Mariah BELL (USA)

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Her bold, electric short program is set to music from Lady Gaga's Chromatica album, while her free skate — "Both Sides Now," by Joni Mitchell — will showcase a more reflective and melodic skating style.

As a skater whose reputation is built around lyrical movements and bursts of joy conveyed on powerful crescendos, connecting with music has always been Bell's strength. So, when friend and coach Adam Rippon brought up the idea of a Chromatica mashup for a short program, she was immediately enthusiastic. The cut features a mix of instrumental tracks, sound effects and crowd favorites like "911" and "Rain on Me."

"There are beautiful swells of traditional skating music, which align with my typical style," Bell said. "But during the upbeat portion, there are a lot of Vogue-inspired gestures. As an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, I want to honor where the movements came from and the people who inspired it."

Fans of RuPaul's Drag Race are already vastly familiar with Voguing. Choreographer Cordero Zuckerman — also known to viewers as Denali Foxx — worked with Bell to pay homage to the Black trans women who invented staccato dance style in the 1970s. (Think: Madonna music video energy with exaggerated, tight upper body movements.)

"In this community, Voguing is a form of expression, an escape," Bell said. "So it's been a challenge to train, but incredibly empowering to pick music that's not only fun, but has such a rich history."

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In stark contrast, Bell's free skate is darker and introspective, a window into how she's reflected on the highs and lows of her skating career.

"My short is fast and dynamic, while my free skate is drastically different, almost haunting," Bell said. "It's less about the music and more about how powerful her words are."

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"This season, I want to show up, execute strong elements as consistently as possible and learn my programs so I can express how much they mean to me," Bell said. "But if I'm focusing on the now… Right now, I just feel good."