Gymnast Livvy Dunne had quietly built a solid portfolio for herself through social media during her LSU days, waiting to reap the benefits of it.

When the NIL (name, image, likeness) rules changed in 2021, she was able to make a career out of it. In a recent in-depth interview with Boardroom, Dunne revealed how choosing her family alongside her agents to help her start the right way changed her life.

"The first thing I did was take my time picking the right agency and people that I trust. I feel like the biggest downfall is having people around you don’t trust. My mom, my sister, and my dad work heavily with me, and I love my agents; they’re amazing. I took my time with [picking the right team] and made sure that everything was right, and I wasn’t rushing."

At LSU, Dunne became one of the most followed college athletes, but was not able to capitalize on her NIL in her freshman year. “I didn’t really care because I just loved to do social media,” she said.

Dunne revealed a time when she couldn't even get a free sweatshirt, a detail that now feels almost absurd given what NIL has become.

But after the rules changed in 2021, there was no turning back for Dunne, as she fully invested her time in social media as a real job, rather than just a hobby.

Dunne's first real taste of making her own money from NIL came when she went on a trip to New York in 2022. The then 19-year-old Dunne was finally able to acquire a sense of independence from her own money that hadn't existed before NIL.

Today, Dunne boasts one of the largest social followings of any college athlete in history, with over 13 million and counting.

According to On3, Dunne was the highest earning female athlete last year, with her endorsements valued at $4.1 million.

She was the No.4 overall, behind only football players Arch Manning ($6.5 million) and Carson Beck ($4.3 million) and basketball player Cooper Flagg ($4.8 million).

Beyond her social media dominance, Dunne is expanding into acting, with her big break coming in the form of the Baywatch reboot series.

Livvy Dunne Stuns in Iconic Red Swimsuit as First Official Baywatch Look

The first official picture from the new Baywatch series has finally been unveiled, and it shows Olivia “Livvy” Dunne in the iconic red swimsuit.

The photo shows Dunne posing alongside co-stars Shay Mitchell and Noah Beck, sporting blonde hair that perfectly matches the tone of her red swimsuit.

Ironically, the sunny weather show will premiere in January 2027 on the Fox Network.

Dunne is cast as "Grace", described as a “highly enthusiastic junior lifeguard.”

So, would you follow the former LSU athlete's journey to the television and streaming services?

Read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Utsav Gupta