Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

UCLA Gymnast Left 'Speechless' After Michelle Obama Gives Shout Out To Her Viral Floor Routine

UCLA Gymnast Left 'Speechless' After Michelle Obama Gives Shout Out To Her Viral Floor Routine
Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images; Paras Griffin/Getty Images

This past weekend, UCLA gymnast Nia Dennis made waves across the internet when a video of her floor routine was posted and quickly went viral.

Aside from being a wildly impressive demonstration of athleticism and technique, Dennis' routine was a carefully crafted celebration of Black culture.


After the routine blew up on social media, Dennis, a 21-year-old senior in college told The Lilyin an interview:

"The whole thing, literally everything, is Black culture."
"I wanted it to be a celebration of everything [Black people] can do, everything we can overcome."
"Amid all the adversity and oppression we've been through, here we are."

Clips from songs by Missy Elliot, Tupac and Kendrick Lamar all make an appearance throughout the nearly two-minute routine, in which Dennis incorporated movements not typically seen in the White-dominated gymnastics space.

youtu.be

And as if an explosion in internet popularity wasn't enough for Dennis, she recently received high praise from none other than former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Dennis replied back less than an hour later.

She was excited beyond words.

Of course, there were countless other voices congratulating Dennis in addition to Obama.




Obama wasn't the only influential voice to heap praise onto Dennis.

As the Huffington Post reported, Janet Jackson, Common, Missy Elliot and Kerry Washington all had kind words to share.

As Dennis explained in her interview with The Lily, she hopes an exciting routine like hers won't be the last.
"[Olympic gymnastics] have been so cookie-cutter, very ballet, very classical. I'm really pushing boundaries by doing things that are modern, new, urban. In college, you have the opportunity to show your personality through your dance and through your music."
"There's already been a push of boundaries with Simone [Biles]. She uses music that changes a lot. It's really upbeat, high tempo. That's already a huge push of boundaries, and I just want to push it even further. I want to bring that to the even bigger stage."
"I want to inspire young Black gymnasts because it's really rare to see us doing this sport. I want to let them all know: You can do anything you set your mind to. No matter what people tell you, go after it, and get it."

More from Trending

Man in a tux wearing fancy watch
Charbel Aoun/Unsplash

People Recall The Most Out Of Touch Thing They've Heard Anyone Say

Getting everyone's point of view can be fascinating whenever you're with a group of people engaged in a discussion on a range of topics. However, the occasion can be eye-opening when someone unable to read the room makes a comment that can be interpreted as wildly inappropriate.

In an age where social norms are always challenging the way we engage in discourse, nothing is surprising... except for that one rare instance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Steve Guttenberg
KTLA

Actor Steve Guttenberg Praised For Helping Fire Crew Move Abandoned Cars Amid L.A. Wildfires

There has been all kinds of heroism that emerged in Los Angeles amid the horrifying wildfires ravaging the city. And one of those moments involves an icon of '80s cinema.

Actor Steve Guttenberg, best known for his roles in '80s classics like Police Academy, Short Circuit and Three Men And A Baby, is going viral after stepping in to help first responders.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man sitting outside with his head in his hands
man on thinking pose
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

People Describe The Lowest Point In Their Lives

At some point in our lives, we've all said that a certain day was "the worst day of my life."

Chances are, we said that when we were fairly young, and many days followed that were, in fact, much worse.

Keep ReadingShow less
Meghan Markle; 'Guy,' Markle's beagle
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images, @meghan/Instagram

Meghan Markle Pays Poignant Tribute To Her 'Sweet' Rescue Dog After His Death

Meghan Markle is grieving the loss of her beloved beagle named Guy, saying she's cried "too many tears to count" in a poignant tribute on her reactivated Instagram account.

The Duchess of Sussex said she adopted Guy from a dog rescue in Canada after he was given a "few days to live" while previously at a kill shelter in Kentucky.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Glenn Close; J.D. Vance
The View/YouTube; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Glenn Close Says JD Vance Changed After 'Hillbilly Elegy' Film: 'I Don't Know What Happened'

Actor Glenn Close is an eight-time Academy Award nominee, recognized for her work in such classics as The World According to Garp, Fatal Attraction, and Dangerous Liaisons.

But her most recent nomination came in 2021 in the Best Supporting Actress category for her work as Mamaw—the grandmother of a young J.D. Vance—in Ron Howard's adaptation of Vance's bestseller Hillbilly Elegy, which positioned him as a notable voice on rural America and the political ascent of Donald Trump, now the president-elect.

Keep ReadingShow less