Livvy

It’s not that Livvy Dunne ever set out to conquer the world; it’s just that the world happens to fall at her feet, effortlessly. A girl as easy to spot on a balance beam as on a phone screen, she somehow balances the life of an elite gymnast with that of a social media star, and she does it with the kind of charm that turns heads before people realize they’re already paying attention. Olivia Paige Dunne, Livvy to anyone who knows her, doesn’t just capture moments — she seems to live them twice as vividly as the rest of us. A beam routine becomes a dance, a social post a wink that invites you in.

Born into a world that wasn’t quite ready for someone who would blend athleticism and personality so seamlessly, Livvy didn’t wait for permission. Her journey began in a gym like many others — a little girl with wide eyes, calloused hands, and dreams as big as the uneven bars she would later master. By the time she turned fourteen, the routine of training and competition had become a second language to her. Homeschooled, she traded desks for mats and lived by the rhythm of flips and landings.

Her early days at ENA Gymnastics saw her chasing the thrill of improvement, every turn on the beam a new chance to perfect. By 2017, she was already on the National Team, and the world was beginning to take notice. She wasn’t just another gymnast moving through the motions — there was a joy to her routines, an ease that seemed to suggest she was made for this. Even when injuries inevitably slowed her down, Livvy never lost the spark. Whether she was sixth in an all-around competition or fighting her way through a season on uneven bars alone, there was always a hint of mischief in her eyes, as if she knew this wasn’t the end, only a pause.

The gym never quite consumed her whole, though. There’s something about Livvy’s presence that suggests she’s always understood how to move between worlds. At LSU, where she became a key part of the Tigers’ gymnastics team, Livvy brought more than just points to the scoreboard. She brought energy, charisma — a kind of connection with the fans that made even the non-gymnasts in the crowd care about the sport.

It was during this time that her presence on social media exploded. What began as gymnastics videos soon became something bigger, more magnetic. Livvy let people into her world — not just the carefully choreographed routines but the moments between. TikTok, Instagram — these platforms became her stage as much as the beam or the bars. A girl who could score 9.9 on the uneven bars could also captivate millions with a single glance into the camera. By 2023, with over 10 million followers across platforms, she was the most-followed NCAA athlete, a fact that felt less like a surprise and more like an inevitability.

But Livvy’s online presence wasn’t just about showcasing skills. It was about letting her audience in on the joke, the joy, and occasionally, the hard days too. She was just as likely to post a video in a leotard as she was in sweatpants, and that’s what people loved. The girl who could vault into a perfect landing was also the one who laughed at herself when she stumbled. There was an authenticity in her, a sense that you weren’t just watching a star, but someone who could very well be your best friend — if only you lived down the street.

This kind of openness, of course, drew attention not just from fans but from brands. Livvy quickly became a face of sportswear, of fashion, and later, of bigger things. When the NCAA changed its rules to allow athletes to profit from their name and image, no one was more poised to take advantage than Livvy. Within months, she had signed deals that far outpaced anything the gymnastics world had seen before. A single post could net her six figures. And yet, when you watched her in a sponsorship video, the polish of the brand never quite overshadowed the person. Livvy remained Livvy — playful, grounded, and always with that knowing smirk that suggested she was having just as much fun as we were.

But despite the fame, the money, and the relentless spotlight, Livvy never quite seemed to lose sight of what mattered. She’s still the girl who, at heart, wants to land that perfect routine. Injuries have tested her, and there have been times when she’s had to sit out more competitions than she’d like. Two torn labrums, a torn bicep, stress reactions — these are more than just words on a medical report. They are battles, scars earned in the pursuit of something bigger than the next post, bigger than the next deal.

Even with these setbacks, she remains one of the most decorated gymnasts in LSU’s history, part of a team that finally took home a national championship in 2024. The wins are sweet, but they’re not everything. It’s the community she’s built around her — from the teammates who’ve cheered her on through every landing, to the millions who double-tap her videos at 2 AM — that makes her journey feel like more than just a series of victories.

And now, as she continues to build her career, both in gymnastics and beyond, Livvy seems to understand something that many in her position miss: she’s not just an athlete, or a model, or an influencer. She’s a storyteller. Whether it’s through a perfect 9.9 routine or a candid selfie, she’s writing her own narrative — one that’s equal parts grace and grit.

Sure, Livvy Dunne might be the cutest girl ever, but she’s more than that too. She’s a force, moving through the world with a quiet kind of confidence that draws you in, whether you’re watching from the stands, scrolling through TikTok, or just catching a glimpse of her on the Sports Illustrated pages. There’s something in the way she moves, in the way she smiles, that makes you feel like you’re part of her world. And, for a moment, you are.