‘Baywatch’ Star Livvy Dunne Rings in Another Birthday as Her Hollywood Era Officially Takes Off

Few athletes have reinvented themselves quite like Livvy Dunne. The former LSU gymnast has gone from competing on the mat to becoming one of the most recognizable faces of the NIL era, and her latest chapter is taking her somewhere entirely new.

As fans celebrate Livvy Dunne’s birthday, it’s a perfect moment to look back at just how much has changed for her in such a short time. Born on October 1, 2002, in Westwood, New Jersey, Dunne started gymnastics training at a young age and was named to the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team in 2017.

She joined the LSU Tigers in 2020 and helped lead the team to an NCAA championship in 2024 before announcing her retirement from the sport on April 17, 2025. As October 1 rolled around once again, birthday wishes started pouring in online, including posts from outlets.

This marks her 24th birthday, and it caps off a year that looks very different from her days in Baton Rouge. Birthdays have long been a big social media moment for Dunne, who has typically celebrated with playful posts and themed cakes.

Her past celebrations have become fan favorites. For her 22nd birthday, she posted photos wearing a tiara and holding a cake, paired with Taylor Swift’s ’22 (Taylor’s Version)’ audio, a nod to her status as a self-described Swiftie. Boyfriend Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, even gifted her a custom Topps trading card featuring her and the couple’s English retriever, Roux.

Livvy Dunne, Happy Birthday https://t.co/6KKwo0rJFt

— JumpTrailers (@JumpTrailers) October 1, 2026

Last year, she marked turning 23 with a martini-glass cake and a striking gold dress. That year also came packed with milestones, from finishing her LSU career to posing for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and making appearances at the MTV Video Music Awards and New York Fashion Week.

This past year brought her biggest career pivot yet. As first reported by Deadline, Dunne landed the recurring role of Grace, described as a highly enthusiastic junior lifeguard, in Fox’s ‘Baywatch’ reboot. The casting marks her professional acting debut.

The move didn’t come out of nowhere. Dunne had revealed that she began taking acting lessons after retiring from gymnastics, with plans to pursue a career in film and television. She has also said acting was a passion she set aside while gymnastics was her main focus as a student-athlete.

She joins a cast that includes Stephen Amell, Shay Mitchell, Jessica Belkin, Hassie Harrison, Thaddeus LaGrone, Brooks Nader, Noah Beck, and David Chokachi. The series is co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Fremantle, and Dunne excitedly reacted to the news on X by declaring it was time to get to work.

Beyond acting, Dunne’s influence shows no signs of slowing down. She became the highest-earning female college athlete and has built a following of more than 15 million across platforms. Her portfolio also includes endorsement deals with brands such as American Eagle, Nautica, and BodyArmor.

Before her ‘Baywatch’ casting, she had mostly appeared on screen as herself, including in ‘The Money Game: LSU’, a documentary series about NIL and its impact on her alma mater. Now, with a scripted role under her belt, she’s stepping into a whole new spotlight.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!