Livvy Dunne is one of the biggest names in college sports right now. She is a star gymnast at Louisiana State University and one of the highest-paid female athletes through NIL deals. But behind her fast rise, there is someone working quietly every day, her older sister, Julz Dunne. In a recent interview with Daily MailJulz shared how she helped build Livvy’s brand from scratch, how one viral moment turned into a business deal, and how Livvy really met her boyfriend, Paul Skenes. She also spoke about their close family setup and how they run everything like a small business, even though it is now worth millions.
Livvy Dunne and Julz Dunne built a family brand, handled viral moments, and revealed how Livvy met Paul Skenes
Julz says their journey did not start as a business plan. It was just two sisters enjoying social media. She explained, “We grew the brand for the love of it. We did social media because we truly enjoyed it and the business just grew around us.”They grew up in a simple home in New Jersey where sports were a big part of life. While Livvy focused on gymnastics, Julz played softball. Even with different paths, they always supported each other. Julz said she would travel to watch Livvy compete, and Livvy would cheer for her from the stands.Things changed during COVID-19. Julz said that time was the real turning point. While staying at their grandmother’s home in Florida, they started planning content seriously. “We started coming up with content calendars. I helped her film, edit, and post everything,” she said.Soon after, Livvy became the most-followed college athlete. But at that time, NIL rules did not allow her to earn money. When rules changed, they were ready. Julz admitted, “We made mistakes. We said yes to things we shouldn’t have. But we learned.”One of their smartest moves came after a viral moment. Julz recalled watching a baseball game when the camera showed Livvy raising her arms. She said, “I grabbed my phone and told her, ‘Put your arms down!’” The clip went viral with millions of views. Instead of ignoring it, they turned it into a deal with a deodorant brand.Their business circle is still very small. Julz explained, “It is me, my sister, my mom, her agents, and her lawyer. We keep it tight. It is our family business.”Julz also cleared the story about Livvy and Paul Skenes. She said they met in a very normal way through college friends, not for publicity. “They met each other very organically,” she said. She also made it clear Livvy wants her own identity, not just being known as his girlfriend.Today, Livvy is working with big brands, including ties to Tom Brady’s company NoBull, and is even stepping into acting. Julz is now helping guide that next step as well.
