Olivia Dunne is the new sporting sensation on the block! This rising star has taken the world of college gymnastics by storm. The Louisiana State University gymnast is making some big bucks at the moment.
Dunne is facing backlash as she continues to gain attention for posting figure-flaunting promo shots to social media. The 20-year-old Louisiana State University gymnast has proven one of the fastest-rising NCAA faces this year – she’s the most followed NCAA athlete on social media and boasts a mass following on both TikTok and Instagram.
Dunne is said to have earned $2 million from her online activities, as she fronts brands including Forever 21, American Eagle, and Plantfuel. Now, she’s facing criticism over how she portrays herself online.
Dunne has been discussing her net worth. “Seven figures. That is something I’m proud of. Especially since I’m a woman in college sports,” she told The New York Times, adding:
“There are no professional leagues for most women’s sports after college.” The New Jersey native has gotten the thumbs-down from Stanford’s college basketball coach Tara VanDerveer.
She told the NY Times:
“I guess sometimes we have this swinging pendulum, where we maybe take two steps forward, and then we take a step back. We’re fighting for all the opportunities to compete, to play, to have resources, to have facilities, to have coaches, and all the things that go with Olympic-caliber athletics.” She also called it a “step back.”
Yeah, you read that right. Apart from her athletic career, Dunne is also a big social media personality. Let us share with you, Olivia joined the video-sharing platform TikTok in the year 2020.
During her initial days, Dunne posted gymnastics videos on her TikTok page. Later on, she also began giving her fans a closer look at other parts of her life as well. She started posting dance videos, lip sync as well as challenge videos on her TikTok profile.
By July 2021, Dunne had more than 4 million followers on the social media platform. She is popularly known as Livvy on TikTok and now she has become one of the most followed NCAA athletes in America.
In an interview with New York Post, Olivia said, “I just want to be a role model to young girls. I want to set a good example, and I want to send out a message that we’re more than just our sport. That’s very important to me.”
The college gymnast told the media outlet, “I don’t try to put any pressure on myself, and I don’t try to compare myself to other people. I’m kind of just going with the flow, and it’s very exciting. Right now it’s all about trying to find a balance between school, social media, and gymnastics. All them are top priorities in my life.”
“You can go outside wearing sweatpants and a puffer jacket, and you’ll be sexualized,” Dunne told the Times. “I could be on a podcast, and it could just be my voice, and I’ll face the same thing. So, I think it will be there, no matter what you do or how you present yourself.”
Watch the video report below for more details: