In a world where Instagram filters and makeup tutorials dominate our feeds, it’s a rare treat to stumble upon someone boldly flipping the script! Enter Olivia Dunne, the gymnastics sensation who has been making waves both on and off the mat with her refreshing take on beauty standards.

The 21-year-old powerhouse recently sent shockwaves through social media with a series of Snapchat pictures that had everyone talking. But here’s the twist–there wasn’t a trace of makeup or digital enhancement in sight! Nope! Just Olivia, basking in the sunlight with her natural glow on full display. Her “perfect day,” as she called it, started with a backlit-by-the-sun selfie in which she wore a pink two-piece. And what did her perfect day include? Sunbathing! And it’s results unfolded in three stages.

Taking in the warm Louisiana sunshine, just as her sunbathing process started, Dunne added a picture covering half her face with her hand, captioning it, “☀️” Then followed the first post-sunbathing stage: “It’s hawttt,” she wrote, with a photo of her red-as-a-result-of-the-sun face. The second: A picture where Olivia was dressed in a night robe, presumably after attending to her sun-tanned (read: sun-burned) skin, writing, “definitely burnt.” Then came her final judgment.

The third stage: A selfie with visibly red skin, and possibly redder than the first one. And Dunne captioned it, “update: burnt.” Observing all the pictures one after the other, it seemed like the 21-year-old’s sunbathing spree may have gone a tad bit overboard; she may have flown too close to the sun, if you may. But the makeup-less pictures didn’t stop there because she showed off one of her favorite features next.

Her subsequent selfie displayed her lovely freckles, a photo she captioned “frecks.” Given her social media activity, it seems like the LSU gymnastics star loves two things a lot: her freckles and soaking in warm sunshine. Last year, while – you guessed it! – sunbathing, she posted another close-up of her face that accentuated her freckles. She wrote, “freckle szn.” More recently, just two weeks ago, she shared more pictures of herself enjoying the Louisiana sun. Posing them on Instagram, she penned, “Defrosting🌬️”

Her recent Snapchat photo haul came on the back of a memorable night for the LSU senior. Livvy and the No.3 ranked Tigers became SEC conference champions in New Orleans on Saturday. They scored 198.075 – the highest ever in the program’s history – which gave the LSU gymnastics team its 5th SEC crown. This just added another feather to the highest-paid female NCAA athlete’s cap as she continues to champion the cause of authenticity and women’s empowerment.

Olivia Dunne’s bold statement towards empowerment and authenticity

Livvy Dunne is a force to be reckoned with on the gymnastics mat. But she’s also one on social media, with one of the highest numbers of followers among college athletes (and athletes, in general). Given her platform to influence, she’s regularly used it to promote aspects like natural beauty. But more importantly, she’s used it to inspire young female athletes.

Last July, Dunne launched The Livvy Fund, a project to help female athletes at LSU secure NIL endorsement deals. In an interview with PEOPLE, she said, “I’m so excited to build on the momentum of women in sports by utilizing the brand relationships I’ve built to help empower LSU female student-athletes with the knowledge and assistance to succeed in the NIL space.” 

In a later conversation with Hurrdat Sports, Dunne alluded to her success as an NCAA athlete in every aspect, using that to inspire female athletes wanting to follow in her footsteps. She said, “It’s really important. I really want to let younger girls know that they could have it all. They can be a successful athlete, be a great student, and be a savvy businesswoman as well.”

As Olivia Dunne reaches new pinnacles in her career, the 21-year-old continues to positively influence every athlete setting out on the same journey as hers – whether in terms of sport-related success, business, or just plain, old self-confidence. 

Read More: “Love the Casual Beauty!”: Olivia Dunne Makes Fans Go Gaga Over Bold Bikini Pictures