On Jan. 23, UCLA senior gymnast Nia Dennis performed a sh0wstopping, jaw-dropping floor routine that has since gone viral on social media. Her routine celebrated Black excellence, featuring music from all Black artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Soulja Boy, Tupac Shakur, and Megan Thee Stallion. Nia added in some fun choreography on top of her intense tumbles. (She also earned a score of 9.950.)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, people lost their minds over Dennis’ routine after UCLA Gymnastics shared a video of it to Twitter, writing, “This is what #blackexclellence looks like.”
This is what #blackexcellence looks like. @DennisNia does it again! 🔥
📹 @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/2vxgyTvUCG
Not only did the UCLA Gymnastics tweet received more than 60,000 likes and 17,000 retweets, but a quote tweet from Twitter user Wells P got more than 367,000 likes and 80,000 retweets. So, yeah, viral.
WE GOT A NEW SUPERSTAR pic.twitter.com/7HYI5lX8Rs
“WE GOT A NEW SUPERSTAR,” Wells P captioned the video. But another person replied, “nia BEEN a superstar.”
Gold medal Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was also blown away, saying on Twitter, “okay @DennisNia do the damn thing girl 🔥 this was so fun to watch! keep killing it!” Dennis replied with a sweet and simple, “thank you girl.”
okay @DennisNia do the damn thing girl 🔥 this was so fun to watch! keep killing it! https://t.co/eDntwMpC4R
In an interview with Los Angeles Daily News, Dennis shared the inspiration behind her routine and the impact she hoped it had on the audience and judges. “This routine definitely reflects everything that I am today as a woman, and of course I had to incorporate a lot of parts of my culture,” she said. “I wanted to have a dance party because that’s my personality and of course I had to shout out LA because we out here, UCLA.”
Last year, Dennis also went viral with her epic floor routine set to Beyoncé, which earned her a score of 9.975 from the judges.
A year after Katelyn Ohashi, Nia Dennis takes the Internet by storm. 😍@katelyn_ohashi @DennisNia @TeamUSA @uclagymnastics @gymnastics
pic.twitter.com/Ywit6xP4Dp
Dennis took to Twitter at the time to thank her new fans for all their kind messages from her Beyoncé routine. “I am overwhelmed with happiness and joy, thank you everyone for such positive messages, it means the world to me to have your support. this is so surreal i can’t even believe it! much love always.”
I am overwhelmed with happiness and joy, thank you everyone for such positive messages, it means the world to me to have your support. this is so surreal i can’t even believe it! much love always.. -xx nations 💕
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