Former LSU gymnast Olivia ‘Livvy’ Dunne stunned spectators at the recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show, taking a very unique turn when she stepped on the runway: she broke into the splits.
This wasn’t Dunne’s first run with Sports Illustrated. She was one of four cover girls for the magazine’s recent swimsuit issue. She’s been working with Sports Illustrated since 2023. She even did her photoshoot with the company this year while nursing a patella fracture that kept her from participating on the floor during LSU’s senior night festivities.
Dunne said on social media that she had been dared to do the splits on the stage. However, that might not be the full truth.
Livvy Dunne splits at SI show: Was it a dare?
Following her viral moment, Dunne posted that she was dared to do the splits.
During an interview with USA TODAY’s Meghan Hall, though, Dunne admitted she had not been dared.
‘It was just a joke,’ Dunne said.
She added that it was a ‘spur-of-the-moment decision.’ She consulted with her sister on the matter beforehand, but it was not something she did during the walkthrough, and it was not something that the rest of the models or event organizers expected.
How did Livvy Dunne like doing the show?
Dunne said it was ‘the most fun runway show ever.’
Of course, Dunne is maybe a bit biased — this was the only one she’d ever been to.
‘I had a blast,’ Dunne said. ‘They had me open the show, which I have never even walked on a runway. So, it was pretty surreal to open the Sports Illustrated runway show.’
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