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Watch: Olivia Dunne Does Gymnastics on the Sand in BTS Footage of 2023 SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot in Puerto Rico

The NCAA athlete was photographed by Ben Watts for this year’s magazine.

Ananya Panchal

Olivia Dunne was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. 

Olivia Dunne is making a splash in this year’s 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue. The NCAA athlete traded her leotard for some cool and funky swimsuits and was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico.

The LSU gymnast had tons of fun while on location, attempting some impressive tricks and showing off her flexibility for the camera. Watts shared an adorable behind-the-scenes video of Dunne’s photo shoot. She shifted from one stunning pose to another, laughed a lot, waded along the shore, climbed several trees and flipped forward and backward in the sand.

“@livvydunne x @si_swimsuit check out the new issue that just dropped….. shot on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico 🇵🇷,” he captioned the Instagram post. “@mj_day @margotzamet @anthonycristianosalon @bryanzaragoza_ @cindiblairproductions filmed on VHS 📼 by @jeff_sutera.”

The video, filmed by Jeff Sutera, was set to the sound of WHAM!’s “Club Tropicana.”

The New Jersey native said posing for SI Swimsuit was a dream come true and an experience she will never forget. She hopes her photos are inspiring for other young women who have multiple passions.

“When people look at my Sports Illustrated photos, I want them to take away that you can have the best of both worlds—and you can be a strong independent woman while doing it all,” she said. “You can be an athlete. You can be in school, and you can do modeling.”

Olivia Dunne was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by Sommer Swim.

Olivia Dunne was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Swimsuit by Sommer Swim.

View Olivia Dunne’s full 2023 SI Swimsuit gallery here.

Meet Olivia Dunne—read the 2023 SI Swimsuit model’s full feature profile here.

Get ready for the hottest event of the year! The 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue is out now, and you won’t want to miss the Swimsuit Issue Launch Party. Secure your tickets now and join us for an unforgettable weekend of glamour, beauty and fun.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.

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