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Olivia Dunne Has an Important Message for the Young Female Athletes Who Look Up to Her

The 2023 SI Swimsuit model and LSU gymnast is paving the way for women in college sports.

Ananya Panchal

Olivia Dunne was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. 

Olivia Dunne is full of inspirational messages. The 2023 SI Swimsuit model and LSU gymnast is a trailblazer in the college sports industry, and the 20-year-old is paving the way for future generations of female athletes.

Dunne first stepped on a gymnasium floor at the age of 3 and is now the highest-paid female college athlete in the country. The New Jersey native was interviewed by Hurrdat Sports in Omaha, while the the LSU baseball team played in a 2023 College World Series game against Wake Forest.

“You’re more than your sport,” Dunne said when asked what message she had for young female athletes. “That’s really important to remember.”

She also reflected on the moment she found out she was going to be photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico for the 2023 SI Swimsuit issue.

“It was surreal. I got off the phone and I screamed immediately,” she recalled. “I called my mom. I was in disbelief.”

Dunne added that going into her final year as an LSU Tiger, she is looking forward to healing from her injuries and competing alongside her teammates, who have become like “sisters.”

“I hope it’s my best year yet,” she continued. “I hope to go out there and do what I love every single day.”

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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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