“It all happened in a split second 😉” captioned Olivia Dunne on her Instagram post as she flaunted the swimsuit she wore to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Swim Week Runway Show 2025. A TikTok of her went viral in 2020, where she filmed herself performing an onodi on the beach. Slowly, what followed was being featured on the Times Square billboard, becoming the most followed NCAA athlete, top-ranking woman athlete in the NIL, and back-to-back photoshoots with Sports Illustrated for their Swimsuit edition. It all happened in a split second. For Dunne, participating in an SI shoot was one of her biggest dreams. Remember her trip to Puerto Rico back in 2023? As per Dunne, it was truly a “dream come true.” Cut to 2025, and Dunne has some advice for her younger self.

“I remember the first time I dreamt about Sports Illustrated and getting to work with SI. It was literally just a dream of mine,” Olivia Dunne explained as she appeared in an interview with Sports Illustrated on June 22, 2025. “ … I feel like I manifested it into my reality today … It’s been a blast, it changed my career. I would say to my 16-year-old self, just keep doing what you’re doing because you’ll end up here. This is crazy.” At 16 years old, she was already an elite-level gymnast, making headlines in the U.S. gymnastics scene.

She competed in high-profile events like the 2017 U.S. Classic, P&G Championships, and continued through to 2018 and 2019 competitions, represented the U.S. in international competitions, such as the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy. While all of this might not directly contribute to her dream of being a Sports Illustrated model, she still is one. So why change the things that worked out how you wanted to?

Olivia Dunne has appeared in three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues: her debut in Puerto Rico in 2023 showcased her gymnast-strength in bold, edgy swimwear shots by Ben Watts; she returned for the 2024 60th‑anniversary issue in Portugal, embracing pastel, ballet core aesthetics while emphasizing body positivity; and in 2025 she secured one of four solo covers—shot in Bermuda in striking animal‑print bikinis—marking her evolution from rookie to full-fledged SI star.

What’s next for Olivia Dunne?

Olivia Dunne closed the chapter on gymnastics in mid-April 2025, after nearly two decades in the sport. What’s next? “My life has revolved around gymnastics,” the former LSU gymnast told PEOPLE. “So, honestly, to be able to say yes to more things and potentially maybe do some more performing art stuff on screen — and I’m very excited.” When asked by PEOPLE if that was a tease for acting, Dunne had a hinting response. “I don’t know, I don’t know! Stay tuned!” she replied. She has been into gymnastics since she was 3 years old, only makes sense for her to take a break now.

She’s been a steadfast presence at Pittsburgh Pirates games, cheering on her boyfriend, MLB star Paul Skenes. “I’m super excited to be able to spend time with Paul,” Dunne told PEOPLE. “I’ve always had to train during my summers and stuff… So to be able to not have to do gymnastics training and be able to spend more time in Pittsburgh with Paul, enjoying the baseball season, I’m looking forward to that.”

Beyond glamor and game days, Dunne is channeling her influence into meaningful good. She plans to expand her Livvy Fund, launched at LSU, to empower female athletes in navigating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, particularly in sports with limited pro pathways. As a grad student and powerful media presence, she’s using her platform to educate, mentor, and spark a new blueprint for women in sports and media . What are you thoughts over her career direction?