If you’ve spent more than five minutes on social media over the last few years, you’ve definitely seen her. The blonde hair, the LSU purple and gold, and the gravity-defying flips that look way easier than they actually are. But honestly, most of the noise around LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne misses the point. People see the TikTok followers—the 13 million plus—and assume she’s just an influencer who happens to do gymnastics.
That’s a mistake.
The truth is, Olivia Dunne didn't just stumble into fame; she basically pioneered the modern blueprint for how a college athlete survives and thrives in a world that didn't even allow them to make a dime until recently. By the time she officially hung up her leotard in April 2025, she wasn’t just a social media star. She was a national champion.
The Grind Behind the Glitz
It’s easy to look at a 15-second clip of a floor routine and forget the twenty years of joint-crushing work that preceded it. Livvy started at age three. Think about that. Most of us were still struggling with coloring inside the lines while she was learning how to hurl her body through the air and land on a four-inch-wide beam. Before she ever stepped foot in Baton Rouge, she was an elite gymnast, competing at the P&G Championships and the U.S. Classic.
At LSU, her career was a mix of massive highs and some pretty frustrating setbacks. During her freshman season in 2021, she was a WCGA All-American on the uneven bars. She was hitting 9.925s like it was nothing. Then the injuries started. Torn labrums, stress fractures—the kind of stuff that makes you want to quit.
But she didn't quit.
Instead, she took a fifth year. And yeah, she caught a lot of heat for it. People in her comments were telling her to "move on" or saying she was only staying for the money. She shut that down pretty quickly on TikTok, pointing out that male football and basketball players take fifth years and redshirt seasons all the time without anyone batting an eye.
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The payoff? 2024.
LSU won its first-ever NCAA National Championship in gymnastics. While she didn’t compete in the very last finals session, her 9.900 scores earlier in the postseason were what got the Tigers there. She was the emotional anchor. When the team finally hoisted that trophy, it wasn't just about the points; it was about a group of women who had spent years being told they were second-best finally proving everyone wrong.
Breaking the Bank (Literally)
Let's talk about the money. Because, wow, it’s a lot of money.
When the NCAA finally greenlit Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in 2021, Livvy was already positioned to sprint past everyone else. As of early 2026, her net worth is sitting somewhere in the $6 million range. She was the first female college athlete to really break the glass ceiling of what a "non-revenue" sport athlete could earn.
We aren't just talking about a few free leggings, either.
- Vuori: She was their first-ever brand ambassador.
- Passes: She signed a multi-million dollar deal with the platform to share behind-the-scenes content.
- Sports Illustrated: She’s appeared in the Swimsuit Issue three years in a row now (2023, 2024, and 2025).
- Major Brands: Motorola, American Eagle, Nautica, and even a commercial with Travis Kelce.
One of the most mind-blowing things she’s ever admitted was on the Full Send podcast: she once got paid over $500,000 for a single social media post. That is life-changing money for anyone, let alone a 20-something college student trying to balance midterms and practice.
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Life After the Leotard: The Skenes Era
Since retiring from competitive gymnastics in 2025, Livvy’s life hasn’t slowed down. If anything, the spotlight got brighter. A lot of that has to do with her relationship with Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher who just snagged the National League Cy Young Award.
They’re basically the sports world’s newest power couple.
Just recently, in early January 2026, they were spotted hanging out with Josh Allen in Buffalo. They’re jet-setting, but honestly, it seems pretty grounded for two people who are constantly being chased by paparazzi. Livvy has been open about their relationship "rule"—they don't restrict each other. They both have high-pressure jobs, and they just support each other's grind. She’s often seen in the stands at Pirates games, trading the purple and gold for black and yellow.
It’s a new chapter. No more 6:00 AM practice. No more taping up ankles for the thousandth time. She told People magazine she was actually excited to just "be there" for Paul during the MLB season because she spent every summer of her life training.
Why the "Influencer" Label Is a Compliment
People use "influencer" as a dirty word when it comes to LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne. They use it to diminish her athletic achievements. But look at the numbers. LSU gymnastics meets started selling out. They had to increase security because of the "Livvy cult" following.
She brought eyes to a sport that usually only gets attention once every four years during the Olympics.
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She also used her platform for something real: the "Livvy Fund." It’s a partnership with Bayou Traditions meant to help other female athletes at LSU get NIL deals. She realized early on that the guys in football were getting all the big boosters, and she wanted to make sure the women’s teams got their slice of the pie. That’s not just "posting for likes"—that’s actual leadership.
What’s Next for Olivia Dunne?
Now that the 2026 season is underway and she’s watching from the sidelines, what does a retired 23-year-old mogul do?
She’s leaning hard into the business side of things. She’s still one of the most sought-after models in the world, and her partnership with WME Sports ensures she isn't going anywhere. She’s mentioned wanting to do something "entrepreneurial" of her own, possibly in fashion, which makes sense given her history of designing her own leotards back in the day.
If you’re looking to follow in her footsteps or just understand the "Livvy effect," here is what you should actually take away from her career:
- Own your brand early. She didn't wait for a pro career to start building her audience. She started on TikTok in 2020 when she was a freshman.
- Don't let the "extra" years go to waste. Taking that fifth year at LSU wasn't about "clinging" to college; it was about finishing the job and winning a ring.
- Diversify your income. She has deals in tech (Motorola), fashion (American Eagle), and even trading cards (Leaf).
- Ignore the noise. Whether it’s people complaining about her "skimpy" outfits or her fifth year of eligibility, she’s mastered the art of the clapback without losing her cool.
Olivia Dunne changed the game. She proved that you can be a world-class athlete and a business mogul at the same time, all while maintaining a 3.8 GPA and winning a national title. Whether she’s in a leotard or sitting behind the plate at a baseball game, she remains the blueprint for the modern student-athlete.
For those tracking the next phase of her career, keep an eye on her upcoming 2026 brand launches. She is moving away from just being the "face" of other brands and toward building a legacy of her own. The gym might be behind her, but the business of Livvy Dunne is just getting started.