Olivia “Livvy” Dunne made her fashionable debut at Churchill Downs on Friday, attending the 2025 Kentucky Oaks in a placing pink ensemble that paid tribute to derby custom.
The 22-year-old former LSU gymnast and viral influencer embraced the colour related to the race’s official flower and Churchill Downs’ breast and ovarian most cancers consciousness efforts.
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Dunne shared a behind-the-scenes have a look at her outfit on each Instagram and TikTok, captioning her video with: “Your woman’s first derby :)” The social media star later made an official look in the course of the occasion, delivering the ceremonial “riders up!” announcement in entrance of the packed grandstand.
Olivia Dunne attracts highlight throughout busy Derby weekend
Whereas followers had been thrilled to see Dunne on the Oaks, one noticeable absence was Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, her boyfriend. Regardless of his absence, Dunne commanded consideration all through the day – particularly as she participated in a meet-and-greet with followers regardless of wet weekend forecasts threatening Churchill Downs’ occasions.
NBC Sports activities shared a video of Dunne taking the mic: “Kentucky Oaks followers,” she started. “Now for the annual custom that now we have all been wanting ahead to, riders up!” Her presence additional cemented her crossover into mainstream superstar standing, properly past her athletic roots.
Dunne wasn’t the one main title noticed on the Oaks. Gina Miles, the winner of “The Voice” Season 23, was in attendance to carry out the nationwide anthem.
Later within the night, she joined a star-studded lineup for the Kentucky Derby Eve Gala, an annual fundraiser that advantages the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Heart on the College of Kentucky. So far, the gala has raised greater than $21 million for diabetes analysis and remedy.
Among the many celebrities confirmed for the Friday evening gala had been NFL veterans Aaron Rodgers, Devante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb, in addition to Olympian Simone Biles.
The music world was properly represented too, with performances anticipated from Machine Gun Kelly, Dierks Bentley, and Boyz II Males.
Actors Tracy Morgan, Blair Underwood, and Wilmer Valderrama had been additionally listed among the many occasion’s high-profile friends.
Even with out her MLB star boyfriend by her aspect, Dunne managed to steal the present in Louisville, proving her superstar enchantment stretches properly past the gymnastics mat and TikTok timeline.
With extra appearances scheduled all through Derby weekend, her star energy on the racetrack is simply getting began.
