Olivia Dunne: Beyond the “Influencer” Label

Olivia Dunne, the former LSU gymnastics star who helped her team secure a national championship, has built an impressive social media empire with nearly 8 million TikTok followers and over 5 million on Instagram. However, in a recent Maxim interview, Dunne made it clear she rejects the “influencer” label often attached to her name. When asked how she prefers to be identified, she responded confidently: “A former athlete, and honestly, right now: model.” This distinction highlights Dunne’s desire to be recognized for her athletic achievements and her evolving professional identity beyond social media.

Dunne’s modeling career has indeed blossomed in recent years, featuring notable appearances with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Her runway walk for the publication went viral when she incorporated an impressive split, showcasing the athletic ability that defined her collegiate career. This seamless transition from elite athlete to model represents how Dunne has successfully leveraged her gymnastics background while creating new opportunities in the fashion and entertainment industries. Her cover feature and photo spread in Sports Illustrated further cement her status in the modeling world, validating her preferred professional designation.

Throughout her time at LSU and beyond, Dunne has been a vocal advocate for fair compensation in college athletics through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. In her Maxim interview, she highlighted the current disparities in the system, noting how “a recruit that hasn’t even touched foot on a campus yet gets paid $12 million by a booster,” while adding pointedly that “that would never happen with any women’s sport.” This observation underscores the gender inequalities that persist in collegiate athletics, even as NIL opportunities have expanded. Dunne’s willingness to speak out on these issues reflects her commitment to fairness and equity for all student-athletes, particularly women.

Taking action on her convictions, Dunne established the Livvy Fund in 2023 specifically designed to help female student-athletes at LSU maximize their NIL potential. The initiative represents a practical solution to the disparities she observed firsthand during her collegiate career. As she explained, “The brands I work with put money into a fund, and my sister will pair them up with a female student athlete who goes to LSU who wants to work.” This entrepreneurial approach demonstrates Dunne’s business acumen and her dedication to creating tangible opportunities for women following in her footsteps. Rather than simply highlighting problems, she has developed a mechanism to address them directly.

Dunne’s business ventures and advocacy work reveal a depth that transcends her social media presence. By rejecting the “influencer” label, she’s not dismissing the power of her digital platforms but rather indicating that her ambitions extend far beyond posting content. Her approach to NIL rights, the creation of the Livvy Fund, and her transition to modeling all point to a young professional deliberately crafting a multi-faceted career. For Dunne, social media appears to be a tool rather than an end goal—a means of amplifying her voice on important issues and connecting with fans while pursuing diverse professional endeavors.

Beyond her professional life, Dunne maintains a personal connection to athletics through her relationship with Paul Skenes, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Their relationship highlights how Dunne’s life remains intertwined with sports even as she builds her post-collegiate identity. This balance between her evolving career, advocacy work, and personal relationships presents a more complete picture of Dunne than any single label could capture. Whether she’s walking a runway, championing female athletes’ rights, or cheering from the stands at a baseball game, Olivia Dunne continues to define herself on her own terms—as an athlete, model, entrepreneur, and advocate, but decidedly not as just an “influencer.”