Wagner from being the “Almost Girl” to an absolute champion. You gotta respect the tenacity of someone who declares that they’re either going to become national champion or quit the sport altogether - and actually delivers. From the dramatic spiral sequence to the facials that never quit, this was truly the birth of Diva Wagner.
<span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker"> </span> - Samson and Delilah: This was the program of nine lives, taking Wagner through her second national title and all the way to the Olympics. But the most iconic Diva Wagner moment was at World Team Trophy, when her hair came undone and she played it off as if that was part of the choreography, an iconic moment.
- Her Reaction To Her Score At The Olympics: After the roller coaster ride of a season finally earning her a birth to the Winter Olympics, the rest of the world finally got a glimpse into what we’ve known all along - Ashley Wagner is an honest, sassy queen who wears her heart on her sleeve. Her brutal honesty and refusal to be packaged as the typical ice princess that this sport thrives on is inspiring for us all.
- Her Openness On Twitter: Wagner is clearly someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously, as shown all over her Twitter feed. Her ability to make fun of herself and make light of her shortcomings is something that we should all be taking notes on.
- Her Sweet Dreams Exhibition Program: If you want an example of Ashley beating the “ice princess” stereotype, this is it. She absolutely slays this program, combining her skating skills, musicality, performance abilities, and all around sexiness to create an iconic show program that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
- She Can Pull Off Any Hair Color: If you can go from being brunette, to blonde, to a redhead, you can truly do anything. Ashley hit the trifecta, and I am now convinced that she could pull of hot pink hair and still look fierce.
- She’s Only Getting Better With Age: Ashley is like a fine wine, only getting better with age. 24 is considered elderly in figure skating, but Wagner continues to push the envelope - and actually improve - with each passing year. Her freeskate at the Grand Prix Final this year was the highest score ever recorded for an American woman. Not bad for an old lady.
- Her Moulin Rouge Program: This program has been responsible for the majority of Ashley’s most iconic performances in recent years. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better after her 2015 nationals performance, she came out with a fresh look, fresh dress, and fresh choreography, completely reinventing the program and producing some of her most solid freeskate scores to date. She completely embodies the character of Satine, wrapping you up in her skating.
- The Finger Point: After popping her lutz after an otherwise perfect program at nationals this year, Ashley played it cool and fierce as ever, wagging her finger at the ice where the jump was. This was also the moment I realized I am far too emotionally invested into this sport, as she took her third place finish with much more grace and class than I did.
