Olivia Dunne responded to a New York Times piece that credited her success to her racy social media photographs. She also took aim at a Stanford coach who stated that the notion that “sexiness sells” is a step back for female athletes.
The article described the gymnast from Louisiana State University as “a small blonde with a bright grin and a gymnast’s toned physique” and stated that emphasis on appearance is “backwards for female athletes.”
Dunne, 20, rejected Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, who was mentioned in the article as suggesting that the emphasis on beauty among female athletes was a’step back,’ and captioned the video: “I’m not impressed.” “Only making forward progress”
Last week, she donned her LSU leotard in a TikTok video with the Nicki Minaj voiceover: “If you don’t like me, that’s great, but watch your mouth.”
In a separate video aired on Wednesday, Dunne jokingly remarked that she would rather receive a lump of coal than ‘be on the New York Times’ or have a ‘Sugardaddy.’
She afterwards posted a provocative swimwear shot to her Instagram account with the caption “is this too much?”
Since the age of three, the gymnast who was born in New Jersey and is now one of the highest-earning university athletes has competed in gymnastics.
Olivia Dunne criticized a New York Times piece in which she was portrayed as the face of female athletes who promote their bodies online.
Dunne, 20 years old, competes for Louisiana State University and has rapidly become the most popular collegiate athlete on the internet.
Dunne has competed for years and eventually got the US Nationals Team in 2017, but in 2020 she left professional gymnastics and attended Louisiana State University to compete at the collegiate level.
She established her social media following by providing an intimate glimpse at her life as an NCAA gymnast, with all the glitzy rewards that come with it.
In a Time story, it was stated that female athletes, like as Dunne, post’sexy images’ of themselves; although the athletes view this as ’empowering,’ others may view it as a’step back.’
Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer stated that sexual photos were a’step back’ for female athletes.
Tara VanDerveer, a women’s collegiate basketball coach at Stanford, stated that technology advancement has enabled the continuation of outmoded sexist conduct, implying that the emphasis on female athletes’ physical attractiveness is a retrograde move.
VanDerveer told The Times, “I guess sometimes we have this swinging pendulum, when we go maybe two leaps ahead and then one step back.” We are fighting for every opportunity to compete, to play, to have resources, to have facilities, to have coaches, and everything else associated with Olympic-level athletics.
Dunne is known to reply to criticism on her social media pages, and she did not appear to take it personally.
Dunne’s social media fans were ready to support her.
One TikTok user declared, “I only read the Livvy Times.”
“Livvy > NY Times,” added another.
Dunne established her social media following by providing an inside glimpse into her life as an NCAA gymnast and all the glitzy rewards that accompany it.
Dunne has competed for years and eventually got the US Nationals Team in 2017, but in 2020 she left professional gymnastics and attended Louisiana State University to compete at the collegiate level.
Dunne quickly became the most-followed student athlete on the online, with over 2.3 million followers on Instagram and 6.3 million on TikTok. However, due to the NCAA’s severe regulation against its members selling sponsorships, she was not permitted to profit from her digital ventures.
Until June 30, 2021, when the organization revised its rules and announced that its athletes might benefit from their name, image, and likeness, this was the case.
A month later, Olivia signed with Endeavor Talent Agency’s WME Sports, and in September, she announced that she had earned a lucrative relationship with athletic brand Vuori, which Forbes estimated to be worth “mid-six figures.”
She informed the site that she would be selective and only accept chances that were ‘genuine’ to her.
She gushed about Vuori, saying, “We share some of the same underlying principles, and I find it very admirable that they care about the environment.” “They are also committed to happiness, and that is something that I value greatly.”
She noted that gymnastics is her primary interest, but fashion has always been a “big obsession” of hers.
Dunne quickly became the most-followed collegiate athlete on the web, with over 2.3 million Instagram followers and 6.3 million on TikTok.
She frequently posts images on Instagram of herself living a lavish lifestyle of beach excursions, pool days, and evenings out with pals.
Since then, Dunne has received sponsorships from American Eagle, Forever 21, and the app Nate, among others.
She frequently posts photos on Instagram of herself living a lavish lifestyle, including beach getaways, pool days, and nights out with pals, as well as images of herself driving luxury automobiles and taking extravagant travels.
She even posted a photo of herself holding a wad of cash up to the camera.
She is well-known on TikTok for her dance and lip-sync videos. She also occasionally makes videos of herself responding to trolls and experimenting with other trendy trends and filters.