College gymnast Olivia Dunne ("Livvy") broke the tradition of anonymity in collegiate athletics. She used social media and NIL rules, in contrast to other athletes, to become a social media sensation and successful businesswoman. Her rise to online celebrity was sparked by her inventive "beach-nastics" movies made during the outbreak. NIL permits athletes to make money off of their image, so Dunne uses her profile for side projects and endorsements and has built a sizable net worth largely from social media rather than gymnastics.
Dunne is currently celebrating a major victory after playing a key role in helping LSU (Louisiana State University, her team) secure their first National Championship in April 2024. Dunne, a social media star as well as a champion gymnast, took to TikTok to call it the "Best day of my life. Her boyfriend, baseball prospect Paul Skenes, couldn't contain his excitement either, as he shared a photo from the LSU victory celebrations on his Instagram Stories, showing his support for his champion girlfriend.
