Livvy Dunne stuns at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit fashion show with a jaw-dropping move on the runway — see the viral moment that has fans talking!
On May 31st, 2025, at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show in Miami Beach, audience members were captivated by the athleticism and grace displayed by Olivia “Livvy” Dunne. The now 22-year-old Dunne, a former gymnast from Louisiana State University, concluded her runway walk with a perfect split, integrating the gymnastics experience into a high-fashion environment. This is a defining moment in her post-gymnastics career and speaks to her range as a performer.
From Gymnastics Star to Runway Sensation
A career as an NCAA gymnast who competed for Louisiana State University that spanned from 2021-2025, Dunne is originally from Westwood, New Jersey and started gymnastics at the age of three. In 2017, she made the U.S. Junior National Team. She played an important role in LSU claiming its first NCAA gymnastics championship in 2024. Livvy announced her retirement from gymnastics on April 17th, 2025, noting the things gymnastics afforded her in life and over the years.
A Dazzling Performance at the SI Swimsuit Runway Show
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show has a history of beauty, confidence, and individuality and Dunne was incredible in their 2025 runway show . She walked the runway in two separate looks: a sexy one-piece swimsuit and a crop top and animal print bottoms. But her biggest moment came in the finale of the show, where she executed a perfect split, leaving the audience universal awe and really showed her background in gymnastics.
Dunne’s moment wasn’t only about fashion; it was also her journey and perseverance in reaching that point. After fracturing her kneecap in March, Dunne performed an incredible routine, which demonstrated her commitment and excellence .
Embracing New Opportunities
Once a decorated gymnast, Dunne is now exploring new experiences in modeling and media. She appeared on the cover of the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue along with stars such as Salma Hayek Pinault, Lauren Chan, and Jordan Chiles which was Dunne’s third time being featured in the sports publication since her debut in the 2023 issue.
Dunne has expressed a desire to explore opportunities on-screen in potential acting and performance. She explained how the new experiences and challenges she will get to accept since gymnastics is no longer a part of her everyday life is something to be excited for.
Leveraging Social Media Influence
Dunne’s influence goes beyond the gymnastics floor and the runway. Dunne has more than 5.3 million Instagram followers and 8 million TikTok followers. This put her front-and-center in the digital sphere where both the range and the engagement of Dunne’s videos – which can include everything from demonstrations of athletic prowess to fun glimpses of her daily life – easily reaches a diverse audience, inspiring countless young athletes and fans around the world .
Once aware of the power of her platform, Dunne also started the “Livvy Fund” within 2023 to help support other female student-athletes at LSU in getting brand deals and sponsorships to emphasize her commitment to help empowering women in sports to have the proper means financially to be successful on and off the field.
Navigating Challenges with Grace
The degree of fame is evident but so is the degree of uncomfortable challenges Dunne has had to deal with lately. While Dunne enjoys being one of the most notable social media influences, she has limitations in her life and the past encounters she has faced with extreme fans having to do with personal safety and privacy invasion. In a TikTok video, Dunne openly discussed aggressive personal fans that follow her and bother her at the airport and surrounding places that have made her feeling fearful and vulnerable .
Nonetheless, Dunne is dedicated to inspiring others and is committed to improving the world. She is still an advocate for the importance of respecting people’s boundaries and has expressed the need for systemic change to ensure that public figures are offered as much respect and privacy as possible.
A Bright Future Ahead
Olivia Dunne’s evolution from a young gymnast from New Jersey to a national champion, and now to an emerging media personality, is a sign of her versatility, resiliency, and ambition. Her impactful appearance at the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show not only demonstrated her athleticism but also marked the start of an exciting new chapter in her life.
As she continues to shatter ceilings and reshape success, Dunne inspires many as she shows we can all thrive and can navigate seamlessly between worlds and become successful in various realms while doing what we love.
FAQs
1. Who is Olivia “Livvy” Dunne?
Former elite and collegiate gymnast Olivia Dunne competed for Louisiana State University (LSU). She made headlines in gymnastics before gaining notoriety as one of the most followed collegiate athletes on social media. Now, she is a model and a media personality, and is a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie model, and now a recurring SI Swimsuit model.
2. Why was Livvy Dunne’s appearance at the SI Swimsuit Show so special?
Livvy finished her runway walk for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2025, when she did the famous gymnast split at the end of the runway. Livvy Dunne stunned the crowd and created headline news across media platforms.
3. When and where did the SI Swimsuit Runway Show take place?
The show took place on May 31, 2025, in Miami Beach, Florida as part SI’s annual Swimsuit launch events.
4. What did Livvy Dunne wear during the runway show?
She wore two main looks: a simple one-piece black swimsuit and a two-piece look, complete with a crop top and an animal-print bottom. Both looks showed off Livvy’s athletic build and forward fashion sense.
5. Is Livvy Dunne still in gymnastics?
No, Livvy Dunne officially retired in April 2025, after she facilitated LSU gymnastics’ first NCAA gymnastics championship.
6. How many times has Livvy Dunne been in Sports Illustrated?
As of 2025, Livvy Dunne has been in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue three times: 2023, 2024, and 2025. She was also in a cover of sorts in 2025 alongside all of the other fantastic women in the issue.
7. What other career paths is Livvy Dunne looking into?
Beside modeling, Livvy is looking into media and on-screen career path opportunities. Now that her gymnastics career is finished, she hinted she may look into acting and other entertainment.
8. What is the Livvy Fund?
The Livvy Fund is a project Livvy Dunne launched in 2023 for other female LSU student-athletes to gain access to NIL (name, image, likeness) opportunities and brand partnerships to create a level playing field for women in collegiate sports.
9. What issues did she run into with celebrity?
Livvy has been candid about her concerns with safety and privacy, including fans following her and approaching her aggressively in public places such as airports. She has used her platform to encourage fans to behave without hostility when encountering public figures and also requests more protections in the law for public figures.
