Livvy Dunne’s Post-Gymnastics Journey: From Influencer to Entrepreneur
With her LSU gymnastics career now behind her, social media star and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Livvy Dunne is stepping into a new chapter. She’s known for her athleticism, multimillion-dollar brand, and trailblazing approach to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
Dunne’s determined to keep making waves far beyond the gymnastics floor. At just 21, she’s already the highest-paid female college athlete in history, raking in more than $4.1 million through big-name endorsements.
Now, she’s channeling her experience into helping other athletes build their own brands. She leans on the same strategies that made her a household name.
Her recent appearance at AthleteCon in Charlotte, North Carolina, gave a glimpse into her post-gymnastics ambitions. The opportunities ahead seem limitless. (Source)
From Gymnastics Star to Personal Branding Powerhouse
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Dunne’s journey is pretty remarkable. After nearly two decades in gymnastics, she helped lead the LSU Tigers to the 2024 national championship as a junior, but an injury sidelined her for her senior year.
Her impact stretched way beyond the gym, though. On TikTok and Instagram, where she’s got more than 13 million followers, she turned her athletic persona into a business empire.
Her collaborations with Nautica, Crocs, and Sports Illustrated showcased her marketability. They also highlighted how college athletics is changing in the NIL era.
Dunne juggled competition, academics, and content creation, and somehow made it look easy. She’s become a kind of blueprint for modern athlete entrepreneurship.
The Blueprint for NIL Success
At AthleteCon, Dunne shared her insights with her sister and manager, Julz Dunne. The two-day seminar brought together over 100 athletes focused on monetizing their personal brands.
Attendees connected with reps from TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta, made live content, and even competed for NIL deals. According to AthleteCon CEO Sam Green, Dunne sets the standard for how athletes can capitalize on their name, image, and likeness while staying true to themselves.
- More than 13 million followers across TikTok and Instagram
- Highest-paid female college athlete with over $4.1 million in NIL earnings
- Endorsements with major brands like Nautica, Crocs, and Sports Illustrated
- Helped LSU win the 2024 national championship
Life After Gymnastics: A World of Opportunity
Now that she’s free from the grind of student-athlete life, Dunne’s ready to chase opportunities that used to be out of reach. She hasn’t revealed specific projects yet, but her comments hint at ambitions in media, fashion, and business.
She believes athletes shouldn’t box themselves into just one thing. Instead, she urges them to try multiple ventures and see what sticks.
Balancing Fame, Stress, and Ambition
Dunne’s rise to fame came with challenges. She’s spoken openly about the pressure of juggling classes, training, and the never-ending need for new social media content.
Sometimes, the stress just got to her—she remembers breaking down in her coach’s office from all the responsibilities. Still, she pushed through and now tries to inspire others to do the same.
Her advice to young athletes? *You are more than your sport.* She encourages them to ask questions, network, and create content that tells their own stories.
Curiosity and consistency, she says, are the real keys to building a sustainable personal brand.
Redefining the Athlete’s Role in the Digital Era
Dunne’s career shows how athletes can now generate income and shape their image in ways that weren’t possible before. The NIL landscape has opened doors for student-athletes to monetize their platforms.
For Dunne, that meant turning her gymnastics success into a global brand. Fans connect with her not just for her wins, but because she’s relatable and engaging online.
She’s proved that athletes can be both competitive and creative. Those qualities don’t have to cancel each other out.
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The Athlete as Creator
Sam Green’s company slogan, *all athletes are creators*, sums up Dunne’s philosophy. She believes athletes have stories worth telling, and those stories can be monetized with the right content strategy.
She thinks the key is to keep putting content out there, because the audience is always hungry for more—even if you’re not always sure what will land.
- Authenticity builds trust with followers
- Consistency is crucial for audience growth
- Networking opens unexpected opportunities
- Multiple revenue streams create long-term stability
Looking Ahead: Dunne’s Next Chapter
Dunne hasn’t shared concrete details about her next moves, but it’s obvious she plans to stay in the spotlight. Whether it’s modeling, media, business, or helping educate other athletes, her brand is only going to get bigger.
Her relationship with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes keeps her connected to the wider sports world. That just adds another layer to her public persona.
Inspiring the Next Generation
For young athletes navigating NIL, Dunne’s journey is a kind of roadmap. She’s shown you can excel in sports and build a thriving business.
The skills she learned in athletics—discipline, resilience, adaptability—translate into entrepreneurship. Her message is pretty clear: *Don’t just consume — create.*
By sharing her story, she’s giving the next generation some tools to take control of their careers. She’s shaping her own legacy, sure, but she’s also having a real impact on the future of college athletics and athlete branding.
Conclusion
Livvy Dunne went from NCAA gymnastics standout to a surprisingly versatile entrepreneur. That’s honestly impressive, and it says a lot about the power of personal branding in today’s sports world.
She found her way through the whole NIL landscape with a mix of creativity, realness, and a stubborn drive. In doing so, she’s kind of rewritten the playbook for what athletes can do during and after their careers.
Where’s she headed next? Tough to say, but everyone’s paying attention. Feels like Livvy’s just getting warmed up.
Want the full scoop on Livvy Dunne’s future? Check out Newsday’s coverage here.