Olivia “Livvy” Dunne made her stylish debut at Churchill Downs on Friday, attending the 2025 Kentucky Oaks in a striking pink ensemble that paid tribute to derby tradition.
The 22-year-old former LSU gymnast and viral influencer embraced the color associated with the race’s official flower and Churchill Downs’ breast and ovarian cancer awareness efforts.
Dunne shared a behind-the-scenes look at her outfit on both Instagram and TikTok, captioning her video with: “Your girl’s first derby :)” The social media star later made an official appearance during the event, delivering the ceremonial “riders up!” announcement in front of the packed grandstand.
Olivia Dunne draws spotlight during busy Derby weekend
While fans were thrilled to see Dunne at the Oaks, one noticeable absence was Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, her boyfriend. Despite his absence, Dunne commanded attention throughout the day – especially as she participated in a meet-and-greet with fans despite rainy weekend forecasts threatening Churchill Downs’ events.
NBC Sports shared a video of Dunne taking the mic: “Kentucky Oaks fans,” she began. “Now for the annual tradition that we have all been looking forward to, riders up!” Her presence further cemented her crossover into mainstream celebrity status, well beyond her athletic roots.
Dunne wasn’t the only major name spotted at the Oaks. Gina Miles, the winner of “The Voice” Season 23, was in attendance to perform the national anthem.
Later in the evening, she joined a star-studded lineup for the Kentucky Derby Eve Gala, an annual fundraiser that benefits the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center at the University of Kentucky. To date, the gala has raised more than $21 million for diabetes research and treatment.
Among the celebrities confirmed for the Friday night gala were NFL veterans Aaron Rodgers, Devante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb, as well as Olympian Simone Biles.
The music world was well represented too, with performances expected from Machine Gun Kelly, Dierks Bentley, and Boyz II Men.
Actors Tracy Morgan, Blair Underwood, and Wilmer Valderrama were also listed among the event’s high-profile guests.
Even without her MLB star boyfriend by her side, Dunne managed to steal the show in Louisville, proving her celebrity appeal stretches well beyond the gymnastics mat and TikTok timeline.
With more appearances scheduled throughout Derby weekend, her star power at the racetrack is just getting started.
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