Olivia Dunn, LSU gymnast, is one of the most prominent social media influencers in the United States. The 21-year-old, who has long been known for her talent, has shown that she can throw some weight on the academic front as well.
After first gaining attention during the 2020 coronavirus lockdowns for posting videos of her gymnastics routines on TikTok, Dunn’s popularity exploded almost overnight. To date, Dunne boasts nearly 10 million followers on TikTok, with several million more spread among her other platforms.
On December 8, Dunn addressed her TikTok followers in a personal video message. According to the New Jersey native, she takes a break to attend her exams during finals week at LSU. The lip sync continued as follows:
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“Right now, I’m not depressed, I’m just taking a short break from killing. I’ll be back to killing soon.”
It’s been a very busy year for Olivia Dunne. In addition to entering her final year of college, she also announced her relationship with pitcher Paul Skinnes. Skenes, who graduated from LSU last spring, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with their first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Entry Draft.
In response to her video, legions of fans responded with messages of support for Den. Dunn majored in communication studies and has served as a center on the LSU gymnastics team since her freshman year.
“Olivia Dunn gets cozy with potential MLB boyfriend Paul Skeens in new photo” – New York Post
Social media fame has made Dunne incredibly famous, as well as incredibly wealthy. In 2023, it was reported that the young star was paid over $50,000 for a single social media post. Dunne was also a direct beneficiary of the 2021 NCAA rule change that allowed college athletes to earn income from their name, image and likeness (NIL).
Olivia Dunne gracefully walks the tightrope between academia and fame
No stranger to balance, Olivia Dunne seems to have superhuman time management skills, attending to her studies while managing an influencer gambit, while finding time to share with boyfriend Paul Skinnes.
Fame is a double-edged sword, and Dunne knows that better than anyone. She has commented in the past that she requires a full-time security detail, and no longer attends classes in person, citing concerns for her safety. With her graduation on the horizon, fans are eagerly waiting to see the new heights she will reach.