Paul Skenes stepped onto the MLB stage with the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 11th, a momentous occasion in his career. Standing proudly beside him in the stands was Olivia Dunne, a well-known LSU gymnast and social media influencer. Together, they celebrated this important milestone, with Dunne expressing, “I’m just so proud.” But it wasn’t just Dunne cheering on her beau; her family members also joined the chorus.

In the stands, Livvy’s mother, Katherine Patterson, and her sister, Julz, were cheering fervently for Skenes. Their support was evident, but what truly shone was the special bond between Julz and Paul. A recent heartfelt message from Julz on social media showed they were more than just baseball buddies; they were family, bonded by love and support.

Julz Dunne’s surprising reaction to Paul Skenes

Skenes’s first strikeout sent a wave of excitement through the PNC stadium, marking the beginning of what would be an impressive four innings on the mound. With Skenes’s stellar performance, the Pitchers secured a 10-9 victory. While being the social media sensation, Dunne continued to capture the highlights of the day on her social media, showing their journey from arriving at the stadium to celebrating Skenes’s triumphant debut.

A heartfelt Instagram post from Dunne after the game, accompanied by photos of her and Skenes, conveyed her pride and support, wishing him continued success with a simple yet sincere message: “Way to go Bucco.”

Meanwhile, Julz Dunne is an LSU graduate, and not just a big sister figure to Olivia Dunne but also her support system. She couldn’t contain her admiration for Skenes’s performance. Commenting on a post, she lauded him with a succinct yet telling statement, “Kid is pretty good at his job,” hinting at her genuine enjoyment of his debut and being impressed by his skills.

However, Olivia Dunne’s success owes much to Julz, who plays a pivotal role as “the brains behind” her 21-year-old sister’s vast social media presence.

Julz’s surprising role in Olivia Dunne’s success

Olivia Dunne’s skyrocketing success on social media and in earnings is truly remarkable. With over 5 million followers on Instagram, she has become the highest-earning female athlete in the NCAA, with an NIL value of $3.7 million. Her endorsements with major brands like Motorola, American Eagle, and Sports Illustrated have played a significant role in her financial achievements. Ranked as the third-highest earner on the NIL Top 100 list, just behind Bronny James and Shedeur Sanders, Dunne acknowledges that her success isn’t solely hers.

She credits Julz as the brain behind the scenes, recognizing Julz’s crucial role in her journey. They collaborate on video ideas and production, with Julz handling editing while Olivia focuses on her training. Julz, who majored in Kinesiology, currently works as a paid employee for Olivia.

While Julz may not have Olivia’s massive online presence, she’s building her following of 45.7k on Instagram. Their frequent appearances together at events show their supportive bond. Moreover, their connection with Paul suggests that the trio shares great camaraderie.