Aleah Finnegan has been one of the showstoppers on the LSU roster this year. With constant high scores and the ability to deliver under pressure, the LSU Senior has been the Tigers’ savior this year. But with all these perfect 10 scores and laurels, lots of fans have been interested in the talismanic St. Louis native. They are interested in what motivates the mat sensation to get all these.

Not to mention with her unique background, people are also interested in her personal beliefs and what she identifies as. As such, today we are going to dive into the life of Aleah as we explore her background to find out more about her religious beliefs and practices she conforms to as well as her ethnicity.

What is Aleah Finnegan’s Ethnicity?

Born to an American father and a Filipino mother, Aleah Finnegan had a choice. A personal choice. Her heart leaned towards her Filipino heritage, just like the eldest sister, Hannah. Representing the Philippines has been a matter of pride and honor for Aleah Finnegan, who took the mat at the Paris Olympics representing the Asian nation. She became the first Philippines gymnast in 60 years to compete in the Olympics.

Taking to Instagram on July 30, 2024, she gave a heartfelt tribute to everyone who made it happen. And her utmost gratitude to the nation of the Philippines for letting her live out her dream: “To GAP, POC, and the entire Philippine community, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent this beautiful country and accepting me with open arms. I am honored to wear this flag on my chest.”

The LSU gymnast’s mother, Linabelle, was born and raised in the Philippines before coming to the US to study when she was 19. However, she has made sure her daughters are connected with their cultural roots. That means celebrating the cultural holidays of the Philippines and enjoying the cuisine of the Southeast Asia nation. And with time, hearing her mother’s stories of the beautiful distant land, the 2024 WCGA All American on Floor became more enchanted with the Philippines. She even visited Manila, and that has deepened her love for her mother’s homeland.

So, representing the Philippines was her way of showing love for her mother. She shared with Tatler in July 2024: “What an incredible way to give back to my mom who sacrificed so much, and to the rest of my family members who are still in the Philippines.”  Continuing, she expressed how overwhelmingly amazing this experience has been for her: “To represent them and my heritage is something I can’t even put into words.”

But it’s not just about family. The bigger picture also played a part in her decision. As an LSU star, she had the sway to influence people, to bring about change. “As a community, we’re building each other up for more opportunities for Filipinos to get the recognition they deserve,” was Aleah’s response to Flo Gymnastics in December 2020. She wants to be an inspiration for the Filipino community.

She hopes young children with Filipino heritage will follow in her footsteps and represent the nation on the global stage. The 2024 NCAA Floor Champion believes in her cause. And she also believes she has the divine support she needs to inspire others.

What is Aleah Finnegan’s Religion?

The 2023 All-SEC in Floor believes in the power of God. She knows if God wants, anything can happen. So, she is always grateful for the wonderful life she has been given, and the talents that have helped her become one of the most fluent Floor performers. Her artistry is pure poetry in motion, which enchants the fans and leaves them spellbound. But she doesn’t forget to give the due credit to the Almighty himself/herself.

In a 2019 Instagram post, Finnegan expressed her gratitude to God following her international debut at the International Gymnix competition, stating, “Still in awe of the whole thing, and giving all the glory to God!” When she made her Olympics debut in Paris, that too with the Philippines, her Instagram post read: “From dreaming about the Olympics since I was a little girl, to finally being out on the floor. Thank you, Jesus, for this crazy journey I get to call my life. TGBG!”

TGBG is a common occurrence on Aleah Finnegan’s Instagram posts, like on January 3, 2025. It stands for “To God Be Glorified”. God is all-powerful, supreme, and majestic. And with him on her side, Aleah Finnegan knows she can realize her dreams.