Livvy Dunne: LSU Gymnastics Star Turned Social Media Influencer

Livvy Dunne (full name Olivia Paige Dunne) is an American former LSU Tigers gymnast who became one of the most famous college athletes through social media and endorsement deals. Born in 2002 in New Jersey, Livvy gained attention early by joining the U.S. Junior Women’s National Gymnastics Team in 2017. She helped lead LSU to its first NCAA women’s gymnastics team title in 2024. But Dunne is perhaps best known today as a sports influencer: she has amassed over 13 million followers across TikTok and Instagram and became the highest-paid female college athlete ever, with endorsement deals totaling more than $4.1 million. In short, her story is one of athletic talent, savvy branding, and social media success.

Early Life and Gymnastics Career

Dunne grew up in New Jersey and began gymnastics as a child. She was homeschooled to focus on training, and by her early teens she was competing nationally. In 2017, Livvy was named to the U.S. Junior National Team. She later competed at LSU (Louisiana State University), joining the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in 2020.

At LSU, Dunne specialized on uneven bars and helped her team win the SEC (Southeastern Conference) championship in 2024. Most notably, she was part of the LSU team that won the NCAA national championship in 2024 – the first team title in the program’s history. This achievement cemented her status as a top collegiate gymnast. After a fifth year of eligibility, Dunne retired from competitive gymnastics on April 17, 2025 to focus on her burgeoning brand.

Key Achievements:

• 2017: Member of USA Junior National Team
• 2024: Helped LSU win first NCAA women’s gymnastics title
• 2024: Named to Forbes “30 Under 30” in sports
• 2025: Cover model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
• 2025: Retired from gymnastics

Rise as a Social Media Influencer

Livvy Dunne’s influence goes far beyond the gym. She joined TikTok and Instagram while in college and quickly went viral, documenting her life both in and out of gymnastics. By early 2023 she was the most-followed NCAA athlete on TikTok (8+ million followers) and Instagram (5+ million). This massive following turned her into a household name for sports fans.

People started recognizing Livvy at sporting events and beyond. For example, she often cheers on LSU teams – even joining Jell-O shot celebrations with the LSU baseball team during the College World Series. Livvy has been spotted at baseball games supporting her LSU athlete boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. In fact, Livvy’s rising profile meant that others often asked her for selfies or advice, a sign of her celebrity.

Livvy Dunne attending a New York Mets–Pirates game as a high-profile guest (2024), reflecting her crossover appeal at major sports events.

Livvy uses her platform to share everything from gymnastics highlights to everyday moments. Her authentic, down-to-earth posts resonated with millions. As Dunne put it, “the audience is there. People are interested. They want to see what you have to offer”. This mentality helped her build a personal brand that extends well beyond sports. She even created the Livvy Fund, a program to help other female LSU athletes secure their own endorsement deals. In March 2025, Sports Illustrated featured Livvy walking the runway in a swimsuit event, underlining her star power.

Record-Breaking NIL Deals and Endorsements

The NCAA’s introduction of Name-Image-Likeness (NIL) rules in 2021 was a turning point for Livvy. As one of the most followed athletes on campus, Dunne capitalized on sponsorships. By mid-2024, she had become the highest-paid female college athlete of all time, with endorsements exceeding $4.1 million. On3.com (a sports media outlet) ranked her as the No.1 earning women’s college athlete, outpacing stars like Paige Bueckers and Flau’jae Johnson.

Livvy partnered with many well-known brands — from sports apparel to lifestyle products. For example, she signed a unique deal with Accelerator Active Energy (an energy drink company) in 2023. Not only did Livvy promote the drink, she became an investor and even helped create her own “Cotton Candy” flavor. This kind of deep partnership shows how much trust brands place in her image. Other sponsorships include deals with Crocs, Nautica, Gymshark, and coverage in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issues.

In summary, Livvy’s social media fame and savvy management of her personal brand turned her into a multimillion-dollar influencer while still in college. According to ESPN, she has over 13 million followers on TikTok and Instagram combined. Those numbers, along with her NIL earnings, made her an NCAA trailblazer and role model for student-athletes everywhere.

Sports Illustrated Modeling and Media Projects

Beyond athletics and endorsements, Livvy Dunne has moved into modeling and media. She was featured in the 2023 and 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and in 2025 she was named as one of the four cover models for the SI Swimsuit edition (alongside big names like Salma Hayek). This high-profile modeling work expanded her audience further and showed her versatility.

Livvy also appeared in the Amazon Prime docuseries The Money Game: LSU, which followed LSU student-athletes through the 2023–24 season. Additionally, in 2024 she earned a spot on the Forbes “30 Under 30” list in sports, recognizing her impact on and off the mat. With each project — runway shows, Netflix-style docuseries, magazine covers — Livvy is proving she can keep engaging the public beyond gymnastics.

Livvy Dunne serving colorful LSU-themed Jell-O shots at the College World Series (2024), highlighting her energetic presence at college sports events.

What’s Next for Livvy Dunne?

Even as Livvy Dunne’s gymnastics career wrapped up, her plans for the future are ambitious. As she told AP News, “What’s next? Everything. I want to do all of the things that I couldn’t do while I was a gymnast”. Dunne has mentioned speaking on NIL issues and launching more projects to help young athletes. She continues to maintain a strong media presence, scheduling speaking gigs (like at AthleteCon) and developing new content.

In short, Livvy Dunne is transitioning smoothly into life as a full-time influencer and entrepreneur. Her combination of athletic achievement and social media success has given her a unique platform. As ESPN notes, Livvy is not just staying in the sport, she’s using her fame to shine a spotlight on women’s athletics overall. Whether she’s launching new brand deals, modeling, or mentoring others, Dunne’s story keeps fans interested. The sky seems to be the limit for this NCAA star turned internet sensation.

Conclusion

Livvy Dunne’s journey — from a young gymnast dreaming of a “sparkly pink leotard” to one of the most recognizable faces in college sports — is truly remarkable. Her career shows how athletes today can be both champions in their sport and savvy entrepreneurs off the mat. By leveraging social media and NIL opportunities, Dunne has built a career and brand that will last well beyond her LSU years. For young fans and fellow athletes, she serves as an inspiring example: with hard work, authenticity, and a willingness to take risks, you can turn passion into a lasting legacy.

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