Livvy Dunne looks unrecognizable in 2016 throwback photo as LSU star sparks viral social media trend

The LSU legend and social media star shared a throwback photo that showed a very different version of herself. Today, Livvy Dunne is one of the most famous faces in college sports but in this old picture, she looks like a normal teenage girl, smiling and carefree. Now 23 years old, Dunne is a former national champion gymnast, a global influencer, and a cover star for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

She has over 13 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, and her success online has helped her earn an estimated $6 million through brand deals. She is also dating MLB pitcher Paul Skenes, which keeps her in the spotlight even more.

On Monday, Dunne joined the viral “2016 nostalgia” trend that has taken over social media as 2026 begins. Many users are sharing old photos to remember simpler times and Livvy Dunne posted a photo of herself at age 13, and the reaction was instant.

Livvy Dunne shares rare 2016 photo as LSU journey and fame come full circle

In the photo, a young Dunne stands in front of a purple wall covered with LSU logos. She is seen wearing lilac leggings, a gray tank top, and flip-flops. Her hair is brown, long, and natural and it is a big change from the glam looks fans see today. She later added a second photo of herself and wrote, “why are yall actually looking good in 2016?”

The photo hit close to home. Dunne enrolled at LSU in 2020 and went on to spend her entire college gymnastics career with the LSU Tigers. She played an impressive role in the team, helping them win a national championship in 2024 before retiring from college gymnastics in February 2025 last year.

Her rise online started in 2020 when she joined TikTok during her freshman year and became active on other social media platforms. At first, she shared gymnastics videos and soon, she showed daily life moments too. Before graduating, Dunne became the highest-earning female athlete in NCAA Name, Image, and Likeness deals.

She signed deals with brands like Vuori, Grubhub, Bodyarmor, American Eagle, and Nautica. She also appeared in a commercial with Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.

After gymnastics, her fame did not slow down. She walked the runway at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show and even did the splits on stage. She later appeared in major photo shoots, including Maxim.

Off the runway, Livvy Dunne often supports Paul Skenes at Pittsburgh Pirates games and even without competition running on, she remains one of the most watched women in sports today.

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