Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on social media in the last few years, you’ve seen the name. Olivia “Livvy” Dunne. Most people still think of her primarily as the LSU gymnast who broke the internet, but by early 2026, it's clear she's morphed into something much bigger. She isn't just a college athlete anymore; she’s a legitimate business mogul who happens to look great in a bikini.
The intersection of Olivia Dunne and swimsuit culture isn't some happy accident or a desperate play for views. It’s a calculated, high-stakes brand evolution. When she first appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue back in 2023, the skeptics were loud. They called it "regressive." They said it distracted from her gymnastics. But three years later, looking back at her 2025 cover and her current trajectory in 2026, those critics look increasingly out of touch.
The Shift From the Mat to the Cover
Livvy’s journey with SI Swimsuit started in Puerto Rico with photographer Ben Watts. It was a 4:50 a.m. wake-up call that changed the trajectory of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) forever. Before that shoot, female athletes were largely expected to stay in their lane. You play your sport, you post a few "game day" photos, and maybe you get a local car dealership deal.
Dunne blew that door off the hinges.
By the time the 2025 issue rolled around—where she shared the cover with icons like Salma Hayek and Jordan Chiles—the narrative had shifted. It wasn't about a gymnast in a swimsuit; it was about an athlete owning her agency. She’s famously said that her most viral post was a picture of her about to mount the balance beam, but the SI shoots in Bermuda and Portugal allowed her to tap into a different kind of power.
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She turned 23 recently. Most gymnasts are "retired" by this age. Instead of fading into the background, she’s using the swimsuit platform to transition into a full-blown entertainment career.
Why Everyone Got the Controversy Wrong
There’s this tired debate about whether posing for swimsuit shoots "sexualizes" female athletes or "empowers" them. Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer once called the trend regressive. But if you look at the numbers, the "regressive" argument falls apart.
Dunne has built a net worth that’s reportedly pushing toward eight figures. In late 2025, she signed a massive multi-million dollar deal with the global talent agency Wasserman. That’s the same agency representing guys like Kylian Mbappé. They aren't signing her because she’s "just" an influencer; they’re signing her because she’s a pioneer of a new hybrid business model.
- Selective Partnerships: She says "no" way more than she says "yes."
- Ownership over Endorsement: Her team is moving her toward equity stakes in companies rather than one-off fees.
- Massive Reach: We’re talking over 13 million followers across TikTok and Instagram.
Basically, the swimsuit shoots are the top of the funnel. They get the attention. Then, she funnels that attention into deals with Nautica, Vuori, and Motorola. It’s a masterclass in brand architecture.
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The 2025 Bermuda Shoot: A Turning Point
The 2025 shoot in Bermuda felt different. It was her third year with the magazine, and the confidence was palpable. She wasn't the "new girl" anymore; she was the veteran. Lensed by Watts again, she was rocking high-cut zebra prints and leopard-print monokinis.
What’s interesting is how she mixes the high fashion with her "Jersey girl" roots. She’ll do a high-glamour shot and then follow it up with a TikTok of her and her boyfriend, Paul Skenes (the Pirates pitcher who’s been busy winning Cy Young awards), eating hot dogs. That's the secret sauce. She’s attainable and untouchable at the same time.
The NIL Era’s Richest Female Athlete
It’s hard to wrap your head around the money involved here. On3 has consistently valued her NIL brand at over $4 million, the highest for any female collegiate athlete in history. Even now, as she moves past her fifth-year senior season at LSU where she helped secure an SEC Championship, the revenue hasn't dipped.
Most athletes see a massive drop-off once they stop competing. Dunne hasn't. Why? Because she didn't just build a sports brand; she built a lifestyle brand. The Olivia Dunne and swimsuit connection provided the bridge from the gym to the world of fashion and entertainment.
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Navigating the 2026 Landscape
So, what does she do now? The 2026 forecast for Dunne looks like a mix of hosting duties—she recently did a stint on the Golden Globes red carpet—and potentially launching her own lines.
There’s been plenty of talk about her move into the "Social Club" space with SI, essentially becoming a mentor for the next generation of athletes like Flau'jae Johnson or JuJu Watkins. She’s the blueprint. She showed that you can be an All-American on the floor exercise and a cover girl on the newsstand without compromising either.
Actionable Insights for the "New" Athlete
If you’re watching Dunne’s career and wondering how the game has changed, here are the reality-check takeaways:
- Diversify the Platform early. Don't wait until you're done playing to build a brand. Dunne was posting TikToks years before NIL was even legal.
- Authenticity > Perfection. Her "BTS" (behind the scenes) content often performs better than the polished professional photos. People want the person, not just the pose.
- Control the Narrative. By partnering with SI, she chose the venue for her swimsuit debut. She didn't let paparazzi or leaks define her image.
- Think Equity. As she moves into 2026, the focus is on long-term wealth, not just quick checks.
The era of the "distracted athlete" is over. Olivia Dunne proved that you can have a swimsuit career and a championship ring at the same time. It's not about being one thing; it's about being everything at once.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on how she leverages her new Wasserman representation to pivot into tech and venture capital—that's where the real "eight-figure" shift is going to happen next.