For Paul Skenes, life has changed—and it’s changed fast! One moment, he was dominating back at LSU. Then, he became the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft. Next a Pittsburgh Pirates star, and emerged as one of the most talked-about pitchers in baseball. But with all this success came something else—fame. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about the game anymore; it was about cameras, screaming fans, and attention that could throw even the best players off their focus.
Fortunately, Skenes can help—he’s basically dating a pro!
Yes, Olivia Dunne has been living, or rather thriving, under the public eye for years. She has been balancing her gymnastics, her social media game, and a business with a charm that not many can. And if anyone knows how to handle the media frenzy, it’s her. And Skenes admitted—all that off-field fame, he gets the help from Dunne.
In an interview with GQ, Skenes said, “She’s been dealing with all the notoriety and all that longer than I have.” But while Livvy very much leans into the fame part, Paul—not so much. For him, pitching is his job, not taking pictures with people. He doesn’t hesitate to say no to a selfie request. Ouch! Camera shy, perhaps? But not Dunne.
Skenes admitted, “She never says no to a picture. I say no to them.” And when it comes to social media, Livvy has built an entire brand around it. And it’s exactly opposite for Paul. He prefers to keep his distance as much as he can. Livvy revealed to GQ that Skenes doesn’t care about what others say or talk about him. As long as he knows he’s in the right, he is comfortable. And his Instagram? Fans might be disappointed, but he doesn’t manage it himself. That’s all Livvy!
Beyond the viral moments and being the next ‘it couple’ after Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, their relationship is more than that. Their relationship is fueled by discipline and mutual respect. Both Skenes and Dunne have packed schedules. Paul often travels for baseball, and Livvy for her gymnastics. But they always find a way to show up for each other. Just recently, when Skenes won the Rookie of the Year award, Olivia Dunne hopped on a plane for a 16-hour trip to celebrate with him. And it’s no wonder why they are quickly becoming one of the most loved couples in the country. But where did their love story begin?
Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne’s love story almost didn’t happen
Skenes and Dunne’s love story didn’t start with fireworks. There was a time when they felt it was not going to happen at all. And the reason is the most Gen Z reason ever. Livvy recalled it, saying, “He wouldn’t follow me back on Instagram.” Yes, you read right! But it wasn’t like Skenes wasn’t interested—he just wasn’t into social media, unlike his sweetheart.
Via Instagram @Paul Skenes
Skenes wouldn’t even have touched his account if it were in his control. And for Dunne, who was all the rage on social media already, this was odd. “I was like, Who is this kid and why won’t he follow me back?” Livvy laughed. They had first crossed paths at LSU, but Skenes was too dedicated on the mound. But he caught Dunne’s attention. But things didn’t happen as meeting him was impossible due to their schedule.
Finally, mutual friends set them up, and a group outing to a Morgan Wallen concert gave them a chance to bond. Livvy’s first impression of Skenes? “He was shy.” Paul, however, clarified saying he was reserved, not shy. But then Skenes picked up on hints from her and asked her out for ice cream. After all, Livvy admitted, “After our first and second dates, I was like, ‘Oh, I really like him.” She even started taking trips to Baton Rouge under the guise of hair appointments. But Skenes finally caught on to her excuses—her hair looked exactly the same!
Well, all of Dunne’s efforts did pay off. Now they are a happy couple, not to mention the elite couple in the sports world.
The post “Never Says No” – Paul Skenes Hypes Up GF Olivia Dunne for Being His Rock Amidst Surging Off-Field Fame appeared first on EssentiallySports.
