Olivia Dunn Hesitant to Accept Influencer Status
Olivia “Livi” Dunn is not quite ready to call herself an “influencer” just yet. In an interview with Maxim, the former gymnast, who boasts 13.2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, shared her feelings about her evolving identity.
She prefers to identify as a “former athlete and, honestly, now a model” and has expressed interest in exploring acting as well.
At 23, Dunn, a fan of classic romantic comedies like “Notting Hill,” mentioned working with an acting coach and diving into script reading.
When asked about his recent reading materials, Dan humorously noted, “Contracts.”
As for her acting, Dunn’s coach indicated that the action genre might mirror her gymnastics experience. “I want you to really feel what you’re doing,” she explained, recalling how she often just let her body take over during competitions. “You know, I turned off my brain and went with it.”
On Monday, Dunn revealed on her Instagram Story that she first saw her “Maxim” cover during a FaceTime call with her sister, Julz, who also manages her. “Someone pinch me!!!,” she exclaimed, alongside a photo taken by New York City photographer Jill Bensimon.
Dunn emerged as a prominent figure in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era, which allowed student-athletes to profit from their personal brands following NCAA policy changes in 2021. It is reported she was the highest-paid female college athlete during her five years at LSU.
After debuting in Sports Illustrated in 2023, she graced the cover of the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue released in May. Originally from New Jersey, Dunn won an NCAA title with LSU in 2024 and gained internet fame when her gymnastics clips went viral on TikTok during the pandemic.
She was also featured in a photoshoot for Elle magazine in 2023, and GQ published a joint interview with her and her boyfriend, Pirates pitcher Paul Skeens, earlier this year.
Reflecting on her journey, Dunn stated, “I built something bigger than sports,” adding that she recently purchased an apartment in New York City. Her brand includes partnerships with various companies like Accelerator, Vuori activewear, Nautica, and American Eagle.
